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When I said I was making changes at the youth center, I meant just that. Rossi had served as an administrative assistant to the director for years. That role stifled his creativity; I saw that and did something about it. My goal was to elevate the entire team starting with my assistant. I created the position and promoted him under the guise of him finding and training his replacement. With my focus being on the tech school, I needed people at the youth center that I could trust to make sure it ransmoothly. My next step was to step down as director and put Marsha in my position.
The further we got with the tech school, the more I desired to be a permanent fixture there. I planned to be there full time, so I needed to make sure I left the youth center in good hands. By the time my day had started to wind down, I grabbed my things and slipped out.
“We gon’ bring her back the weekend cause Bonnie wanna go to Savannah to see JR,” Willearl let me know.
We’d gotten Gema bags packed in the trunk of his car and I was busy saying my goodbyes. Him, Bonnie, and Louise showed up right on time. This morning when I got up, me and Gema went to Gritsand had breakfast. When they pulled up to the house, she was just getting ready to take a nap. I invited them to hang around so she could get at least an hour of sleep, but she declined and said she would sleep on the road.
Unlike the last few times I packed her up and set her off, this time felt different. I wasn’t having anxiety about her being out of my presence. I don’t know if it was because she would be staying with Louise or because we had seemingly buried the hatchet, and everyone was getting along for her sake. Whatever it was, I wasn’t bothered this time. I prayed over her this morning while we were out at breakfast and had been at peace since.
“Just let me know what time,” I finally answered Willearl. “I wanna make sure either me or Mrs. Jessie will be here.”
“We will call you when we figure it out.”
“That works for me. Gema, you ready to hit the road?”
“Ummhmm. Willearl said he gon’ stop me by the fish house. I want some of that pan trout.”
“Fried hard.” I finished her statement for her.
“You know how I likes it.” She laughed.
“Of course I do.” Reaching in my pocket, I pulled out the wad of money Law had given me for her and tucked it in her jacket pocket. “That’s for you?”
“I’on need it.”
Pursing my lips, I cocked my head to the side. “You try telling him that.”
“He ain’t gon’ listen to me.”
“And you think he listens to me,” I pouted.
“Nope.” Stuffing her hand in her pocket, she pulled the money out and tucked it in her bra. “Safer up here.” She patted her chest.
“Louise, I wrote down the schedule for her medicine. I know you prolly don’t need it, but I did it anyway. I checked her sugar this morning… Do it again before she goes to bed. If it’s low, give her some candy. The past couple of nights it dropped so we been monitoring it real close.”
“Okay. I’ll keep a watch for it.”
“Give me a kiss girlfriend, so y’all can get on the highway.”
Puckering her lips, Gema leaned in and met me halfway. “I love you, Bertha Mae.”
“Ummhmm. I loves you more. Tell that man I said I love him too and take care of you like I told ‘em.”
“I will. Keep that phone in case I decide to call.”
“Jessie turned the ringer up.”
“Alright. Y’all be careful and let me know when y’all make it.”
“Alright Tali,” Willearl said.
Closing the back door, I tapped the top of the car and walked away. Pushing the front door open, I kicked it closed with my foot and slid out of my shoes. “Harvey, where you at?”
“Kitchen,” he yelled out.
“Gema said take care of me like she told you to.”
Law spun around and pecked my lips. “Don’t I always.”