by Tiece
“I believe you,” Jada said. “Well, I’ll go to bat for you if they say something. I just wish that you were here.”
“Baby girl, will you please do a little damage control for your mama, eat your food, and then get outta there.”
“Okay,” Jada responded knowing all too well what damage control meant when it came to the Kent women.
“Jada,” Denise called out.
“Yes ma’am,” Jada responded.
“What was that kiss about between you and A’keem?” Denise asked as she was met with silence on the other end of the phone. “Jada,” she called out.
“Nothing mama,” Jada responded. She wasn’t feeling the third degree at the moment.
“Okay nothing,” Denise mocked. “Oh before we hang up. I’m sure that Tara is standing right there with you. She never misses any events like this if she can help it.”
Jada looked in Tara’s direction. “She sho’ don’t with her nosey self.”
“Y’all gonna stop talking about me like I ain’t right here.” Tara cut in with a playful roll of the eyes. “And hurry up before somebody comes to the door.”
“Well, tell her nosey behind to be on her best behavior. I know that mouth of hers.” Denise said knowing her outspoken niece very well. She was every bit like her mother, Daphne Kent.
“I will,” Jada said. “We’ll talk later. Tara just rang the doorbell.” And with that, Jada ended their call.
***
Jada and Tara entered the big house and were quickly escorted to the dining room by one of the cooks that worked for Mama Gray.
“This way ladies,” she said as they closely followed her.
Jada was certainly nervous. She hadn’t stepped foot in Mama Gray’s house in over five years. Now, she was back and things were about to get interesting all over again. The cook left them alone to take their seats as she headed back in the kitchen. Jada and Tara entered the big dining room noticing that they were the first ones there.
“I’m glad that no one has made it here, yet.” Jada nervously said. She paced back and forth while looking at the professional family portraits of the Gray’s interestingly decorating the walls of the dining area. Family meant everything to Mama Gray and she was keen on keeping them close to her by any means necessary.
“So, what’d your mama say?” Tara asked just as the cooked returned with a large, divided serving dish of Country ham, thick cured bacon, T-bone steak, and country fried steak. “That smells good,” Tara said then noticed that Jada wasn’t paying any attention to her since she was zoned out looking at a picture of A’keem and Marlon when they were younger. “Jada,” she called out to get her attention.
Jada quickly snapped out of it then glanced in Tara’s direction and said, “Uh yeah. What was that?”
“What did your mama say about being in the newspaper?”
“Yeah, what did she say?” Mama Gray pondered with a curious smile as she entered the family dining room of the Gray home.
Jada turned around with a surprised smile on her face. “Mama Gray,” she said walking over to hug her. “How are you?”
“I’m good,” Mama Gray said. She liked Jada Kent. Regardless of what the rumors were in the streets and no matter what she knew of or had heard of her, she still liked Jada. If anybody had to end up with one of her grandsons, preferably A’keem, she always hoped it would be her. So, to see her back definitely was pleasing to the eye. “I’m well. I can’t complain. I’ve missed you, Jada. How are you?” She asked.
“I’m good.” Jada responded. “I’ve missed you, too.”
“Hi Mama Gray,” Tara cut in as she and Mama Gray hugged. “Thanks for inviting us to breakfast.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Mama Gray said just as the cook returned again with a round serving dish filled with biscuits and croissants. In another round serving dish was homemade pancakes. “Looks good,” Mama Gray told the cook, and then focused back on Jada and Tara. “I’d heard that you both were back on the plantation and I felt it only right to invite you over.”
“Well, we appreciate the invite.” Jada said. “It’s always good seeing you.”
“Where is your mom?” Mama Gray asked Tara.
“Mom is outta town for the week.” Tara responded. “She’ll return next week some time.”
“Ah I see,” Mama Gray said then looked over at Jada. “Where’s Denise? She didn’t want to come over this morning?” She pondered thinking that Denise must’ve been feeling guilty of something. “She never misses an invite.”
“She did call me right before we walked in here. She’s fine, but she won’t be coming over this morning. She didn’t even come home last night.” Jada explained as Tara chimed in with her two cents.
“Auntie wasn’t even aware that there would be an invite this morning.” She said.
“I understand.” Mama Gray nodded with an unnerving smile. “Have a seat girl’s,” she said. Before Jada could get her butt in one of the chairs, A’keem and Seth entered the family dining room. A’keem’s eyes lit up to see Jada as Seth spoke with an interesting look on his face. Neither knew that the Kent’s were invited over for breakfast.
“Jada, I didn’t expect to see you this morning.” A’keem said as he walked over to give her a hug.
Jada shyly grinned. “Me either,” she said in a joking manner. A’keem’s warm hug wrapped around her body caused her to reminisce briefly about the sweet kiss they’d shared just hours earlier.
