Page 6 of Alpha Bait

"Did you hear what Betty said?"

"Yes. The Carmichael's are here. I invited them."

"You did what?!"

"You heard me, child. Now close your mouth and head downstairs. We have guests."

No matter how old you are, there's just a way you speak to your mama no matter how crazy she's getting.

"Yes ma'am," I replied, "But before I leave, I need you to tell me what the hell you were thinking."

Okay fine, I'd lost it. I couldn't figure out what could possess my mother to invite our father's biggest rivals to his funeral.

"We are going to make peace, child. Kendrick is dead and we are the ones who have to live in his wake."

"They're the Carmichael's. There's no making peace with them."

My mother sneered, "You sound just like your father when you say things like that."

I rolled my eyes.

"You say that when you don't want to admit you're wrong."

"There's nothing wrong with making peace."

"Does Jamal know about this?"

"What's Jamal going to do about it?" Gail folded her arms and popped her hip.

Mama wasn't afraid to whoop anybody, no matter how old they were. Jamal could get these hands as easily as the next person.

I sighed in frustration and stormed off to find my brother. He stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at the guests milling below. I joined him, leaning on the railing.

"Jamal, do you know what mama's done?"

"Yes."

"Gretchen told you?"

"Yes."

He gripped the railing with vengeful force.

"She's lost her damn mind."

"She has. But I'll give her a chance to speak. She loved him more than any of us will ever be able to understand."

He was right about that. My mother's devotion to my father far exceeded his devotion to her. The best he'd done was kept her cared for financially and for her, that seemed to be enough.

"I don't want to make peace with any Carmichael's," I replied.

Jamal grinned, "Yeah. You know, Richard tried it with me a couple months ago."

"Richard?"

"The younger one."

I shrugged, "I don't know him."

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