Page 55 of It's Love I'm After

“Same charm as his mother. I’m in love,” Grandma Jolene utters.

“Why did you pull me out here? I want to finish baking cookies with Caleb,” Grandma Jolene protests.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying this time with Caleb, but you and I have bigger fish to fry. Ma and Dad can spend time with Caleb until we’re done.”

“Boy. What fish are you talking about? I ain’t done nothing to your tail,” Grandma Jolene questions with her hands resting on both sides of her waist. The daggers she’s staring at me to match the tightness around her eyes should be intimidating, yet I’m anything but moved.

“This moment signifies more than cookie baking, and I need to get to the?—”

“Germayne Kadeem Malone, . . . get to the point or shut the hell up.” Grandma Jolene interjects.

“What’s the deal between you and Chaniya’s grandmother?”

Grandma Jolene rolls her eyes hard enough for them to get stuck in her head before blowing air and crossing her arms over her chest.

“I don’t want to?—”

“Too bad. Look, Grandma Jolene. Disrespecting you is the last thing I want to do, but allowing you to jeopardize my future isn’t a risk I’m going to take. Tell me what the beef is about, please.”

“You better mind your mann?—”

“I’m sorry, but can you please tell me what the issue is so I understand the situation better?”

“Fine. Back in high school, Edna and I were the best of friends. Everything changed when Car?—”

“Please tell me you and that woman aren’t beefing over a man. Please. If you’re about to?—”

“It is over a man because I didn’t know that Carter had been playing find that lollipop with Edna. I thought he was only interested in me, but she had him first,” Grandma Jolene concludes with a resting bitch face that has me shaking my head at this childish information.

“You mean to tell me that you and Nana are still beefing over a nigga that neither one of y’all asses are with today?” I chuckle lowly because this is the dumbest shit I’ve heard in a long time.

“Yep,” Grandma Jolene confirms, popping the p to enunciate her meaningless point.

“Not at the risk of my happiness, y’all won’t. Hold on.” Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dial Nana’s number to end this bullshit beef.

Their old asses got me and my future fucked up.

“How’s my new grandson doing?” Nana greets when the call connects after the third ring.

“I’ll be better soon as we get some things ironed out. Can you come to—” I pause to give Grandma Jolene a pleading look before continuing. “Sorry, can you come to 1068 Usemar Drive? I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Is everything okay with Chaniya and Caleb?” Nana questions.

“Yes, ma’am. This is important, though,” I confirm.

“Alright, I’m on my way,” Nana says before disconnecting the call.

“Why the hell did you invite that prude to my house, Germayne?” Grandma Jolene asks.

“What y’all have going on ends before I leave here because I’m marrying Chaniya and adopting Caleb. That means family over everything, so y’all old asses are about to squash this shit.” With that, I return to the house to wait for Nana's arrival.

Feeling confident that the meeting will go well, I quickly text Chaniya.

Me: Hey Cha-Cha. Be ready at seven. Caleb and I are gonna pick you up for dinner.

“Okay, don’t forget. We’re going to walk mommy to my car and open the door for her.” I reiterate the instructions I had given Caleb before we got out.

“Okay. I won’t.” Caleb confirms just as the front door opens, and a smiling Chaniya comes into view.

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