Free Southern Gossip: A Complicated Love Story by Tiece Page A

black women that work hard to get where we need to be and regardless of what Mama Gray thinks, I know that I’ve earned my name in this family. I like that Regina’s a second grade school teacher. It’s a sign that she’s good with kids and probably would make a great mother. I’ll give her a chance if it comes down to it.”
     
    “I appreciate it, mom. It means a lot to me.” He said, but he knew that his mom was up to something. No matter how good her intentions were, she was always up to something.
     
    “Is Mama Gray up?” She asked looking toward the nice three story southern style, ranch home.
     
    “She probably is. Seth and I just got here not long ago.”
     
    She looked down at her watch, it was almost six o’clock. “Well, she’s about to be tuned into the local news channel. I’m gonna go home and shower. I’ll call her later.” She said, getting up to leave. I just stopped by to drop off the soil and buds for tomorrow.
     
    “I understand mom.” A’keem said.
     
    “What are you doing tonight?” She asked.
     
    “We’re going to the Lion’s Den.” He told her.
     
    “Don’t do anything to make the gossip column.” She quickly said as she stood up to leave.
     
    “I won’t, although I’m sure my arrest will be in there.”
     
    “Maybe not,” she said thinking about her visit to the Hilton’s residence earlier. She wanted to mention Jada Kent, but now wasn’t the time. She didn’t want to pressure him to stay away because that only made them closer.
     
    “See you later,” A’keem said continuing to rock back and forth as she started to walk off.
     
    “Just be safe out and have fun.” She said looking back at him. “It’s the third Sunday. Don’t forget we’ll have breakfast here as usual in the morning and if you want too, it’ll be nice if you also showed up to church afterwards.”
     
    A’keem smiled. “I’ll think about it, mom.”
     
    “At least make breakfast.” She called out before getting inside of her brand new car.
     
    “Bout time,” A’keem whispered looking down at his Gucci Timepiece. He felt relieved that she was leaving. He didn’t want her to be there when Jada showed up. That reunion might not have been so nice. She still didn’t like the fact that Jada turned down Marlon’s marriage proposal and moved far north where nobody could find her.  If she only knew the reason behind her leaving, He thought. She’d hate her even more.
     
    A’keem leaned up as he heard the front door open. Damn, I hope that ain’t Mama Gray. He was a nervous. It was already crazy that he was meeting there instead of somewhere in the city or even her house, but he knew it was too risky. Someone would surely leak it back to The Rocky Spring’s, ‘Here’s The Tea,’ gossip column. His mom would have a hissy fit if that happened.
     
    “What are you doing out here, Cuz?” Seth asked as he bent the corner.
     
    A’keem’s uneasy feeling quickly subsided. “Damn Cuz, I thought you were Mama Gray coming out here.”
     
    “And, why would that be so bad?” Seth asked.
     
    “Because Jada should be pulling up soon,” he answered.
     
    “Jada is coming here?” He asked.
     
    “Yep.”
     
    Seth teased him by saying, “You and Jada Kent.” He grinned.
     
    “She and Serenity are coming together.” Seth smiled really big. He really liked Serenity and A’keem knew it. “I think I hear them coming up the driveway now.”
     
    “Yeah, that’s them.” Seth said as he peeped out Serenity’s vehicle coming up the path.
     
    “Where is Mama Gray at?” A’keem quickly asked.
     
    “She’s upstairs probably watching the news.” He said looking down at his watch. It was six o’clock in the afternoon and at that time you could count on Mama Gray to be posted in front of the TV until the news went off.
     
    “You’re right about that.” He said feeling the butterflies again as the red Range Rover pulled up and parked beside Seth’s black Range