Page 83 of The Prodigy

“Never too busy for you.”

She smiled as she approached, and ended up sitting where Joe had just been. “Any news?”

“Nah. It ain’t kin. That’s the only news.”

“That’s good news to me.”

“Yeah, but now I got more questions than answers.”

“Well, I have no doubt you’ll figure it out.” She lit up the cigarette she took from behind her ear. “You are the living embodiment of everything your daddy stood for. You got the brains…the authority…the courage. And you always put the family first. That’s why you’re sitting in that chair. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thank you.” I couldn’t help but blush a little bit. “It’s some Gabrielle in me, too, now. Don’t get it twisted.”

She chuckled. “You’re so silly.”

“What’s up, Ma? You waited around for a reason.”

She spread her hands like she knew she’d been caught. “Okay. Fine. It’s true. I want you to consider staying here a little longer.”

“Why?”

“I’m worried about you.”

“I can handle myself.”

“I know, baby. I know that better than anybody. It’s just…I’m still working through some things related to your daddy. I’m worried that you might be too, and maybe you’re running away from it.”

I frowned. “I’m good.”

“You’re such a man. Y’all always think you’re good.”

I sat back in my chair. “What’s up, Mama? You always speak your mind. Don’t let up now.”

She stared at me with a blank expression. I stared right back. Finally, she shrugged.

“What all do you know about this Malika girl?”

There it was.

I knew it was coming eventually.

“Not much,” I admitted. “Just that she was working at Sliders when I walked through the door and changed her life.”

“For the better, I’m sure.”

“I wouldn’t say all that.”

She gestured to the space around her. “This big ass house? Brand new designer clothes?You?Trust me, that bitch is living it up. She walked up in here lookin’ like a black Orphan Annie, and now look at her. She’s a ghetto Meghan Markle. You done elevated her narrow ass. I’ma look up one day and the bitch gon’ be the queen.”

“I mean…she got family, though. And she had a life before me. And she saw me kill somebody. She’s probably traumatized and just ain’t telling me.”

“She don’t seem traumatized to me.”

I tilted my head, crossing my arms in front of me. “Where are you going with this?”

“I just…I don’t know how to feel about her.”

“Yeah, she knows. She thinks you don’t like her.”

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