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Talitha and her aunt danced for three songs straight, and when the last one ended, she walked up behind me and ran her hands down my chest. When Teddy Pendergrass’ “You’re My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration” began to play, she leaned down and requested. “Come dance with me Harvey.” Here she was already out of breath but asking me to dance.
“You haven’t tired yourself out yet?”
“Nope!” she popped. “I’m just getting started,” she tittered.
Grabbing her hands, I kissed her palms and rose from the seat. Laying my hand at the small of her back, I ushered her around the table. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pulled her into my chest and rocked her side to side. Talitha laid her head on my chest and held onto me while I sang the lyrics of the song to her.
“I don’t think I could have done this without you being here.”
“I keep telling you love, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere but here. Gema meant a great deal to me. I’m going to miss her so much.”
“As am I. I’m happy that I’ve got years of memories with her.”
Grabbing her by the hand, I held her back slightly and tapped the middle of her chest. “She will always be right here. You can rest peacefully knowing that at the end of the day, you did right by her. She knew it and everyone else around here knows it. You gave up your life to take care of her. She was happy and wanted for nothing. Your job is done love. You succeeded and now it’s time for you to finally live foryou.
You can be as selfish as you want because you deserve it. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re wrong for finally choosing yourself. It’s what Gema would’ve wanted.”
“It is, huh?”
“Yes love. It sure is. It’s time for you to let go and love without restrictions. I know you feel like Gema was all you had but love… you have me as well. And I’m never going away,” I avowed and sealed my declaration with a kiss.
The night was officially winding down which meant my time with Talitha was getting ready to be interrupted for at least twenty-four hours. I had to head back so I could be up bright and early to show William around the school.
“For somebody who barely eats, you’ve been fucking that food up,” I joked with Talitha who was now on her fourth plate of the night.
“I know. I can’t stand my Mama but her ass can cook. Can’t take it away from her. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to eat like this.” She smiled.
“I bet.” I chuckled.
Talitha wiped her mouth and adjusted her body in her chair so she could lean her head on my chest.
“Tired?” I asked, knowing she was. She’d barely slept. If I called her ass out on it, she would lie and say she’d been sleeping. She’d laid in the bed every night with her eyes closedpretendingto sleep. I knew her breathing patterns therefore I knew she wasn’t sleep. She was going to crash eventually and when it happened, I prayed we would be back at home so she could be comfortable.
“I am. I know you gotta get on the road so we can go.”
“The damn beans over here bubbling. Who the last person who touched ‘em?” Willearl asked.
“That one right there.” Talitha’s mother tossed her head at her.
“Tali, you pregnant?” Bonnie asked.
Popping her head up from my chest, Talitha stared at Bonnie. “What? Why you say that?”
“You done ruint the beans. Only time red beans spoil is when a pregnant woman touch ‘em,” Bonnie shared.
What the fuck?My eyes trailed down to her stomach. It was flat.Nawl couldn’t be.
“Yeah she is,” her mama blurted out. “Smelt it on her when she showed up at the hospital. That’s why she ain’t drink that wine Betty Jo offered her.”
Talitha hopped out of her chair, leaned across the table, and pointed her finger in her mama face. “Shut the fuck up! You don’t know what you talking ‘bout.”
“If I don’t, what you getting so mad for?” she countered. “What… ya’ ole man ain’t know? Must not be his.”
“Jalitha, I’m warning you right now to shut yo’ mouth. Fo’ I shut it for you.”
“Tuh,” she scoffed. “Girl full of baby.”
Snatching her blazer off the back of the chair, Talitha roared, “Let’s go!”