Page 25 of Honey Sugar
“What’s going on, baby?” She touched my half-braided hair and looked into my eyes. I realized that no matter where I was, I was home when I saw her.
“Where is Uncle Beau?”
“He left when I got here. He probably went on a binge somewhere,” she sighed. Her top lip curled in disgust and she nearly rolled her eyes into the back of her head.
“Did he say anything to you?” It was bad enough I felt protective over my aunt. My mother was on a completely different level. I would murder someone for her. Even after knowing the turmoil that came with killing a man, I’d do it in a heartbeat to protect Mama.
“Nothing more than he usually says when he sees me. He muttered about me being a nosey bitch and walked out. He told me to be out of his house by the time he got back because he wasn’t housing our entire family.” My temper blared to life louder than any siren.
“He called you a bitch?” Mama put her hand on my chest and shook her head.
“Titan, let it go. Beau is high on coke ninety percent of the time. He doesn’t even know what comes out of his mouth. All he knows how to do is put his goddamn hands on my sister.”
I looked at Mama to make sure I heard her correctly. She only cursed when she was really pissed. “Yeah, that’s been driving me crazy. She had scratches on her hand today. Did you see them?”
“Yeah. I saw them.” Our words fell silent for a few beats. “I wish I could get her to leave. I’d do whatever I could to help. She could stay with us if she needed to but I know she won’t leave Honey Sugar. I don’t blame her I just…don’t know how to help.”
“Me either.”
“Don’t worry about it, Titan. Keep doing what you’re doing, baby. You’re helping just by being here. Liv told me Beau didn’t hit her last night because he didn’t feel like dealing with you.”
“Good. I hope he knows I’ll fuck him up if he hurts Aunt Liv or Ivy.”
“I think he knows it. Plus, he’s too old to fight with you.”
“I’m glad you’re here, Mama. Aunt Liv seems to be happy and I can’t remember the last time I saw her happy.”
“I know. I decided to put all the drama behind us. I can’t let a man come between me and my little sister.”
“Good. Hey, if you keep visiting, I’ll stick around a little longer to make sure Uncle Beau stays in his place. If we can’t make her leave, I can at least run interference.” I shrugged my shoulders and Mama smiled at me before touching my cheek.
“You’re a good boy, Titan.” We walked back into the parlor and Ivy’s eyes brightened when she saw me. “Ivy, you and Titan been stealing candy from Honey Sugar again?” Mama asked.
“No, Ma’am.” Ivy’s voice was soft and sweet while she lied her ass off.
“Uh huh. Y’all go head upstairs and finish that boy’s head while I talk to Liv.” Mama shooed us away and we left the two sisters alone.
Once we were back in Ivy’s room she sighed happily. “I’m so glad Auntie Sarah is here. I haven’t seen Mama that happy in a long time. She’s actually smiling, Titan.”
“I know. It’s good to see.” Before she started on my hair again, I went into my room and grabbed a marijuana-laced chocolate chip cookie from my bag. I was going to show my little cousin how to relax the safe way. I walked back into her bedroom and closed the door behind myself.
Ivy looked up at me with raised eyebrows. “Titan, is that an edible?”
“Yeah. Take a bite. Just one bite or else you’ll sleep through your alarm in the morning.” I held the soft baked cookie out to her and she took a decent bite out of it. “Good. Now we wait.” I sat between her legs and thanked God that the sweet smell from earlier had evaporated. It threatened to unleash something dark and savage inside of me.
…
“Titan, Ivy, come here,” Mama’s voice called upstairs. My hair was done and Ivy was laid out on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The edible hit her hard and I couldn’t stop laughing. I helped her off the bed and guided her down the hallway with my hands on her hips.
“Titan, your hands are so strong.”
“Yeah?” My fingers tightened their grip involuntarily.
I was only trying to keep her from stumbling. Nothing more.
“Hey, you two.” Mama smiled from the foyer. “I’m getting ready to drive back to New Orleans. I wanted to say goodbye.” My stomach twisted knowing she was getting ready to leave.
“Come on, Mama. Stay the night,” I begged.
