Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 142866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Tamia walks up beside us, biting into a collard green quesadilla.
“Are you guys being all in love again?” She teases us about not being able to keep our hands off each other, but I know she’s glad to see her father happy.
“Oooh, I want some,” I tell her. “Those collard quesadillas are my fave.”
“Get your own.” Tamia shifts the food away from me and laughs. “Dad, I’m gonna head back to the hotel if that’s okay.”
“Fine with me.” He kisses her forehead. “Be ready to fly out first thing in the morning.”
“Feels weird not to have Bolt cracking the whip,” she says.
“Even Bolt gets a break every once in a while.” Maverick flashes me a conspiratorial grin. “You think he and Skipper are enjoying the Amalfi Coast?”
“They better be,” I pretend to grumble. “They’re finally official and for the sake of my business, I need them to stay that way. That girl can’t keep a thought in her head when they’re fighting.”
“Well, I’m happy for them,” Tamia offers, her features settling into softness. “You guys sure you don’t want to come with me to Ghana?”
“I wish,” I say. “But Sol and I have the Atlanta red carpet tomorrow and then New York for the official premiere. And Chapel needs me in LA.”
“I’m shocked Dad is letting me go check this new property on my own.” Tamia grins at her father as if testing the truth of her words.
“If I didn’t need to be with Hendrix,” Maverick says, “I would be on the first flight to Ghana. I’ll come next week to make sure everything’s in order.”
“You really don’t have to.” The exasperation on Tamia’s face is tinged with affection. “I’ve got this, Dad. I had a great teacher.”
“I know.” Maverick gently pulls her neck into the crook of his elbow until her head rests against his chest. “But what kind of teacher doesn’t check on his student? Besides, it’ll make your Mom feel better about you deferring college.”
“It’ll make you feel better about her deferring college,” I correct, aiming a knowing look at him.
“Exactly!” Tamia high-fives me.
“Did I hear the words ‘deferring college’?” Soledad winces as she and Yasmen walk up beside us. “Because I fear that’s a discussion Lupe will want to have soon.”
“I’m here for you,” Tamia says. “And congrats on the new show. Great first episode. Who knew baking soda was good for all that?”
“Sol knew,” Yasmen says. “And you may have to have that talk with Deja, too.”
“Deja gon’ be out-earning all y’all.” I chuckle at the long-suffering look on both my friends’ faces. “You shouldn’t have raised such amazing girls if you didn’t want to deal with them being… well… amazing.”
“I think you have to take some of the responsibility for that.” Yasmen links her elbows with mine and Soledad’s. “Since they get a lot of that inspiration from their Aunt Hen.”
“Oh, for sure, Aunt Hen has to take some of the blame for our girls being badasses,” Soledad says, leaning over to kiss my cheek. “And at least a little bit for me being a badass.”
For some reason, them saying that—that I had even the smallest part in helping to influence their daughters, some of the most confident, compassionate and smart young women I know—prickles tears behind my eyes. People often hold the uncertain future at the end of our lives over the heads of women who don’t want children.
Who’ll take care of you when you’re old? Aren’t you afraid of dying alone?
Do I go through 95 percent of my life living with a decision I regret so the last 5 percent of my life I’m guaranteed a caretaker?
I’ve poured my love and care into a circle of people who surround me now and will encircle me then. I’ve watched my mother survive nearly everyone she loved throughout her life until now there are so few left. When I couldn’t be there, her sister was. Her church was. Her neighbors were because she’d extended herself all her life, not just to me, her child, but to everyone around her, and they wanted to extend themselves to her.
That’s community.
Yes, there is power in making your own way and joy in sharing it. Sharing it with your family. Sharing it with your friends.
And—if you find the blessing of it—with the love of your life.
“You ready?” Maverick asks, shoving his hands into his pockets and eyeing the large gate that guards the Sky Park entrance.
“Yeah.” I kiss Soledad’s and Yasmen’s cheeks. “Great job organizing everything tonight, Yas. And, Sol, you supernova. That first episode is fantastic. Tomorrow, the red carpet!”
We squeal and squeeze and laugh. All the while, Maverick is tugging me away and toward the park’s exit by inches.
“Ready to go, were you?” I laugh once we settle into the back seat of the car.
“I’m sorry.” He loops our fingers together. “I thought you’d want to check on your mother before it gets too late considering we have to leave so early in the morning.”