Page 51 of Exile & Lula

Lula asked her daughter, “Are you afraid Exile’s nieces will touch your stuff?”

“No, I’ll lock my room like I do at Dad’s house,” Dillon said in between bites of her omelet. Holding my gaze, she explained, “My little brother and sister are fine. They’re not bad at all, but theyarelittle and think every toy in the house belongs to them.”

For the rest of breakfast, Dillon regaled me with tales of her younger siblings’ habit of stealing her belongings. She sounded so much like Lula. My nieces were the same way when they got riled up and turned into tiny versions of Nova.

I was a little bummed when Dillon needed to leave for school. She was an interesting kid who talked like an adult.

Walking outside with Lula, I watched Dillon disappear around the corner in Elle’s SUV. The weather was great. If I were in Baton Rouge, I’d likely spend the afternoon riding around town before coming home to play with the girls in the backyard.

Feeling uncertain about my place in the world, I asked Lula, “What’s the plan for today?”

“I’d like to visit Cher and Stevie,” Lula said, leaning into my body. “Bebe texted me to say my sisters are already at the hospital. Will you come with me?”

“Of course.”

Staring up at me, she added, “The visit might involve crying or Sabrina giving you grief.”

“I’m not afraid of your sister.”

Lula sighed like I was naïve, but she didn’t say anything.

For the next hour, we sat out on her back patio while Xena ran around the yard, barking at men in a boat on the lake. Lula waved at them.

Her living situation was the opposite of private, but I understood why Lula wanted a home in the Sleepy Eye Community. As we got ready to drive to the hospital, I tried to picture Nova, Skylar, and Lyric visiting Lula’s house. I knew the girls would love the yard with its playset and the lake filled with geese.

On the ride, I texted Nova a few times. She claimed Zodiac might fuck her if I didn’t return home soon.

“I know the lawyer is pretty, but you’ve got to save me from your president’s lecherous ways!”

Sensing I was irritated, Lula glanced at my phone while we waited at a light. She read the text and frowned as if my sister’s concern was genuine.

I set aside my phone and paid attention to the road. “I shouldn’t assume the Void won’t make another move,” I said, agitated about both potential threats and Zodiac’s dick.

“Do you think you’ll stay the night again?”

“Yes, if you’ll have me.”

Lula’s leery expression flipped to a smile. Though we both knew our time together was growing short, neither one of us wanted to spell out what would soon happen.

At the hospital, Lula parked near a line of motorcycles belonging to her people. Rather than hurry inside, she sat in her quiet SUV and watched me.

“I’m going to buy a place in Baton Rouge.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes. I’ll build a second home base there, so we can spend time together.”

Her words broke through my irritation, reminding me why I was in Little Memphis. “I feel guilty over leaving Nova and the girls.”

“Is Zodiac really trying to fuck her?”

“No,” I said and then shrugged. “Maybe. He enjoys how she babies him. I always assumed he viewed her as a mother figure, but she’s a good-looking woman. Ugh, I don’t know what’s happening.”

“Do you think she’s saying those things to get you to race back to Baton Rouge?”

“Of course.”

“Does she lie a lot?”