The Banks Sisters by Nikki Turner Read Free Book Online Page B

idol, role-model of father was a two-timing womanizer, had damaged her deeply. If she couldn’t trust her creator, her father, who could she trust?
    From that moment on, Deidra could never connect with people whole-heartedly or truly deeply love neither would she commit to anything: a girlfriend, a job, a man, not even her own four beautiful children, who was the spitting mirror image of her. She picked up and disposed of people as if they were trash.
    Me-Ma loved her daughter so much and was sure that Deidra’s shortcomings were just a test of her faith. Me-Ma’s faith was impeccable and knew that God may not have when she wanted him to but he would come in his time. And she believed that God was still working on Deidra and would deliver her from her demons one day and until then she would diligently watch over and pray for Deidra’s children; her grandchildren.
    Which was the one reason that she was always on her knees and in church now, with the prayer warriors praying for her granddaughter. Though all of the grand girls each had their own issues and could use God’s grace and mercy. Tallhya had her battles with obesity and her self-esteem. While Bunny, her ghetto princess of whom, Me-Ma, worried herself to death about. The child was so bold and defiant and besides God, that girl feared nothing. And Gene AKA Ginger, was an entirely different story, the poor thing had so many demons that all Me-Ma could do was plead the blood of Jesus on that child.
    Oddly enough Simone didn’t require a lot of her grandmother’s prayers. Though Me-Ma would never admit it and would deny it to her grave, but Simone was definitely her favorite. She loved them all immensely, but there was something about Simone, kind and gentle spirit that held a special place in her heart. The girl walked the straight and narrow and never got in much trouble. Simone was both spiritual and religious. She believed and loved the Lord without a shadow of a doubt. She was raised up in the First Zion Baptist Church and went every single Sunday with her grandmother even after she went to live with her dad when she was nine. Her dad would drop her off every Sunday so she could attend service with her Me-Ma She sung on the choir and ushered on the usher board. But two years ago, when Pastor Jasper dropped dead of a heart attack on the pulpit, the church or Simone feelings toward it was never the same. Simone hadn’t stepped a foot in this church again. It was something about the man dying there that freaked her out.
    Me-Ma looked up to God, begging for his mercy on Simone. In the midst, she saw Pastor Cassius’ eyes open, as he was praying. Then saw Katrina making googly eyes with the pastor. Me-Ma shot her a look that only a mother could give her child. Cassius looked away quickly and closed his eyes and brought the prayer to a close.
    Me-Ma honestly didn’t think much of Katrina, coming onto the Reverend. It was no secret that damn near every woman at the church had fantasies of being the First Lady. The pastor confessed that he was waiting on God to send her to him. Meanwhile preaching on abstinence and waiting on the one God wanted for him. But his most important focus was building his ministry.
    â€œHow are you holding up?” Katrina approached and asked Me-Ma. “If I were you, I’d be all to pieces,” she said. “But you look so calm. You don’t show one ounce of weariness on your face.”
    Me-Ma was a genuine, kind-hearted woman, but she didn’t take mess from a soul. She had seen a lot of foolishness and BS in her day. Me-Ma looked the young lady up and down, Keisha she thought her name was. Me-Ma had seen napkins with more material than the girl’s skirt, leaving nothing to the imagination, except the price to further explore.
    â€œListen baby, I hear what they saying, but I know I got God on my side and God has the world in his hands including my grand-daughter. And baby I got