“Y’all sit down now. We’ll be eating in due time.” Mama Gray said, but she definitely was watching A’keem and Jada’s reaction to each other after seeing that hot photo in the gossip column of them kissing.
The minute A’keem sat down next to Jada, Jennifer and Marlon entered the dining room. Both smiling like they’d had a wonderful night and morning. However, the moment Marlon noticed that Jada was there his smile instantly faded while thoughts about the picture of her and his brother inside the gossip column reappeared in his mind.
Everyone greeted each other in the nicest way possible as Marlon and Jennifer sat down at the family dining table. Marlon didn’t even attempt to hug Jada with Jennifer there. He stayed put like a good little boy. Jennifer looked over at A’keem with an impish smile on her face. She was definitely happy for Marlon to see that picture of his brother and Jada kissing. She was even happier to see that Jada was there and that A’keem was comfortably sitting next to her like all was good.
Minutes later, the brothers, Evan and Ian Gray showed up, but not Celeste Gray. She wasn’t on the arm of her husband that morning which led everyone sitting at the breakfast table to only speculate one thing. She’d read the newspaper and was somewhere in her feelings. The brothers spoke and got their hugs out the way, and then they sat down for breakfast.
Once the grits and eggs were on the table along with the orange juice, tea and milk; Mama Gray led them in a prayer. As she sat at the head of the table, she looked from one fresh face to another. It felt good to see everyone there, well just about everyone.
“I’m glad that y’all showed up this morning. There certainly is enough of this good food to go around. Now, let’s dig in.” Mama Gray said with a smile.
In no time, everyone was passing around the serving dishes and eating their food. Small chatter began at the table as Mama Gray intently listened to everything that was being said. It was so far so good, considering the early morning events that were mentioned in the newspaper. Mr. Gray wasn’t saying much which definitely indicated that things on the home front weren’t good. From the way he was chomping down on his food, it seemed like he just wanted to eat and leave. The only reason why he probably showed up was because of Mama Gray and how she loved to see them all together. Anything for family was something they were big on.
Seth thought that breakfast was going by much too smoothly, so he decided to amp it up a little bit. There was nothing like stirring the pot a little and watching somebody unravel. “Jada, where is your mom?”
>
“She couldn’t make it here this morning, but she did want me to assure y’all that she wasn’t with Mr. Gray last night like the gossip column is trying to make y’all believe.” Jada said just to shut him up right quick.
“I tried to tell Celeste that,” Mr. Gray said with an irritated shake of the head.
“Well, where is she?” Tara asked as she bit off of her thick cured bacon strip. Since Seth wanted to be messy, she could be just as messy.
“She decided at the last minute that she wasn’t coming.” He honestly spoke like it bothered him for his wife to believe anything that the newspaper reported.
“Auntie isn’t coming?” Seth asked in a pitched voice. “Damn, I was hoping that she was just going to be late.”
Evan looked over at his son. “Seth, what I tell you about your mouth and especially in front of your grandma.”
“Sorry dad,” Seth said then looked over at Marlon and Jennifer. “According to the gossip column, somebody had fun after the club last night.”
Jennifer couldn’t wait to chime in on that. “We sure did,” she said with a bright smile on her face. “And for the record Jada, I’m not the least bit concerned about you being back on the plantation. We’re fabulous over here.” She said speaking of her and Marlon.
“Jennifer, come on.” Marlon said almost under his breath. “Don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what?” Jennifer said in an unusually loud tone causing everyone to look her way. “I just want her to keep her hands to herself and her eyes off of my man.”
Seth grinned. “Turn up then,” he said loving the drama that was brewing as Mama Gray reached over and popped him on the arm.
“Seth,” she called out then shook her head from side to side indicating, not now.
Jada shook her head as she looked over at a very insecure Jennifer. “I’ve not touched your man in any kind of way that you should concern yourself with.”
“And,” Tara quickly cut in. “Those are her eyes. She can very well look where ever she chooses to look and if that’s in your man’s direction then that’s just what it is. Deal with it.”
“Ladies,” Mama Gray serenely called out. “Calm down.”
“I am calm,” Jada said. “I didn’t come here for this. I came, because you kindly invited us over. However, if it’s a problem then my cousin and I can leave.”
“Nonsense,” Mama Gray said. “I invited the both of you here and I want you to stay.” She then looked in Jennifer’s direction. “Just calm down and don’t ruin breakfast. Jada isn’t here for Marlon.”
“And she better not be here for A’keem either,” Regina said as she appeared in the doorway of the family dining room. A’keem’s eyes widened from shock of seeing her there. He didn’t invite her, so why was she there?
“Regina, what are you doing here?” A’keem instantly asked.
Mama Gray immediately frowned with a look of uncertainty in her eyes as she glanced over at Seth and whispered, “Harpo, who is dis woman?”
Seth shook his head and grinned. “This keeps getting better and better,” he said under his breath almost wanting to laugh. He and Mama Gray had a way of playing off of each other’s mischievous behavior which was probably one of the reasons why they were so close.
