Free Fridays by Pat Tucker Read Free Book Online

her attention back to Big Mama.
    â€œWell, apparently your grandfather is the father of Rhonda’s kids,” Beverly said.
    Leela heard what was said, but she needed the words not to be true. They didn’t make sense.
    â€œWhat?”
    Leela looked back and forth between her mother and grandmother; confusion was all over her face. Suddenly, she regretted not getting that drink.
    â€œRhonda? How…” Leela’s voice trailed off. Suddenly, a thumping headache came out of nowhere. Leela felt lost.
    â€œNow you know how I felt,” said Linda. “All the times she and her illiterate, illegitimate kids came around like we were all just good neighbors and the trick was secretly screwing my daddy!” Linda smirked. “You better than me, Big Mama, ’cause I woulda cut ’em all!”
    â€œWait. When was all of this going on? Big Mama, didn’t Rhondaused to bring her kids over to the house? You babysat them, and all along she knew your husband was their father?” Leela asked. Words scraped the back of Leela’s throat as she struggled to grasp the situation. She swallowed back tears.
    â€œHoney, that’s what we’ve discovered,” Beverly said.
    Leela watched her grandmother closely. Her poise and elegant manner remained fully intact. When she told the story of the ultimate betrayal and heartbreak, she did so with a peaceful and relaxed tone. She’d always been the calm and laid-back type, but the story she told was enough to drive anyone over the edge. In that moment, Leela admired her grandmother even more.
    â€œI wanted to whup that bitch’s ass!” Linda said. “Then her half-senile mama over there crying every day, asking how did she go wrong. It’s like they’re all crazy!” Linda chimed in between sips.
    â€œWait. Rhonda had a drug problem. Why would he?” Leela asked. The question was rhetorical, and she barely realized she had verbalized it.
    â€œYes. She did. She ran off for a few years, but that stuff really had a hold on her,” Beverly said. “I never would’ve thought my husband was doing anything but helping over there. You know Sadie never married and she seemed okay about it. I didn’t even mind your grandfather helping out. I figured that was doing the right thing. Everyone needs a man around the house.”
    â€œBig Mama. Rhonda’s kids spent so much time with us!” Leela added. She was stunned. She couldn’t make sense of it no matter how hard she tried.
    â€œYeah. I remember that. I remember you and the church really banding around Miss Sadie,” said Linda.
    â€œAfter fifty-two years of marriage,” Leela muttered. She shook her head slowly. “For all thirty-four of my years, I’ve never known another marriage like yours.”
    â€œIt’s unbelievable to us all, Honey.” Beverly took Leela’s hand.
    But Linda remained defiant. “That goes to show you,” Linda said. “When all is said and done, ain’t none of ’em loyal!”
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    SNAP!
    SNAP!
    â€œWhat the hell, Leela?!”
    Riley snapped his fingers as if to pull Leela back to the present.
    â€œOh. Babe. I’m sorry.” Leela shook her head.
    â€œYou didn’t hear me talking to you?”
    â€œWhat did you say?”
    Riley gave his wife a stern look.
    â€œI know. The whole answer the question with a question thing,” Leela said.
    â€œSo how long do I have to come in and find my wife staring off into space? You act like it’s the end of the world. I need you to get over it, dammit!”
    Leela couldn’t remember how long she’d been zoned out. If she didn’t dream about that lunch with Big Mama and Linda, she thought about the video of Bill and his mistress. She felt like her mind was slowly slipping away.
    It didn’t help that Samantha carried on as if nothing in her life had changed, but now