Page 50 of Quiet as Kept
“Hey, Nisha.”
She eyed me before a smile bloomed on her face. “I thought that was you, but then I didn’t think it could be since you live out of state.”
She rushed toward me, wrapping me in a hug once she was close enough to make contact.
“Mama Reese, my play mother, had to have surgery. I came into town to support her.”
“That’s the one you used to live with, right?”
I nodded.
“Is she good? Was the surgery successful?”
I smiled. Nisha and her mom truly were the only thoughtful people in my bloodline.
“She’s good. She’s home resting. We actually came to pick up food for her.” I placed my hand on Kept’s arm. “Nisha, this is Kept. Kept, this is myfavoritecousin, Nisha.”
She chuckled at the way I put emphasis on the word favorite. “Hey.” She studied him. “Your dad’s that famous baseball player, right?”
“Yeah.” Kept shook her hand and gave her a grin. “You remember that, huh?”
Nisha returned the grin. “Back in the day, you used to always be with Nehemiah. I had the biggest crush on him.”
“Aw, shit.” Kept snapped his fingers and gave her the eye. “You used to have more than a crush on him. If I remember correctly, y’all used to fuck around. He loved you, girl.”
She dissolved into giggles. “The feeling was mutual, but we were on two different paths. He was headed to college, and I was headed to hair school so I could work in my mom’s salon. How’s he doing?”
“Good. Lives in Nashville.”
Her expression was wistful. “Tell him that Anisha said hey.”
“I will.” Kept nodded.
“As for you, cuzzo, how long are you in town?”
I resisted the urge to ask her why. Anybody else, I wouldn’t have resisted. I glanced over at Kept. “Sunday?”
“Yeah. Our flight’s Sunday morning.”
Before she could say anything, I jumped in. “Remember when I borrowed that suitcase from you to go on the job interview out of town? Well, I work for Kept. He has two little girls, and I’m their nanny.”
She gave a bright smile. “Well, I know you feel like you won the lottery. Xari definitely knows her shit when it comes to kids. She’s been teaching them for years.”
“Thanks, cuz.”
“I definitely know that me and my girls lucked up.”
“Saturday is Nay’Tron’s trunk party. You know he graduated high school in May, right?” she told me.
Nay’Tron was her youngest brother.
“I knew. I saw him posting all of his prom and graduation pictures. He didn’t tell you that I Cash Apped him a hundred and fifty dollars?”
“Nah, his funky ass ain’t tell me that. Wait till I tell my momma.” She stepped up and gave me a hug. “The party’s at Granny’s house.” She rolled her eyes before I could protest. “I know. I know. But Granny has that deck and the biggest backyard. Please come through. Even if it’s just for a minute. Granny ain’t getting no younger, and I know you’re never moving back to Londynville.”
I shook my head. “Even if everything in my life goes south, I’m gonna do everything I can never to come back here.”
“I hear you. So, this might be our last time seeing you for a little minute.” She hugged me again. “Come through.”