Page 45 of Dreaming

Dennis winked. “Let me see what I can do.”

“My girl is pretty, isn’t she?”

“Stunning from head to toe.”

Nellie offered, “Our boy was dark like my husband and me. Our girls popped out and we were perplexed. No telling how your own babies will look so don’t look at her sideways.”

He frowned. “You and your husband…I thought Nia was mixed.” It was obvious Dennis was confused.

“They get that a lot,” Nia said with a shrug.

“There were probably some white folks in the past, you know…” Nellie’s eyes landed on his again and her expression turned serious. “Did Nicole tell you she was mixed?”

Extremely uncomfortable, Dennis nodded.

“I see.” Swallowing, Nellie told him, “I apologize. I think I need a drink.” Her mom turned and walked to the kitchen. She removed a bottle of wine from the fridge, then suddenly yelled, “Why, Nia? Why?”

“I don’t know, Mom.”

She met Dennis’ eyes and shook her head when his lips parted to smooth over what he thought he did wrong.

The current issue was an old and painful one.

Dennis took the bottle, opened it, and poured a glass for her. Nellie’s hand shook as she took it with a nod.

She drank half and inhaled carefully. “Nia?”

“Yes, Mom?”

“I want her out of my house. I’d be grateful for your help so I can get my things.” Nellie drank the rest of the glass.

Dennis refilled it without a word.

Nia was stunned. “Mom...you’ve been in the safe house all this time?”

Nellie nodded. “There was nothing to be done, honey. Everyone refused to act without your direction. Naturally, I agreed.”

“Oh, no…”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. They put me in a real pretty little cottage on the Tampa Bay. I didn’t suffer even a minute. I swear it.”

“Nicole has been in your condo?”

Her mother nodded. “A few weeks after you left, I went back to get my albums and the jewelry from the safe that I forgot. I tried to reason with her. I hoped there was a way to salvage our relationship.”

Looking at Dennis, Nellie explained, “My youngest daughter is ashamed of me, you see. Has been all her life. I’m a goddamn award-winning mathematics professor and Nicki wouldn’t introduce me to her friends. Like I was a homeless person she was avoiding making eye contact with on the subway.”

Nia stood beside Nellie and held her free hand. “It’s okay. Don’t think about it, Mom.”

In a strangled whisper, she said, “You don’t expect something like racism from your child. It took me forever to figure out what was happening.”

“I’m sorry, Nellie,” Dennis murmured.

She released a bitter laugh. “My husband told me I was being ridiculous. He didn’t believe me for years. Then he heard Nicki telling her friends I was her stepmother. That her real mother was white.”

“Mom, don’t think about it.” Nia took the glass and turned her mother for a hug. “I’m sorry.”

“She hates me, Nia. I don’t know why but I can’t be around her anymore.”

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