“Why are you on pictures with her kissing like that as if you’re not seeing anyone?” she questioned while pointing at Jada.
A’keem frowned like he was confused as Jada and Tara just shook their heads at the madness surrounding them. “Regina, are you serious right now?” he asked.
“Very,” Regina answered. A part of her felt crazy for being there uninvited, but another part of her was willing to do whatever it took to fight for her man. There was no way that Jada was coming back to wreck what she’d started building with him.
“First off, we’re not doing this right here, right now.” A’keem said.
“Me either,” Jada said as she stood up. She was trying desperately to keep her cool. Tara followed suit as she stood up, too. “Mama Gray, we just want to say thanks for the invite. The food was good, but we’ll be leaving now.” Jada informed her. She already had a hangover and if one more person tried her it was going to take Jesus to get her off of them.
Mama Gray just shook her head. The women of today’s society seemed to have lost all respect for their elders or either they were foolish in love and couldn’t control their emotions. “I’m sorry girls.” Mama Gray said to them.
“It’s not your fault.” Tara said while giving Jennifer then Regina the side eye. “I guess a Kent woman just can’t catch a break around here, but just wait until we see y’all again outside of this plantation.”
Seth grinned to himself. He hadn’t seen this much action in a while. He knew that the Kent’s were no pushovers, but apparently Jennifer and Regina didn’t know. He stood up. “Let me walk y’all out.”
“No, I’ll walk them out.” A’keem said standing up from his chair. Regina was appalled as she stood there.
“So you don’t see me here?” She questioned.
“You ain’t even introduced yourself to my family; yet you’re in my grandma’s house talking trash about who I can and can’t see. I think I need to be walking you out with them.” A’keem said in the nicest way possible. Inside he really wanted to let her have it, but he’d never disrespect his grandma or his father and uncle like that.
Regina was embarrassed enough and was already regretting how she had showed up uninvited. “No worries. I’ll walk myself out.” She said feeling like a fool now while looking at A’keem almost with tears in her eyes. And after saying that, she made a quick exit out of the house.
Jada and Tara weren’t far behind her as A’keem and Seth walked them out just to make sure that they didn’t jump on Regina once outside of the house.
Mr. Gray looked over at his brother, and then over at Mama Gray and shook his head. He was feeling like the Kent and the Gray drama was back on the rise and unfortunately, he was now back involved in the mix of it.
Mama Gray turned up her glass filled with her favorite red wine. The unsettling expression on her face indicated more than what she’d bargained for by inviting the Kent’s over for breakfast. “Lynn and that damn gossip column of hers.” She said with an irritated shake of the head. “I guess we’re in for a really heated summer now.” She commented then went back to drinking from her glass.
Chapter 12
The next morning, Lynn walked inside of the Southern Hospitality Nail Spa during her weekly routine visit. She went straight over to the wall shelf to find which polish she wanted to wear for the week. The various nail polish colors by Essie were lined up and down the wall shelf. She closely looked at the pretty shades of colors while deciding which one she wanted to go with.
Sitting on the other side of the nail salon were two women, one getting her nails done and the other sitting beside her as she waited patiently for her friend’s finishing touches. To occupy her time, she flipped through the Weekly Times Newspaper looking for the gossip column that spoke about the most popular residents’ of the city, especially those that lived on the wealthy soil of the Gray Plantation.
The friend that was getting her nails done glanced around the nail salon and spotted Lynn looking at the nail polish. She immediately tapped her home girl sitting next to her, and then whispered. “Isn’t that Lynn Hilton, the owner of the Weekly Times Newspaper that you’re reading?”
The homegirl instantly looked in Lynn’s direction with a surprised expression on her face. “Yep, that’s her.” She answered.
“See, I told you that we’d run into some local celebrities if we came here.” She said with a smile on her face.
“Yeah, because who would’ve thought that Dr. Celeste Gray would’ve been here too.” She said looking in the back of the salon and seeing Celeste getting a fresh pedicure while also reading through the Weekly Times Newspaper. “Oooooh, I bet she’s reading the gossip column.”
The friend laughed a little while
checking out her freshly painted manicured nails. “Yeah and I bet that she’s in it, too.”
“She always is,” The homegirl said then quickly flipped through the paper and found the gossip column called, ‘Here’s the Tea.’ She scanned it then burst out, “Yep, you’re right! Here she is right here,” she said showing her friend the newspaper with Dr. Celeste Gray’s name in it.
“Shhhh, don’t bring any attention over here. Now read the tea and tell me what it’s about.”
“Will do,” her homegirl said then began reading.
Meanwhile, Lynn grabbed the nail polish named Big Spender. It was a lush red-violet cream color. She was heading out of the country the next morning on a luxurious vacation and she would surely be shopping her entire trip.
