Page 100

“You will one day. Just not today.” Crossing my ankles, I leaned against the door frame with my arms folded. “Stop stalling, Talitha. Call your people.”
Blowing out a deep sighed, she tapped on the phone screen a few times before placing the phone on speaker.
“Tali,” a voice hummed when the call connected.
“Betty Jo, you heard from Gema. I’ve been trying to call her phone.”
“Yeah, her and Litha was just here ‘bout an hour ago. Litha said she was going to let Mama call you.”
“She hasn’t. I’ve been calling Gema all day and my Mama either blocked my number or got Gema phone cut off.”
“That damn girl,” her aunt rasped. “I tried to tell her Tali. Me and Willearl told her Mama clumsy and be trying to do shit on her own. We told her to let that shit go.”
“Funny how y’all told her that but nobody thought to reach out to me.”
“Don’t do that, Tali.”
“Do what?” she snapped. “Be pissed off with y’all? Somebody could’ve called me, Betty Jo.”
“We ain’t know what she was planning on doing. Hell, we ain’t know ‘til she pulled up to the house with Mama in the car.”
“You really expect me to believe neither of y’all had a hand in this?” her voice quaked. The longer she sat on the phone, the more she fought back her tears. Pushing away from the door, I walked to the bed and took a seat. Grabbing her by the arm, I pulled her into my lap and wrapped my arms around her waist.
“We ain’t know, Tali. I swear we didn’t. You know had I known I would’ve whooped Litha’s ass myself. I told her earlier to bring Mama back up there and drop this mess.”
“She’s not, ya’ know,” Talitha sighed and swiped fallen tears from her face.
“I know…” her aunt sighed. “She running with this whole ‘y’all up there abusing mama shit. Take her to court Tali. Me, Meat, and Willearl with testify on your behalf. I can’t speak for Louise cause she too busy running round here being Litha ‘yes man’ but the rest of us got ya’ back.”
“That’s good to hear. I thought all of y’all were involved.”
“Ain’t no way you thought that shit!” The way her aunt said it was almost like she was offended at the notion.
“Nobody gave me a warning, Betty Jo. I was in the middle of a staff meeting when Mrs. Jessie called me frantic. I didn’t know what to believe when I pulled up at the house and the sheriff was telling me there were allegations of abuse.”
“Well, I can attest to me, Willearl, and Meat not knowing. Louise might’ve but the rest of us didn’t. When Litha said she thought Mama was getting beat on, we told her ass she was lying. Then she filed the papers up there instead of doing it out here. That right there should let you know we ain’t have shit to do with it.”
Talitha thought about what her aunt had said for a few minutes before responding, “I’m going to get Gema back. And when I do, my Mama will never see her again. In fact, Gema will never be allowed back in Warner Robins without me. I can’t trust it.”
“If that’s the way it gotta be, then I can’t do nothing but respect it.”
Satisfied with her answer Talitha sighed, “If you talk to Gema, have her call me. I need to hear her voice, Betty Jo. I can’t breathe without her by my side.”
“I know, Tali. I know. I’mma call Litha. Mama will be calling you at some point today so stay by the phone.”
“I will.”
“I love you, Tali,” she promised.
“I love you more,” Talitha said before hanging the phone up. Placing it over on her chest, she sucked in a few deep breaths before a sob erupted from the back of her throat.
Tightening my arms around her, I held onto her. “Shhhh baby. We gon’ get her back.”
The harder she cried, the more violently her body shook. This was all she had done the past two days. She was exhausted and that was shown all in her face. Regardless of how many times I tried to reassure her, I felt like she was slowly giving up the fight. The last thing Gema needed was for Talitha to stop fighting for her.
Grabbing her chin, I tipped her head in my direction. “You know I got you, don’t you?” I asked. Instead of responding, Talitha nodded through her tears. “Then believe me when I say we’re going to get her back.”
“Okay,” she mumbled after finally coming down.