Saved Folk in the House (18 page)

“Evening, sis,” Nikki said.

“Evening to you too. Have you been praying?” Erica asked.

“Without ceasing,” Nikki answered.

“It’s all up to you now. God has put it out there,” Erica said.

“Girl, that is such a done deal we can move on to the next miracle. Where’re we going?” Nikki asked.

“Well, I wanted to take the kids to Laser Land. They’ll love it. Or we can go to the mall. It’s up to you,” Erica said.

“What’s Laser Land?” Shay asked.

“An amusement center with lots of fun things to do. Want to go there?” Then looking at Nikki, she said, “We can hit the mall anytime.”

“Please, Mommy, please!” Taj pleaded.

“All right,” she said

They had a ball at Laser Land. They played laser tag. Erica and Taj were partners against Nikki, Shay, and Mia. Erica and Taj were faster and quicker on the trigger. They planned their attacks and hideouts and took the game more seriously than Nikki and the girls did. No wonder they won every time. They decided to drive race cars next. They eventually played every game and just ran all over the place. The time flew.

“We can’t keep Sister Erica out too late,” Nikki said as they regrouped at one of the benches. “She has to go to work in the morning, and you guys need to start going to bed at nine-thirty to get back in school mode. You only have a couple of weeks before it starts.”

“One more game, please, Mommy,” Taj pleaded.

“What did I say?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Taj said.

They stopped and got some ice cream before Erica dropped them off at home. It had been a wonderful day.

Chapter Twenty-six

T
he apartment looked like they had lived in it for years with all the pictures hung and boxes gone. It had quickly become home sweet home. Nikki was doing some ironing when the phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Hey, baby.”

“Hi, Ma!” Nikki said, recognizing her mother’s voice.

“You know your dad is still upset that you left his grandbabies home alone in that great big strange city that you know nothing about. His words, not mine,” Jean said.

“I know, Ma. I don’t remember him being that overprotective with me.”

“Think about it, baby. When was he not there? When you were in high school, he didn’t go to see the games, he went to see you cheer. When you didn’t come home for the weekend while you were in college, he was up there to visit you. He looked like he was about to cry during your whole wedding. Every time you went into labor, no matter where he was or what he was doing, he dropped it and rushed to the hospital.”

“You’re right, Ma. So where were you?”

“Your dad was not dragging me all over creation following you. You made me tired just watching you rip, race, and run. And you could go, girl. Look how you just packed up and got out of here. You make up your mind and you’re gone. He can try to keep up with you, but I’ll be here to take care of the home front,” Jean explained.

“I knew you had a logical explanation. So when are you coming?”

“I’ll have to have your father call you back. Mr. Johnson from next door just stopped by, and they’re tangled up in conversation.”

“Okay. I’ll wait until I get both of you on the phone to tell you all about Atlanta . . . or I’ll just wait until you get here. It’s great, Ma.”

“I’m glad to hear it. As long as everything is fine, I’ll wait for the details.”

“Have you heard from Rae?” Nikki asked.

“Not lately, but what I’ve been hearing is not good,” Jean said with concern.

“Like what?” Nikki asked.

“I hear she’s selling those drugs.”

“Yeah, I talked to her about that. All we can do is pray for her.”

“Yes, pray, but don’t worry about her. You don’t have time to be worrying about grown folks. You worried yourself silly about Sam, and see where that got you. Besides, you have my grandbabies to raise.”

“I know, Ma.”

“Okay, baby. I’ll get your dad to call you back later.”

“Okay. Bye, Ma.”

Nikki knew her mother was right about her worrying too much, but she just felt so bad. Rae was her special cousin. All hell had broken loose when Rae’s mother, Nikki’s Aunt Tee, committed suicide three months after Rae’s older brother, Leonard, was killed in a drug-related shoot-out. Rae was only twelve years old at the time and went to live with her father and stepmother. She was so devastated from the deaths of her mother and big brother that she spun out of control. At age fourteen, Rae ran away and became a part of the drug culture. Nikki tried to find her, and when she did, she talked to her. For a while it seemed like she was getting through, but something always drew Rae back. Then Rae had a baby at age sixteen and another a year later. This seemed to settle her down a bit. She attempted to get a job and live right for her children but found that supporting a family was very difficult and expensive, so she resorted to the way her brother had taught her to make money. Thinking about her cousin made Nikki want to hear her voice.

