Page 41 of Obsessive Love

Mrs. Mary waited until they were gone, then pulled her mask off and retrieved a knife from her pocket.

She slammed it into her ankle and dragged it to her thigh.

Legacy’s mama screamed at the top of her lungs, and I stood there shocked.

“That baby has been a part of my life for almost twenty years; if I’d known the way you treated her, I would’ve already showed the fuck up.

” She grabbed her mama's face to make her look at her. “Arlene is a nicer person than me; remember that.” She let Legacy’s mama face go, stood, and turned to face me. “Let’s go.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I nodded, then put my arm out for her to take. Mrs. Mary lopped her arm around mine, and we left the house after I helped everyone into the car and got in. “Next time we make a stop, and y’all got a mask, make sure you get me one too.”

“Don’t tell my son we did this,” Ms. Arlene said as I drove back to her house. “It ain’t his or Legacy's business.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, nodding. There was no way I was going to keep this to myself. The fellas were going to find out about this as soon as I got to the house.

“Nah, tell my grandkids,” Mrs. Mary said from the back seat. I looked through the rear-view mirror to see her cleaning her knife with alcohol wipes. “They work my nerves sometimes, so they need a little fear put back into their hearts.”

“My son knows I’m crazy,” Ms. Nadine said with a shrug. She pulled her mask off and handed it to Mrs. Mary, who had, of course, supplied the masks. “Who do you think he got it from?”

“True,” Mrs. Mary said, nodding. “I knew Nine was off the day he showed up on my front porch looking for Cross’s crazy ass.”

“Their crazies mesh so well, though,” Ms. Arlene sighed. “Just a little psycho couple loving on each other.” She patted her heart as if she were truly touched. “And they have children, too?” she leaned back and shook her head. “That little Deuce and Love are so adorable.”

“I hope they have more,” Mrs. Mary replied as she nodded.

“Me, too,” Ms. Nadine agreed.

I laughed and continued to drive. One minute, they were talking about how crazy their kids and grandkids were, and the next, they were hoping for more grandkids. The shit was comical.

Ms. Arlene turned around in her seat to face them. “You know who I think is really crazy, though?”

“Ex and Paxton?” Mrs. Mary proudly laughed.

“No, they even have them beat,” Ms. Arlene said, shaking her head.

“That boy sniffing behind the coach?” Mrs. Nadine snapped her fingers like she was trying to remember their names. She tapped my shoulder to get my attention. “What’s your lawyer friend and the coach?”

“Morning and Diara.”

“Yeah,” she said, patting my arm and then turning back to Ms. Arlene. “Them?”

“Nope,” Ms. Arlene said, shaking her head. “It's one of Mary’s grandkids.”

“I already mentioned the crazy ones,” Mrs. Mary said. “Who’s left?”

“The quiet one,” Ms. Arlene answered.

“Child, Psalms too busy playing in the dirt and smoking in her greenhouse to worry about shit. She and Wednesday have been fucking for years. They ain’t crazy, though,” she said, shaking her head.

“Nope, not her,” Ms. Arlene said, smiling. “The other one.”

“Corinthians?” Ms. Nadine questioned, and I couldn’t help but nod.

Corinthians was quiet as hell, so most people underestimated her.

They always looked at Cross or Ex to pop off and Krude to be dramatic.

Judge and Psalms were a little more vocal than she was, which is how she managed to stay in the background.

But all the cousins agreed that Corinthians was the most unhinged and were a little afraid of her. “Who is she dating?”

“King Beat Box,” I said, jumping into the conversation.

“Who?” Ms. Nadine asked.

“Four,” Mrs. Mary giggled.

“Why the hell did you call him King Beat Box, Pyrite?” Ms. Arlene asked.

“That’s what Krude calls him because when he’s mad, he stutters,” I laughed.

“Y’all wrong for that,” Ms. Arlene said, trying not to laugh. She turned back to her friends and smiled. “But yeah, they are the craziest. I’m telling you right now, they are worse than Nine and Cross.”

“I believe it,” Mrs. Mary said, agreeing. “Especially knowing what I know.”

“Wait, you know their secret?” I stopped at the red light and turned around to see Mrs. Mary nodding. “How do you know?”

“She’s my granddaughter, Pyrite. If anyone were going to know, you didn’t think it would be me?

” She gave me a sweet smile, but I could tell there was something behind it.

There was no pain or fear; nah, the hidden secrets behind that smile were deadly as fuck.

“Now, when she’s ready for the world to know, y’all will know. Until then, it's my secret to keep.”

“Noted,” I said, nodding. “Just answer me this: how bad is he going to crash out?”

