Page 48 of Happy Endings

“You’re halfway through your bachelor’s program. Why quit now?” He forced himself to take a bite of his toast. Chewed slowly so he could figure out how to convince Keisha to stay in school.

“You need help at the restaurant.”

He opened his mouth, but she held up her hand.

“Let me finish. We can’t afford to hire any more staff. I can work full time in the restaurant and be your apprentice during off hours. I know enough accounting to do books for Mama Hazel’s.” She chuckled nervously.

“I thought you liked school.”

“I don’t hate it. Mama was right that an education is important, but tuition is expensive. Next semester I’m supposed to take on more classes. We can’t cover tuition and hiring someone to take my place while I’m in class during the day.”

“I told you I would figure things out.” His jaw clenched. Why didn’t she believe him? As her big brother, he’d take care of her no matter what. “I’m considering closing the restaurants on Tuesdays and Wednesdays until things pick up. You can pick up your extra classes on those days.”

“Andre,” Keisha said softly and touched his hand. “I miss Mama, too. Working at the restaurant makes me feel closer to her, you know?”

He nodded as his chest tightened and his throat started to close. Andre took another bite of toast, trying to ignore the sadness that bloomed in his chest. Though it had been less than two years since she passed, grief snuck up on him when he least expected it.

“I’ve always wanted to put Mama’s recipes into a cookbook. Quitting will give me time to work on it. Please, Tre. I really want to do this.” Tears spilled out of her eyes.

Andre blinked quickly to rid the tears from his eyes. He’d do anything for Keisha, but this was her future. She wouldn’t make it far without a college degree. She’d just be stuck working as a waitress or bartender—like him. Mama wouldn’t want that for her.

“How about this? We’ve already paid for the fall semester. Finish it and register for the winter. If we can’t make our finances work to cover winter tuition, you can defer.” He took a deep breath. Maybe this would give Keisha more time to reconsider quitting. “You can pick up more shifts during winter break and help me out in the office. I promise it’s not as exciting as you think it’ll be.”

“You’re the best brother I’ve ever had!” Keisha kissed him on the cheek and hugged him.

“I’m your only brother.” He returned her hug. “I’d better finish getting ready. Those receipts will multiply if I leave them alone for one day.”

He left Keisha studying for her test and headed upstairs for a shower. Under the water, his brain tallied up all the things spiraling out of control. Mama’s medical bills, the low cash flow at Mama Hazel’s, the damned fryer on the fritz. Now Keisha wanted to quit school. While it seemed like a good idea right now, he knew it wasn’t what his mom wanted for her. At least one Walker kid should have a college degree.

He’d figure it out. Somehow. Everything would work out, and Mama Hazel’s would thrive with him at its helm. If the paperwork didn’t bury him first.

By the time he’d come downstairs, Keisha was gone. Study group, she’d texted him. The mid-September humidity hit him as soon as he stepped outside his home. Beads of sweat formed on his brow.

“Morning, Mrs. Harris,” he called across the street.

The heat and humidity didn’t seem to bother her. She spent most mornings on her porch knitting. She also knew everything that went on in their neighborhood.

“Leaving late today, aren’t you?” she replied, her knitting needlesa blur of movement. “Noticed you didn’t get home till after midnight last night.”

Andre sighed. Mrs. Harris and his mom had been good friends, but it didn’t mean he cared for her nosy if well-meaning questions.

“We had a private event last night.” He crossed the street so he didn’t have to yell. “Left a huge mess, so it took me a while to clean up since Keisha needed to study for an exam.”

“Private parties, huh? Like our Monday dinners?”

“Something like that.” If Mrs. Harris knew what was going on at the restaurant, he’d never hear the end of it. And the entire neighborhood would know, too, in minutes. “Turns out there are white folks who are willing to pay good money for Mama’s food.”

“They should. She was a good cook. And she taught Luis well.” Her knitting needles paused.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Andre checked his phone. He had two hours before lunch service started. If he stood here any longer, she’d start up about the collard greens again.

“Everything she cooked was good. Except for her greens. She never did take my advice on the smoked turkey necks.”

Right on cue.

“I should get going, Mrs. Harris. I’m already running behind.” He held up his phone to show her the time. “Keisha told me Mr. Harris is still fighting a cold. I’ll send over some gumbo.”

“Thank you, dear. Don’t work too hard, Tre.”

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