Nikki called Rae and prayed that she answer. God answered her prayer.

“Hello?”

“Rae, it’s Nikki.”

“Hey, cuz. Where are you?”

“In Atlanta. How are you?”

“Hanging in there,” Rae said.

“How are LaQuandria and Jalani?”

“Fine.”

“Where are they?”

“Their dad’s oldest sister has them now.”

“How did she get them?”

“When Darius got shot last month, she asked if she could have them, so I let her. I figured they stood a better chance with her, but I support them and go see them as often as I can.”

“Darius got shot? Is he okay?”

“Yeah, he got shot in the arm at a club.”

“Girl, when are you going to give up the thug life?”

“And do what?”

“Help her, Lord.” Nikki prayed so Rae could hear.

“Yes, Lord. Please help me. So you like it down there?” Rae asked in an effort to change the subject.

“I love it.”

“Hey, that’s my pager. I gotta go,” Rae said.

Nikki hung up and sighed. She knew God had a plan for Rae.

Chapter Twenty-seven

W
hile Nikki waited for her father to call, her mind wandered to her childhood. She had spent a lot of her time at her Aunt Tee’s. Her aunt was always in bed. She suffered from deep depression. Nikki’s mother had tried everything she knew to help her baby sister, but nothing worked. She eventually resolved to let Nikki go over there and be with Tee’s children, since Nikki was older and very responsible. When they were little, Nikki loved playing in the backyard with her cousins. She recalled their games from long ago.

“You’re it, Rae,” said Leonard, who was two years younger than Nikki and two years older than Rae.

“No, she’s not. You are because she tagged the base before you touched her,” said Nikki, Rae’s self-appointed defender.

“I did touch her shirt,” Leonard said.

“That’s not her. Now you’re still it.”

“You don’t play fair,” Leonard said.

“Just close your eyes and count,” Nikki bullied. “Come on, let’s hide, Rae.”

Rae followed Nikki, who told her exactly where to hide. “If he finds me first, I’ll run him around while you go tag the base. If he comes toward you first, I’ll make noise so he can come after me because I’ll be closer. Then you tag up because he won’t catch me and he’ll be it again,” Nikki instructed.

“Okay,” Rae said, nodding. The plan always worked.

Leonard would count and try to find them. As promised, once Nikki saw that Rae was safe, she would slip past Leonard and tag the base before he could catch her.

“You’re it again,” Rae and Nikki would say in unison, and fall out laughing at a thoroughly frustrated Leonard.

“Cheaters! I quit,” Leonard yelled every time.

She was smiling from the warm memories when the phone rang. It was her father.

“Hey, baby,” Jim said.

“Hi, Daddy. What’s up?”

“How are my grandbabies?”

“Doing good. We’ve met some really nice people. Taj couldn’t be better. We have two big football players who happen to be college graduates, teachers, football coaches, and real good role models for him living right under us. I’ve also met a really good friend, Erica, from the church. She took us out, and we had a ball, so you can relax,” Nikki said.

“Not until I see for myself. Did your mother tell you that we plan to come this weekend?”

“Yeah, she said you’d fill me in on the details. Can’t wait to see you. What time will you get here?”

“We’re leaving Friday morning. We’re going to take our time, enjoy the scenery. Need anything?” Jim asked.

“Just some hugs,” Nikki answered.

“Got plenty of them. We’ll see you Friday around four, sweetheart.”

“Okay, Daddy. Tell Ma I’ll talk to her later.”

“I will. Bye, baby.”

“Bye, Daddy. Love you.”

“Love you too, baby. See ya soon.”

After breakfast on Friday, Nikki and the kids cleaned the apartment spick-and-span, then she called Erica.

“Hey, whatcha doin’ this weekend?”

“Just running some errands. What’s up?” Erica asked.

“I want you to meet my parents.”

“I would love to meet them. Where are they?”

“They’ll be here later today.”

“Maybe I can stop by after work,” Erica said.

“Do that. They’ll probably just want to chill tonight after that long ride, so we’ll be here. Just stop on by.”

“Cool. How’re the kids?”

“Blessed. We had the best time the other day. Thanks again for that.”

“Girl, I bet I had more fun than anybody,” Erica said.

“You were into it, girl, that’s for sure.”

