Page 78 of Happy Is On Hiatus

“Don’t you think you’ve had enough for one night?” Vi asked.

“Well, at least she ain’t gotta drive home,” Aunt Rose said as she lifted her glass for Jemel to refill as well. Earlier she’d proclaimed that the wine wasn’t as good as her V.O., but it would do.

Taryn and Necole sent each other a knowing glance before giggling at their great-aunt.

When everyone had a glass, Rita cleared her throat and continued. “We’re blessed to have this moment in time together as a family.” Those first words were so very true. Without her family, Rita didn’t know where she’d be.

“Once again we’ve weathered some storms,” she said, glancing at Sharae and then letting her gaze rest on her daughters. “But through it all the Lord has kept us. This family has stood together one more time.” She took a shaky breath, feeling the tears spring to her eyes. “We may not have agreed every step of the way, or even said nice things all the time, but there was never any doubt that our loyalty to one anotherwas always there. We are stronger together. Remember Grandma Patty tellin’ us that when we were little girls?”

Sharae and Jemel nodded.

“That and ‘The next cuss word I hear, you’re all gettin’ your mouths washed out with soap,’” Jemel said and then laughed.

Sharae shook her head. “And she was always the first one to cuss again.”

Aunt Ceil chuckled. “That’s my headstrong and spirited girl.”

Rita smiled, letting the joy of seeing her family together mix with the pain that had plagued her so much these past weeks.

“To us,” she said and held up her glass. Everyone lifted their glasses. “To family, forgiveness ...”

“And don’t forget good food. You put your foot in that gravy you made for the pork chops tonight, Rita,” Vi said with a wink to her daughter.

Accepting her mother’s compliment, Rita added, “To family, forgiveness, food, and our future. May we continue to live well, praise the Lord, and have each other’s back.”

“Hear! Hear!” Sharae said, standing to come closer to Rita so she could tap her wineglass to hers.

Jemel stood and moved closer to Sharae and Rita to tap her glass against theirs. The Aunts, who were sitting closest to each other—as always—tapped their glasses together. Necole and Taryn tapped theirs and then turned to do the same with the Aunts.

“Now,” Vi said after everyone had taken a sip, “we’ve got to get started planning this fundraiser and figuring out this catering business. Who’s gonna do what and all that.” She looked at her sisters, who nodded in agreement.

Sharae and Jemel sent Rita a baleful look, but Rita chuckled anyway—this was just how her family was. The Aunts would always be pushy and opinionated and give them advice they thought wasgood but Rita, Sharae, and Jemel knew was unrealistic and outdated. Sharae would continue to focus on her job, but now with a little bit of Desmond thrown in. And Rita, she would keep moving forward like she always did.

This was their life, and Rita was grateful for every minute of it, whether those minutes were always filled with happiness or not.