Page 193 of Restless
“My mistake, JaZuria,” Meggie said evenly, interrupting Kendall. “My sister-in-law is an attorney, and a very good one, who can represent her clients in court. The mistake is mine, not Kendall’s.”
“We’re very informal here, Zuria,” Jordan said diplomatically. “Although I am Meggie’s doctor, we long ago gave up formalities, so relax and enjoy yourself.”
Meggie looked at Jordan, who’d opted for a more conservative knee-length dress, though she wore it wonderfully. “Thank you,” she mouthed.
Jordan nodded. “We’re helping Meggie out, since she was so recently released from the hospital.”
“My baby is making great strides,” Meggie said. “She’ll soon be 30weeks.”
JaZuria didn’t answer.
Swallowing her annoyance, Meggie forged on. “This is my sister-in-law, Bunny. She is a private tutor and my part-time assistant.”
“Sister-in-law because of your brothers or because of your husband’s brothers?” JaZuria asked.
“Kendall is the wife of Christopher’s brother,” Meggie answered, relieved JaZuria offered some engagement. “Bunny is Digger’s wife, but I see him and Mortician as my family.”
“I don’t know any of these people,” JaZuria said.
“Right. We have a very big family,” Meggie said. “Uh, you know Jordan and my children’s grandmother, Roxy…Roxanne.”
JaZuria’s almond-shaped, doe brown eyes widened, then narrowed. “You aren’t funny, Mrs. Caldwell. You are aware that I’m a Civil Rightsattorneyas well as my standing in my community. Your attempt at identifying is insulting. I have a mind to gather my husband and my daughters and leave.”
“Please, get the fuck out, then,” Roxy snapped. “Your fucking sadity bitchiness is working on my ass, JaZuria, more than it did when you tried to turn me into a fucking servant.”
“Servant?” JaZuria screeched. “They are staff! There are no servants in our contemporary world.”
Life had become so chaotic. Every dinner, every interaction, turned disordered, like the world was restless, sweeping out the status quo and ushering in a storm. For months, peace had become a poignant memory. Meggie feared what that meant. Hopefully, they were experiencing a temporary upheaval as happened from time to time.
“We are here on behalf of our children,” Meggie said politely. “Not to solve problems outside the scope of an evening.”
“What does your son see in my daughter? Had he been a work-in-progress, my daughter’s value would have been obvious. But I refuse to have Jaleena in a subservient role to a rich boy who needs nothing.”
“Leen could never be subservient to anyone, Mrs. Davis,” Mattie inserted, comfortable enough to speak up without her father’s looming presence.
“Who are you?” JaZuria demanded. “And my daughter’s name isJa-Leen-a. How dare you reduce her to a rapper’s drug?”
Roxy snorted. “Bitch—”
“Mattie,Matilda, is my daughter,” Kendall said quickly, “and Jaleena’s friend, whom she was defending. Mattie wasn’t reducing Jaleena in any way, shape, or form. She can’t compete with the excellent job you’re doing.”
“How dare you!”
“Oh, I dare more than you know,” Kendall retorted. “We aren’t your enemy or your daughter’s.”
“May I also add, you’re devaluing your daughter,” Meggie said. “CJ doesn’t want anything from her except respect and the benefit of the doubt.”
“I doubt that,” JaZuria said with a snort. “I know about biker clubs and their misogyny and many prejudices.” She glared between Jordan and Roxy. “That is why I am shocked you two are associated with these people.” She glowered at Meggie. “That is why I am highly insulted that you claim a black woman as your children’s grandmother when you are clearly lily white.” She scowled at Mattie. “And that is why I do not appreciate you referring to my daughter with more respect.”
Kendall snapped her fingers. “I’m here, JaZuria. You have a problem with my daughter, come to me or her father. Attorney to attorney, your defamatory remarks are slanderous. Roxanne Harrington has been more of a mother to me than my own mother ever was. She is my children’s grandmother. Blood or DNA or however you wish to frame it, has nothing to do with it.”
“We understand your reservations,” Meggie added. Her perception of biker clubs also explained her hostility. “I won’t lie and tell you there is no objectification of women in the club.” She thought about Johnnie and Ryan. “Or other issues—”
“In the family,” Bunny said.
Meggie nodded. “But we love and respect each other—” Again, Johnnie and Ryan rose in her head, and she managed not to wince. “You’re as protective of your children as we are of ours.”
Sniffing, JaZuria finally sat on one of the vacant stools. Still at the far end of the counter, but it was progress. “I will be happy to cut the tomatoes,” she said stiffly.