“Running around with kids keeps me young,” Erica said.

“I hear ya,” Nikki said, laughing.

“Talk to you later.”

“Bye.”

Nikki looked through the peephole later that day and saw her father. She swung the door open. “Daddy!” she shouted, practically choking him as she hugged him tightly. The children came flying out of their rooms.

“Granddaddy! Grandma!” They jumped on Jim, almost knocking him down. He managed to make his way to the sofa and sit down while they hugged and kissed him all over. Nikki hugged her mother. When she finished, the kids grabbed Jean.

“My babies, my precious babies. Thank God you’re all right,” Jean cried.

“Oh, Ma. Of course they’re all right,” Nikki said.

When they all felt they had sufficiently hugged and kissed, Nikki said, “Sit down, relax, get comfortable. I’ll go get your stuff out of the car.”

“I’ll have to help you with the suitcase, Nikki,” Jim said. “It’s pretty heavy.” He got up, and together they went outside to the Caddy.

“Let me see if Kevin and Randy are home,” Nikki said. “I want to introduce you to our neighbors.”

When she knocked on the door, Randy opened it.

“Hey, I want you guys to meet my parents. They came down for a visit. Is Kevin here?”

“Yeah, I’ll get him. We’ll be right out,” Randy said.

The two guys came over to the car while Nikki and her dad were getting the bags out.

“Daddy, this is Randy and this is Kevin. They are really good neighbors.”

“You are some big guys,” Jim said, sticking out his hand.

They smiled as they took turns shaking Jim’s hand.

“Nice to meet you, sir. Let us get those bags for you,” Kevin said.

“Thanks, man,” Jim said.

Randy and Kevin followed Nikki and Jim up to the apartment with the suitcase and other bags.

“Just put them anywhere,” Nikki instructed.

Nikki went on about the guys as if she was introducing the evening’s speakers to an audience.

“They both graduated from Atlanta State University. They played on the championship football team together, and they are teachers at Riverdale High School. They aspire to be NFL coaches, and they are excellent role models for our children, especially our young black boys. I’m pretty lucky to have them for my neighbors and friends,” Nikki praised.

Kevin and Randy were blushing and grinning from ear to ear. Neither one of them could say a word. Nikki wasn’t just praising the guys to make them or her parents feel good. She really and truly believed what she said.

“Well, since my daughter speaks so highly of you, you must be all right,” Jean said.

“Nice to meet you,” Randy said.

“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Kevin said, looking shy again.

Nikki concluded that if Kevin didn’t know a person, he went into some type of shell, but after he got to know people, he was quite talkative.

“Hope to see you again before you leave,” Randy said as they walked toward the door.

“Thanks for the help,” Jim said.

“Anytime,” Kevin replied, and they were gone.

“They seem like nice young men,” Jean said.

“The best,” Nikki confirmed.

“Do you like them, Shay?” Jim asked.

“Yes. They’re cool,” she answered.

“They’re real nice, Granddaddy,” Mia said.

“They said I can go to football practice with them and be on the field during games, Granddaddy,” Taj exclaimed.

“All right, then,” Jim said. Then leaning into Nikki’s ear, he said, “You still watch them.”

“Don’t worry, Daddy. I watch as well as pray.”

“That’s my girl. Now, where’s the bathroom?”

“I’ll give you a tour, Granddaddy,” Taj said.

As her parents made themselves at home, Nikki checked on dinner. She prayed that it tasted as good as it looked.

“Are you guys ready for something to eat? I cooked your favorite, Daddy, steak with grilled onions and mushroom gravy and roasted potatoes with a fresh spinach salad on the side.”

“That sounds delicious, baby. Jean—”

“I’ll fix your plate,” his wife responded before he could ask.

“Not too much now, I’m cutting back,” Jim said.

“I’m the only one who knows what cutting back means,” Jean told Nikki.

“Okay, Ma. I’ll fix the kids’ plates,” Nikki said, opting to serve from the stove.

While they were eating, there was a knock at the door. It was Erica. Nikki answered it and made the introductions.

“Get a plate,” she instructed Erica.

“Okay,” Erica said, and helped herself. “Your daughter sure can cook, Mrs. Harris. So can that adorable grandson of yours. I’ve tasted his baked chicken that he said you taught him to make, Mr. Harris. Simply delicious.”