Miss Pearly's Girls by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Author:ReShonda Tate Billingsley [Tate Billingsley, ReShonda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2021-11-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Leslie

The sun peeked through the tattered, stained curtain at the Super 8. Leslie yawned, stretched, then slowly opened her eyes. Nona was on her side, propped up on one arm, looking down at her.

“Good morning,” Nona said.

“Hey, babe,” Leslie said, giving her a quick peck on the lips. “Are you staring at me in my sleep?”

“I’ve been worried about you. You tossed and turned all night.”

Leslie pulled herself up against the headboard, memories of last night’s dream dancing vividly in her head.

“I had a dream that . . .” she paused and looked around the dingy motel room, “. . . that . . . this was all a dream. But the fact that we’re here, I guess it’s not.”

Nona gently ran her fingers down Leslie’s arm.

“No. Unfortunately, it’s not.”

“Well, let’s get comfortable, because I don’t plan on leaving this room until they let us back in to see Mama.”

“Sweetheart, you can’t hide out here all day.”

“Why not? You don’t think Super 8 has room service? We could order in and just chill.”

Nona chuckled as she threw back the covers and stood. “They didn’t even want to give me a spare towel, so I doubt it.”

“I know, you’re right.” Leslie sighed, though she made no move from her spot in the full-size bed. “Maybe we can just sneak over to the hospital, see Mama, and then go home.”

“Leaving is not the answer, Leslie,” Nona said, walking into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the room. A minute later, Nona returned with a wet hand towel, which she was rubbing in a circular motion on her face—her morning ritual to keep her skin youthful. “I’ve been telling you, you have to accept who you are in every aspect.” She pointed out the dingy window. “And this place made you who you are.”

“Okay, don’t start analyzing me. I’m not one of your patients.”

Nona eased back down on the bed. “You know that’s not what I’m trying to do.” She set the towel on the nightstand and took Leslie’s hands. “I’m just saying, the only way forward is to face the past. Whatever this heaviness of hate your family is carrying needs to be addressed. And the only way you can do that is to talk to them. Ask them questions about how they feel, and enable them to ask questions about you and your life so that you can all get a better understanding of what the tension actually is and how it might be eased.”

Leslie snatched her hands away. “You know, if I want a professional diagnosis, I’ll call your office and make an appointment.”

Nona’s shoulders slumped. Leslie inhaled, exhaled, then slid closer to her. “I’m sorry, babe. I don’t mean to snap at you. I know you’re just trying to help.” She buried her face in her hands. “You just don’t understand, though. All my life my sister has judged me and made my life miserable, and I just don’t want to deal with it, especially now that I don’t have to.

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