Love Delayed

“Momma, I have to get back on campus. I didn’t come for dinner. And I keep telling you not to make so much food now that I’m not here. We really have to cut back,” I whined. I had been so worried.

I shared the foreclosure letter with my parents when they returned. I even supplied them with information on the procedure and possible alternatives. While they took the paperwork and promised to look at it, they pushed me out the door and back to campus begging me to not get stressed over it. They assured they’d take care of it. It was too late. I’d lost four pounds since then.

“Elizabeth, this here is my home. I gave that foreclosure mess and repo junk to the Lord. He will provide for us. As your mother, I want to encourage you to finish what you started at school. You should be focused on that. Not here with something that me and your daddy is petitioning for in prayer. We gonna survive this.” She moved to the fridge. “Now, here. I already packed this up for you. I knew you would be back any day now. You don’t ever seem to stay away for too long.”

She handed me a Pathmark plastic bag filled with Tupperware. Every time my mother cooked, she would include enough for me. Although she constantly threw my butt out of the house, ordering me back to campus, she would never fail to feed me while away. I was grateful because in all honesty, I couldn’t afford to feed myself.

“Thanks, Momma.” I wrapped my arms around her voluptuous frame and squeezed all the fortitude from her that I could. I could stay in this woman’s arms forever. No one could ever make me feel so secure and loved. The closest to it was…Stenton.

I was almost out of the kitchen when I remembered another reason for my impromptu visit.

“Oh, here. This is for you. Don’t tell Dad.” I pulled out the same wad of cash Stenton magically planted on my person just hours before.

It was all but $200. Some of that went to gas to get me to my parents’ that night, and the rest was for food and a study book I desperately needed, but couldn’t afford to get. I shouldn’t have said I never lie to my mother, because that night I did.

My mother gasped. “Girl, where did this money come from?”

“Shhhhhhhhhhh!” I jumped up and grabbed her at the shoulders. The last thing I needed was Ruth coming in there finding out about Stenton.

“You know I tutor. I mattress all of my savings. I wanted to let it accumulate to have something generous to offer.”

“You’re always offering your tutoring money. I‘on’t recall ever seeing anything like this, Elizabeth!” At least she kept her volume low on that one.

“I know, but I’ve been getting lots of referrals. My momma breastfed me and gave me a big brain,” I charmed.

“Zo, didn’t you say your laptop crashed? Don’t you want to use this to get that fixed or your car?”

“I’ve been spending a bunch of time in the library tutoring, so I use the computers there. Don’t worry about me. I’ve been petitioning God, too.” I winked before leaving my mother with an aghast expression.

When I went into the living room, I saw my dad and Ruth glued to the television. It was an odd sight, seeing the two, who were always in conflict, doing something together.

“Zo, ain’t this the one you and Angie volunteered with this summer?” Ruth asked.

I shifted towards the television and sure enough, there was Stenton being interviewed my Stephan A. Smith. I couldn’t stand Stephan A. He was more emotional of a debater than I preferred in a man. And his tone and accent irritated me to no end, but my dad was a fan, forcing my attention to his on-air persona.

“Yeah. His friend’s the one Angie tried to say her baby was by. Foolish little girl if you ask me,” my dad murmured somewhat under his breath. The family was just getting over that dud of a scandal.

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