Page 43 of Free Agent

Even more reason for me to finally just put it all to rest.

I could not and would not put up a front though. I was glad to see my mama.

Relieved, even.

I never would have called and asked her to come, but that was one of the perks of having a mother like mine.

She knew when her kids needed her, even when they didn’t themselves.

“Daniel needed somebody to watch over Mini Mouse while he went on a trip for work. Me and her got bored looking at your old rusty daddy, so we decided to take a little drive up.” Mama explained, parroting what she’d probably told Mini, Amina, to wrap her arrival in a package that was a little better for my ego.

“We thought we’d come see what you were up to. And Mini wanted you to see her purse.”

“Miss Amanda got it for me,” Mini said, pulling my attention to an adorable Minnie Mouse shoulder bag on the counter where she’d been sitting.

“Oh well that is just lovely, but now I have to know. Who is Miss Amanda?”

“Daddy’s girlfriend!”

Instantly, my gaze popped back to my mother who gave me a look then turned back to the delicious smelling pot she was stirring at the stove.

“I guess I don’t really need to ask how Daniel is doing then, huh?” I asked my mother, and she shook her head.

“Daniel is doing just fine, and we are glad for it.”

I took a moment to consider it and then… “Yes,” I agreed. “We are.”

“He sends his love,” Mama continued, then flipped off the burner she’d been using, and moved it to where I kept my bowls. “He also sends a voucher for an a-s-s whooping, should you need to cash it in for a certain football star.”

I smiled. “I will let him know that won’t be necessary next time we speak.”

My mother smirked at me as she started dishing what I now knew to be jambalaya into bowls. I sat down next to Mini at the counter.

“You sure?” she asked. “’Cause I might cash in a two-for-one and send him and Daddy. I’m so disappointed. I sure thought I knew that boy better than that, for him to be acting?—”

“I really don’t want to get into it right now, Mama. He came up to the office and?—”

“That’s why you’re home at this time?” she guessed correctly, and I nodded. “I had planned for this jambalaya to settle in a bit, but since you’re here now, I’m feeding you.”

I laughed. “Okay yes, let’s talk about you breaking into my house.”

“Breaking in? I got a key,” she huffed.

“Well, I’m gonna have to get you a new one when I change the locks.”

She raised an eyebrow at me. “Changing the locks? I like it. You’re serious.”

“I’m so serious this time.”

“Good.” She nodded. “Stay that way.”

That admonition made me think of Tatum’s “Stay Done.”

It had been several days since that conversation, and we hadn’t spoken in that time.

He’d reached out once, but I didn’t reply—mostly because I didn’t know what to say, mostly because I was an extreme dork who didn’t know how to talk to men because I’d always been up under Monty.

I’d embarrassed myself enough with that freaking voice memo I sent to apologize for the picture.

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