Mrs. Mary smiled again, this one genuine and full of love. “For Corinthians, he’s going to level the country.”

“Damn,” I said, shaking my head. “I can't wait for that shit.”

“Me either,” Ms. Nadine said. I turned to look at her, lifted my brow, and she shrugged. “I love a good crash out from time to time. It brings excitement to my old age.”

“I’ll watch from heaven,” Ms. Arlene laughed. “I doubt I’ll be here, but that doesn’t mean I won't see it.”

“Don’t say that,” I said, turning around to face her. “You never know what life has in store for you.”

She patted my hand and smiled. “Baby, my time is limited. I know that, just like everyone else does. The only people in denial are Hood and Bowlin,” she said, and all I could do was nod.

My eyes filled with tears instantly, and one fell from my left eye.

I didn’t even bother wiping it because one would replace it as soon as I did.

“You still haven’t told Legacy yet?” Mrs. Mary asked.

“No,” Ms. Arlene said, shaking her head. She wiped the tears from my face and then patted my cheek. “I need one more favor after you drop us off.”

“We’re jumping someone else?”

“No baby, that bitch was the last on my list,” she laughed.

“Name it.”

“I’ve been writing Hood letters for after I’m gone. But I need a few videos made for certain moments in his life. Do you think you can call in some favors and make that happen? I want to surprise Hood with them.”

“I got you,” I said, nodding. I swiped the screen on my dashboard to bring up my contacts and found Emrick Lancing’s name.

He was a sports journalist, but he also held a degree in photography and film.

When he wasn’t in front of the camera interviewing players and coaches, he was behind it, making people's dreams come true.

“What’s good, Pyrite?” Emrick answered on the second ring. “You finally ready for me to start interviewing your players?”

“Nah, man,” I laughed. “I got something else in mind. You got a few minutes to talk?”

“Yeah,” he chuckled. “What’s up?”

“You remember Hood telling you about his mama, right?”

“Yeah, man,” he answered. “Shit hits a little too close to home.”

“I already know, but you’re the only person I could think of who could handle something like this,” I sighed. Emrick had recently lost someone close to him to cancer, and even though my boy was laughing and joking, he was still mourning.

“What you need, man?”

“So I’m here with Hood’s mama, and she just mentioned that she wants to make a few videos for Hood.”

“Drop the addy so we can get started.” I looked over at Ms. Arlene for permission, and she nodded. I pulled up our text thread and sent him the address. “She knows I’m coming?”

“She’s right here with me, man,” I laughed. “She can hear you.”

“Ms. Bowlin, my name is Emrick Lancing.”

“That brown boy who interviews all the basketball players. I know who you are, baby,” she laughed. “Thank you for agreeing to do this on such short notice.”

“No need for thanks, ma’am,” Emrick cleared his throat. “Tell me what you have in mind so I can make your vision a reality.”

“Well, baby, nothing too fancy. Just a couple of videos for my son for when I’m not here. Important things like his engagement, wedding, and first baby.”

“And the first time Legacy wins a WNBA championship,” Mrs. Nadine said from the back seat.

“Right, she’s going to need a few videos, too,” Ms. Arlene agreed. “Emrick, can you do that, baby?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Emrick answered. “I’m about thirty minutes from you; I’m packing my stuff as we speak. I’ll see you soon.”

“Alright, baby,” she said, nodding.

Emrick hung up, and I continued driving back to Ms. Arlene’s house. It was dope what she was doing for Hood. He would need it once she was gone.

“Ms. Arlene, I want you to meet the woman I plan to marry.”

“The Baker?” Mrs. Mary said from the back seat, and I nodded. “I heard about her from your mama. You put an ankle monitor on her?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I laughed.

“Lord, all these fools are off,” Ms. Nadine said, then sighed. “Tell us about her, though, what’s she like?”

“Fable is magic,” I laughed, turning into Ms. Arlene’s driveway. “Like, pure magic.”

“You love her?” Ms. Arlene asked.

I rested my head against the headrest and nodded.

“He loves her,” Mrs. Mary laughed. “That’s what his mama told me.”

I smiled and wiped my hand over my mouth. “Nah, it’s more than that,” I said, shaking my head.

“More?” Ms. Nadine questioned.

“Yeah, more,” I answered. “I’m obsessed.”

“You know the Pastor is obsessed with me, too,” Mrs. Mary giggled. “Been that way for over fifty years. That’s a different type of love.”

I turned around to face her and smiled. “You regret it?”

“No,” she said, waving me off. “I’m just as obsessed with him as he is with me.”