Part 12 (2/2)

”Let me go wash my hands,” Tia said while Serenity quickly sat down at the rectangular dining-room table.

”Serenity,” Tia called from the bathroom, ”did you wash your hands?”

She pouted as she pushed the chair back from the table and headed for the bathroom.

Ida started laughing. ”Lord, that child is really hungry.”

”Uh-huh,” Mavis said. ”Let me make her plate first.”

After everyone was seated with their food, Mavis said grace.

”Lord, we thank you for this food we're about to eat, and we pray that you bless each and every morsel. In Jesus' name, amen.”

”So where's that husband of yours?” Mavis asked as she put a piece of chicken in her mouth. ”How's he doing?”

Tia glanced at Serenity whose eyes were focused on the food on her plate.

”Yeah,” Ida said. ”He never comes to visit anymore.”

”His back is still bothering him,” Tia said. ”The doctor said he can't sit in one spot for more than thirty minutes at a time,” she lied.

Now Serenity was looking at her. Tia glared at her hard.

Ida looked at Serenity, then at Tia. ”That doesn't sound good,” she said.

Tia felt like she was being scrutinized.

”Maybe he should see another doctor,” Mavis said.

”What he needs to do is stop taking all those pills,” Serenity blurted out.

Tia stopped chewing.

Ida and Mavis looked at each other, then at Tia. ”What pills?” Ida asked.

Tia glared intently at Serenity. ”Are you done?”

Serenity looked at her plate. ”You mean with eating?”

”Yes,” Tia said tightly. ”With eating.”

”Uh-uh,” she said. ”Can I have some more chicken?”

”Here,” Ida said getting up from the table, ”bring me your plate.” She put a leg and a thigh on Serenity's plate. ”You want some gravy?” she asked.

Serenity nodded her head. ”Just a little,” she said. ”Thank you.”

”You're welcome,” Ida said. ”You can eat that in the living room but take some napkins and eat over this towel. I don't want no gravy stains on my couch.”

Serenity went into the living room, and after a few minutes, they heard the television set come on.

Ida sat back down at the table. ”So what is she talking about?” she asked Tia.

Tia took a sip of iced tea from her gla.s.s and wiped her mouth.

”What's going on?” Mavis asked.

”It's just his back,” Tia said. ”Well, he says it's his back.”

”And what?” Ida asked. ”He's taking a lot of pain medication?”

Tia moved her green beans around in her plate. ”Yes,” she said.

”Does he realize how dangerous that is?” Mavis asked.

”I tried to tell him,” Tia said still stirring the green beans around.

”Well, did he listen?” Ida asked. ”I mean you are a nurse.”

Tia sighed. ”That's what I said. But no, he didn't listen.”

”Well, I can tell you right now,” Mavis said in that way that would always be hers, that way that confirmed a little piece of the old Mavis still remained, ”if y'all end up getting a divorce, you better make sure that man pays.”

”Aw, Mama,” Ida said, ”ain't n.o.body getting a divorce. And keep your voice down. Serenity might hear you.”

Mavis threw her napkin down on the table. ”That's just ridiculous,” she said. She picked it back up to wipe her mouth. ”What is he trying to do? Kill himself?”

After dinner and all the way home, Serenity tried to be on her best behavior. She really wanted to attend the audition in March.

”Please, Ma,” she begged as they entered the house.

”I don't know, Serenity,” Tia said taking off her coat. ”What day is it on?”

”It's on the first Sunday in March at eleven o'clock,” Serenity said with antic.i.p.ation in her voice.

Tia frowned. ”That means we'd have to miss Sunday services.”

”We could go to the 8:00 service,” Serenity said eagerly.

Tia looked at her and arched her eyebrows. ”You must really want to go, don't you?”

Serenity nodded her head quickly.

Lorenzo spoke up from his usual spot on the sofa. ”Just take her,” he said harshly without diverting his attention from the television set.

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