Page 37 of Make Me Remember

“It’s okay.”

Aunt Tiff stood, and she and Uncle Ryder walked around to the front of the diner. I looked over at Mekayla and asked, “What did she say to you?”

“That I must be a simple bitch if I could be with a nigga that was responsible for his girlfriend and baby’s death.”

My eyebrows lifted. “Mekayla?—”

She lifted her hand, halting my response. “I already know she was lying. You already told me everything about that. I was ready to jump in because she don’t know me. People that know me don’t speak to me in that manner, and I wasn’t about to let her do it either. I stood from my seat, ready to get at her, but your Aunt Tiff got between us. When she did, that woman swung and hit her in the face. That’s what led to what you saw.”

“Damn. Where was Cassie?”

“She was coming back from the restroom.”

I pulled Mekayla close to me, then LaTee. “I’m sorry, LaTee. That probably scared you. I’m gonna go back in to get some food for us, and we’ll go back home.”

“I’m not ready to go home, Daddy. Can we go to your house?”

My heart swelled with love as I stooped to her level. “That’s what I meant, baby girl. My house is your house too.”

She smiled and hugged me. I stood back up and kissed Mekayla’s lips. I hoped she was okay and not regretting bringing LaTee out here today. Those fucking people had to be stopped. I gave her my keys to go to my SUV. I went back inside and saw Uncle Kenny doing CPR on that woman. Fuck! I didn’t know who delivered the blow that could have ended it all for her.

Finally, she started breathing, and he and one of his paramedics got her onto the gurney and to the ambulance. Another ambulance had been called as well, because Courtney’s ass was on the floor too. She wasn’t unconscious like Shayla though.

The police had pulled up and was asking my mama and Aunt Chrissy all sorts of questions since they were the owners. The diner was a mess. Our table had been flipped over. I went toward the kitchen, and a cop stopped me by grabbing my arm. I frowned as I turned to him.

“I’m sorry, sir. This is a crime scene. We need everyone to leave out.”

“That’s my mama over there.”

His ass was new. Had to be. I’d never seen him before.

“It’s okay, Randall. He’s family,” another cop said.

He nodded and released me. First of all, he didn’t have to grab my arm to stop me. I gave him a look, letting him know he could have caught hands just now. His ass looked a lil nervous about that shit too. I didn’t interrupt my mama. I just went to the kitchen and packed food for us to eat. I didn’t know if either of them had eaten, but I sure in the hell hadn’t. I was sure to get shrimp and grits for Mekayla, kolaches for LaTee, and boudin and shit for me.

I loaded our to-go boxes in a bag and was heading out when my mama stopped me. “Hey, baby. Are LaTee and Mekayla okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’ll be by when we wrap up this mess.”

“Okay.”

I walked out to see Uncle Jasper talking to my ladies. He was standing outside of Mekayla’s door. When I got close, he said, “Let me holla at’chu.”

I walked away from the SUV and asked, “What’s up, Unc?”

“Jess delivered the blow to that woman’s head that may have taken her out of here. She stomped her. I need you to talk to her. She don’t need to say shit. I know she’ll listen to you and Storm, but he left to get Aspen home. Tiff wants to take the heat since she say it was self-defense. Jess, Cassie, and Chas jumped in. They beat the shit out of that woman.”

Talk about being triggered. I nodded, because all I could think about was my mama taking the rap for killing Joseph instead of Uncle WJ. I had déjà vu like a muthafucka.

CHAPTER 14

MEKAYLA

“You comfortable, baby?”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

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