Free Merry Ex-Mas by Victoria Christopher Murray Page A

just the only one bold enough to ask." No one said a word. So to lighten it up a bit, I added, "It kinda makes you want to say, 'Where they do that at?'" Again laughter, but this time, I was the only one who laughed.
    Tori moaned, Brock shook his head, and my mother gave me a wicked side-eye glare.
    Christopher said, "Ma, can I speak to you … in the kitchen?" He was already standing.
    What did he want? I was tempted to tell him no, but then, when I glanced around the table, I thought it might be best for me to excuse myself, even if it were just for a moment.
    I followed my son, and once we were alone, I faced him. Christopher stood, all six-feet-two of him looming over me. With his arms crossed and his lips pressed together, he presented quite a threatening picture.
    Except for one thing — I was still the mama. And just like Beatrice Collins, I was a black mama, and Christopher knew that. So he wasn't going to take this too far.
    That's why I said, "You have a problem with me asking questions, too?"
    He nodded. "Yeah, your questions and your language."
    I frowned. "Language?"
    He freed his arms and held out his hands to me. "'Where they do that at? ’ Really, Ma?"
    I laughed, but when Christopher didn't laugh with me, I said, "Oh come on. You know that was funny. I was just trying to take the edge off since everyone seemed so upset."
    "You think?"
    "What's the big deal, Christopher? You know everybody sitting at that table is thinking the same thing, but I'm the only one who has the guts to ask."
    "No, Ma, that's not it. You're the only one thinking it, 'cause the rest of us are just gonna let Dad live his life. I mean, really, why do you care?"
    Now, I had to pause. Because that was the same question that Mom had asked me. "I don't care," I said. "I'm just asking a few questions."
    "Questions that are none of your business. Just leave it alone."
    "It's just … "
    "Come on, Ma, please. I invited Evon to have dinner with us because I knew you and Grandma were going to stick your foot in the food and she was gonna see all the love in our family."
    "So how am I stopping that?"
    "Because you're sticking your foot in your mouth. You're making everyone uncomfortable. Just stop it with all the questions!"
    Why was everyone pretending that I was doing something wrong? I was just asking questions, and I wasn't going to stop until somebody gave me answers. But I looked into Christopher's eyes … and he was begging me.
    "Okay," I said with a sigh. "I'll bite my tongue."
    "And bite anything else you have to, please, Ma!"
    "I said okay." And I would keep that promise. I would just do whatever I had to do to make it through the rest of this lunch. Maybe if I got Quentin and his fianc é e out of here, my questions would go with him.
    Yeah, that's what I would do. Just get everyone to finish up the rest of their lunch, gulp down their dessert, and twenty minutes from now, I'd be free!
    With that plan in my mind, I hugged Christopher. "I'm sorry."
    "It's all good. I just wanna make sure that Evon doesn't give me back that ring."
    I was glad when Christopher chuckled with me. "She's not gonna do that. She knows she has a good thing in you."
    "Yeah, but she might run for the hills after spending this afternoon with my crazy mama."
    "Okay, okay. I get it." I followed Christopher back into the dining room where Evon stood, clearing away the dinner plates.
    "I'll do that," I said, taking over. "You just sit down and enjoy yourself."
    Ordinarily, I would've been happy for the help. And cleaning up with Evon, would've given me even more time to bond with her. But right now, I couldn't think about bonding. Every bit of energy had to go to keeping my mouth shut.
    So cleaning up was a good distraction. Because busy hands keep the tongue silent. I was sure that was a scripture somewhere in the Bible. And if it weren ’ t, it needed to be.
    "Are you sure you don't want any help?" Harmony asked. "I'd be happy to." She pushed back her chair.
    The