Page 89 of Disrespectfully, Relic

“Larenn, grab the waters and come on.”

Relic walked away without confirming nor denying his mother’s assumption. Kennedy could tell from his tight mouth and abrupt departure that Judith had struck a nerve, and it wasn’t the best time to combat him, although she’d planned to stay as far away from him as possible during the game. A soft spot she hadn’t realized she formed for Relic wouldn’t allow her to ignore the signs of him being triggered. She went to grab the waters but paused when Judith clasped a hand around her wrist.

“Stay right there. Let me talk to you for a second. Esther, take over for me.”

Kennedy immediately glanced behind her for Relic, uncertain whether to wait or ignore her like he’d done. She cursed under her breath after locating him already by the wooden bleachers where his brothers and her girls were sitting. After an internal debate as she tucked her waters beneath an arm, she chose to stay. Curiosity convinced Kennedy to wait because she hoped whatever their conversation entailed would give her insight on Judith’s reasoning for treating Relic the way she had and vice versa. She hoped it gave her a closure she could relay to him, whether he desired it or not.

Something told her that he did.

Uproarious shouting from the game commencing caused her to shift from one foot to the other in impatience as Judith climbed down from the food truck and made her way over. She gave the gorgeous woman with a petite frame and sister locs lifted into a bun a once over, but Judith’s inspection was bold and apparent. The lady didn’t even attempt to hide it. Kennedy went on the defense as Judith strolled up to her like a mother ready to defend her cub if necessary. If it came down to it, Kennedy had no qualms with defending him, too.

“You know, I never got to meet my grandson’s mother.” Judith started with that, drying her hands on her apron with a sigh. “Jahleel just popped out of nowhere, and then his mother was gone before I could stress the issue of getting to know her. I Never met any of Relic’s women to be honest, but I doubt he was ever serious with one. Did he call you larenn?”

“He did.”

Judith tsked. “That’s what I thought. So, how long has he been dating you right under our noses?”

“We aren’t and have never dated.”

“Sweetheart, I know my sons. Believe it or not, I know Relic more than any of them.”

“I highly doubt that,” Kennedy clipped, and Judith cocked her head with laser beams for eyes.

“There it is. That fire I knew you had in you the second you smacked my son’s hand away, and he stood there like a sick puppy instead of reacting. I’m not surprised he’d latch on to a girl like you.”

“Like me. What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means, he wouldn’t end up with a bouzen like Titan’s girlfriend. He’s possessive and likes to own things. Relic wouldn’t end up with a soft, pretty little thing like Savvy either because she’s too tolerating. He’d walk all over someone like her. I can tell that you’ll give him hell, though, and that’s exactly what he needs.”

“I beg to differ. I think Relic has been through enough hell in his life.”

That pulled a chuckle out of Judith as she propped a hand on her hip. “Hmph. From that slick tongue of yours, I guess he’s talked to you about me.”

“Briefly. You’re not a topic of his conversations, Ms. Judith.”

“And I bet, that it’s all bad whenever I am. Relic thinks I’m the worst mother on earth, and I’ve made my mistakes with them, but he’s not perfect either.”

Kennedy released a wry laugh and tossed her head. She could tell their chat was on a one-way street going to nowhere fast.

“Look, I can assure you that Relic doesn’t think he’s perfect. So much so, he tears himself down more than anyone else ever could, and I wonder where he gets it from.”

“Are you blaming me?” Judith jutted a finger to her chest and snorted a breath. “You even sound like him. Anything I’ve said or done to Relic, he’s brought on himself. I tried to love and build a relationship with him, but he wouldn’t let me because he was so attached to his father. He saw me the way Joseph did, so—”

“You shunned him. You placed him in the same category as his father when he was just a child, looking for the love his siblings got. A mother’s love.”

“And what? You think you can fix him and give him the love that he claimed I didn’t?”

“Never. I’m not a coddler for one, and for two, Relic doesn’t need fixing. He’s already put himself back together, no matter how fragmented and disassembled the pieces are. He did it on his own because he had no choice, and I accept him for who he is.”

“Even knowing about his condition?”

That insinuation caused her eyes to squint behind her sunshades. Kennedy was thankful that she’d covered them to not give away the fact that Judith had rattled her a bit with that information. The quirk Judith’s mouth made told Kennedy that she hadn’t concealed her reaction as much as she believed.

“Hmm, you don’t know. The way you talk about him, I assumed that you did. Relic has dissociative disorder.”

Kennedy cringed like cold water had been splashed in her face at his diagnosis. Judith looked pleased with having one up on her, but Kennedy couldn’t formulate a comeback since she was stuck trying to swallow the big ass pill that she’d been dosed.

The mood swings.

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