I turned on the back lights and went for a walk in Momma’s garden as I waited for Daddy and Harris to return home. I could only hope the tranquillity of its beauty and the small pond would calm my nerves. Instead, it just left me on simmer, so I returned to the house. I had just reached the top of the stairs when I heard car doors shutting.
I ran to the catwalk overlooking the foyer and living room and quietly watched Harris, Daddy, and Paris enter through the front door. None of them seemed very talkative, though if Paris really was in trouble with the police, I could assume there had been quite a bit of discussion in the car on the way home. I’d heard plenty of Daddy’s lectures in my day, back when I was more involved in the business, and I remembered them as if they were yesterday. Daddy always called them his “teaching moments.”
Daddy said something quietly to both of them before excusing himself and walking into the living room, where Junior was sitting. Harris said a few words to Paris, and she reached out to hug him. From my point of view, the hug was way too long, her hand was way too close to his ass, and I was way too distrustful to let it go—especially since her newest cry for attention had interrupted some of the best loving my husband had given me in a long, long time. Now she was hugging my husband, playing for more sympathy ... or who knows what else. Oh, no, I wasn’t having that. I raced down the stairs and cleared my throat to make my presence known.
Paris jumped in surprise as she realized I was only several feet away and had witnessed the entire thing. Harris was equally startled and quickly backed out of my sister’s embrace.
“Well, don’t you two look cozy,” I sneered.
“Oh, please, London. I was just thanking him,” she replied, her bravado returning quickly to replace her surprised look.
“Thanking him for what? What did you do this time, Paris?” I snapped. “What did you do that had you in the custody of the police? Another bar fight with some sister-girl’s man?”
“Da-yum. You all up in my business. Shouldn’t you be asleep?” She waved her hand dismissively, as if she were shooing me back to bed. I was not about to budge, but I’d be damned if Harris didn’t take up for her!
“London, let it go,” he said. “We worked it all out. Everything is taken care of.”
“Is that what you were doing just now? Taking care of it? Or were you working it out?” My sister had such a superior smirk on her face that a thought suddenly entered my mind. “Was it Paris who called you last night on your phone?” I asked.
“Oh my God!” He rolled his eyes up toward the ceiling. “Now you’re sounding silly, babe. I think you must be sleep deprived.”
“Is that what I am, silly and sleep deprived? Well, maybe I need to sleep in the guest room for the next couple of nights.”
“Look, honey, there’s no need to take this to another level. Paris was just thanking me for my services. Isn’t that right, Paris?”
“Mm-hmm, and I appreciate your services.” Harris couldn’t see it, but the smirk on her face told me exactly what services she was trying to imply. Yeah, maybe I was tired and a little cranky, but I was not going to take that shit.
I lunged at her to lay a slap on her face. Harris tried to get between us, but he was too slow. Still, when my open hand arrived, Paris had already sidestepped it with the grace of a ballerina. Nothing was left in front of me but open space. My momentum carried me onto the floor where I fell, my robe spilling open. “What kind of services, you little hooker?”
“Law services, you stupid bitch.” Paris mocked me with another smirk. “Don’t nobody want no man that belongs to you.”
Harris was quick enough this time, folding me in his arms to prevent any further violence. As I struggled to close my robe, I shoved my husband’s arms away.
“What about Jesse?” I screamed. “You sure as hell wanted him, didn’t you?”