Page 33 of Judgments of Fire and Desire

She smiled big, and it was like I saw Genesis. I smiled and said, “I’ll stick to Grandma Jean like everyone else.”

I slowly shook my head, wondering if things would continue to linger like this. If so, I would never get over losing Genesis Farris. I missed that woman something serious… had to be if I was seeing her in Grandma Jean.

“My name is Kyrie Patrick. I’m a judge for the criminal district court.”

“I know, baby. I voted for you, and I see you on TV from time to time. That’s a shame what they are trying to do to you for simply doing your job. That mayor has been dirty for a long time. It’s about time they caught up with her ass.”

My eyebrows lifted. “How do you know that?”

“Old people intuition. I don’t have proof, but I could see it about her. It’s like I could see her soul, and it was black as hell.”

I nodded. “I understand. I can’t wait to have that intuition. I’m not looking forward to the age that will come along with it though.”

She laughed. “Well, are you ready to eat?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She stood from the table and began fixing food for me. “I have dominoes and wouldn’t mine dusting off my skills if you wanna get spanked.”

I frowned slightly. “Oh, and you talk noise too? I won’t be as lonely as I thought. Come with it, Grandma Jean. I’m gon’ bury them lil skills you got.”

She laughed. “Listen, I know you’re stressed. I’m here to provide a safe space for you, but I wanna take it a step further and offer peace in your solitude.”

“I appreciate that so much. My mama is probably pulling her hair out right now.”

“Are you her only child?”

“Yes, ma’am. Just me and her for the past twenty-three years. I’m gonna miss her while I’m here too.”

“I know you will, baby. You will get through this and come out better than you were. Do you believe that?”

“I want to believe that.”

She turned around with a plate of rice, smothered oxtails, what looked like mustard greens, and a piece of cornbread. My stomach was thanking her before I could even open my mouth. After she set the plate in front of me, I noticed the cornbread had an orangey color to it. I frowned slightly. “What type of cornbread is this?”

“It’s candied yam cornbread. Try it, baby.”

“Oh my Lord. I’m gonna wait for you, but I already know I’m gonna inhale it.”

She chuckled and sat down with her plate. “Baby, I’m old school and like sweets. I don’t have tea, but I have a whole pitcher of grape lemonade Kool-Aid in the fridge. You want some?”

“Do I want some? Just set the pitcher on the table, Grandma.”

She blushed. This woman was godsent. She had me feeling more comfortable here than I’d felt in my own house. When she returned with two glasses and the pitcher of Kool-Aid, she said, “We not gon’ be able to breathe when we eat and drink all of this.”

“Speak for yourself. My stomach is like a bottomless pit at times. This looks and smells so good. Thank you for making this transition seamless. I haven’t been here thirty minutes yet, and I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

She chuckled. “I’m so glad you’re comfortable.”

She extended her hand, so I placed my hand in hers. She began blessing the food. It sounded pretty traditional until she said, “And Lord, please restore what he’s missing.”

I frowned as I said, “Amen.”

She glanced at me as she began eating. When she swallowed her first bite of food, she said, “You really don’t remember me, huh? We met briefly a couple months ago. Well… technically, we didn’t actually meet. We made eye contact though.”

I frowned harder, trying to rack my brain on who this woman was. “I’m sorry, Grandma Jean. I don’t remember.”

“Genesis Farris is my granddaughter. Don’t worry. She doesn’t know you’re here. The police department trusts me with things of this nature. Samuel doesn’t even know half the stuff I do for them, and he works there.”

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