Page 61 of February

“It’s six in the morning, Lil,” she said as her greeting.

“I have meetings all day. I assumed you’d be up. You’re always up by six.”

“Not anymore. What’s up?” she asked and rolled over onto her back.

“What’s up? Since when do you say, ‘What’s up?’” Lily asked.

Monica wasn’t sure when she’d last asked someone that question, but shehadbeen hanging out with a younger crowd the previous night. Maybe she’d picked it up along with the headache she had forming now that she was awake.

“Lil, I still have an hour to sleep before I have to get ready for work, so…”

“Aaron’s visit. He said you’re in New Orleans.”

“I am.”

“Why?”

“Work,” she said.

“Since when do you travel anymore? You stopped that a while ago.”

“Since now,” she replied. “I’m here for a few weeks. I’ll make sure he’s taken care of, okay?”

“I don’t want him to go to school down there,” Lily stated.

“Well, it’s not reallyyourchoice, Lily. It’shiscollege experience. He should get to choose it.”

“Columbia is by far the better school, and it’s here.”

“But your son doesn’t want to go there.”

“I’m glad you brought that up. He ismyson.”

“Don’t go there, Lily. We’ve had this argument before. I’ve been there for him since the moment you and I started dating.”

“I know. But he’s not yours, Mon. He’s mine and my ex’s.”

“I’m your ex.”

“You know what I mean. It’s not up to you where he goes.”

“I’m not making it up to me.Hewants to go to Tulane or LSU.”

“Because ofyourconnections.”

“I haven’t promised him anything. He called and asked me to talk to you about school and mentioned that he wanted to go to this weekend thing. It happens to coincide with me being down here. Don’t you want him to go where he wants to go?”

“I want him to stay close to home.”

“Why? You’re never there.”

“That’s not fair. I work.”

“All the time. And I do, too, but you’re asking Aaron to make an important decision abouthisschool based on whatyouwant.You want him to stay close, but you’re never home. If you are, you’re with your girlfriend, and your time is focused on her.”

“No, it isn’t. How would you know that, anyway?”

“Aaron stays at my place a lot, Lil. We talk. Why would he want to stay close when you’re not there or focused on him? You hardly ever showed any interest in his activities and school when he was growing up. But now you are? Right when he’s about to leave and make a pretty important decision? He wants what he wants.”

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