Page 27 of Truce Of The Matter

“Is your curling iron still on? The back of my hair is a mess,” she says.

“I just turned it off but it’s still hot. And my holding spray is under the sink. Spray a little before you curl; it helps.”

She stands. “And what’s that oil? I like that one. I smelled it as soon as you opened the door,” she says.

“The one you always ask about. Black Woman.”

“Well, if you would just buy me some, I wouldn’t have to ask, heifer.”

“It’s under the sink too. On the left. Grab a bottle. I have three.”

“I was gonna steal one anyway,” she says with a smirk before walking into my bathroom.

While she fixes the back of her hair and raids my shit, I get dressed and put my boots on. Right before I stand to join Monae in the bathroom to unpin my curls, my cell vibrates. When I grab it, I see it’s a text from him.

Rex: I’m here if you need me.

How can so much care and compassion exist in one man?I wonder as I walk into the bathroom.And how the hell is he single? Aryel’s mother has to be somewhere crying in a corner for letting him go.

Me:

In the bathroom, Monae and I finish up our hair. She indeed grabs a bottle of my oil as well as one of my C3 candle sets from Light My Flame. The set is our favorite and the company’s biggest seller.

“The set is on back order. As soon as my order comes in, I’ll pay you back,” she says when we walk out.

“I know, but if you don’t, I know how to rob you too.” I grab my cell and tote then we walk back into the living room. “Can we just pick something up? I don’t want to sit down anywhere. Not ready for people yet and I want to get to my dad.”

“Of course. Whatever you want,” she says while nodding.

After setting the alarm, we leave my condo and take the elevator downstairs. The moment we walk past the security desk, the day guard Marvin verbalizes his condolences, confirming my desire not to sit in any public place right now. There isn’t one person in Crescent Falls who doesn’t know or who hasn’t heard of Irene Redmond and while I appreciate the condolences, I’m not in the mood for them. Accepting them feels like accepting the fact that she’s gone and that is a pill I just can’t swallow. So, I merely nod in acknowledgement to Marvin as we head out of the door.

As I email Kaamal, the owner and operator of Greyson Funeral Home, and his assistant Gladys about my dad’s request, Monae drives us to the new chicken spot I’ve been hearing about, Savor da Flava. It’s a small hood joint with a drive-thru and pick up window. Everybody talks about their chicken biscuits for breakfast. As we wait in the small drive-thru line, we scan the large menu plastered on the wall. We both decide on the hot honey chicken biscuit and OJ. I order two extra sandwiches,plain chicken biscuits, just in case my dad and Daija decide to eat something.

Monae eats hers as she drives and I pick over mine. Although it tastes really good, the appetite I thought I had isn’t really here. So I close the foil wrapper and place my half eaten sandwich back into the bag. To my dismay, but not surprising, there are four cars in my parents’ driveway, including Taj’s. I sigh as Monae pulls in behind the last one.

“I’ll go in and get him,” Monae offers.

“No. I need to lay eyes on Daija too.”

After grabbing the bag with their biscuits inside, I get out and walk to the door. It opens as soon as I reach it. It’s Daija. She practically falls into my arms and I catch her. As I hold her, she sobs loudly, shattering my already broken heart.

I manage to walk into the house while holding her and the bag in my hand and when I do, my cousin Taj walks around the corner. She takes relieves me of the bags and I use both of my hands to caress Daija’s back.

“What are we gonna do now?” Daija mumbles between cries and for once, I don’t have an immediate answer. My grief causes a clash between my mind and my heart. What I know and how I feel aren’t reconciling so my answer is devoid of its usual confidence and doesn’t really answer her question.

“We’ll get through this together,” I utter.

I continue to hold her as she cries while keeping my own sorrow at bay. I’m preserving all of my strength to ensure I can make it through these next few hours. My dad is truly going to need me. He and Daija both, and when she lifts her head, I can see just how much I’m needed. Her entire face is distraught, from her puffy eyes and droopy eyelids to sagging lashes.

“Daddy is…” she begins but her sobs stop her.

“I know. I got him,” I tell her and she nods. “Where is he?”

“In the family room. People are already here.” She sighs.

“I saw the cars but Taj is here. She knows how to handle them, and if she doesn’t, you know Auntie Faye will be here soon. She’ll take over and you let them. Try to eat though. I brought you a chicken biscuit.”

“Okay,” is all she says, sounding like the little girl who used to idolize me.

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