Fallen Woman(15)

Chapter Four





I got a text from Drake shortly after Jase left. Having a cell phone was foreign to me, and texting proved to be a painful inconvenience. I wondered why people were slaves to their phones when I felt it was a wretched piece of technology. When I sat down to dinner with Miss Pearl, I stuffed it in my pocket and focused on those seated around the table. I loved seeing the twins happy. Trace had never had another little boy to play with regularly, and it was obvious Derrick had been lacking male companionship. Megan and Emmy took to Miss Pearl the same way I had—as if they’d known her their entire lives. Even when I was with Ryan, I couldn’t remember a time where I’d felt genuine happiness like this—or maybe it was just that I was content. Life wasn’t perfect, but we were mending.

“Penny for your thoughts.” Miss Pearl smiled as she passed the mashed potatoes around the table.

My eyes crinkled with the grin I gave her. “Just thankful.”

“Mhm.”

I hated when she did that. That guttural, knowing mhm was a “yeah, what else do you have going on in that brain of yours” kind of sound.

“I saw Jase leave earlier.” She eyed me momentarily before looking back to her food and continuing to talk. “He’s a nice boy, Gianna.”

“Yes, ma’am. He is.”

“Does he have honorable intentions?”

I almost choked on the food in my mouth. Her antiquated ways of thinking were cute, and I loved that she was protective—not just of me, but the kids, too. “He’s just a friend, Miss Pearl.”

“The best ones always are, honey. Don’t be na?ve. That boy ain’t hanging out ’round here ’cause he likes the ambiance.” She made a face I understood but went right over the kids’ heads.

“What’s ambiance?” Megan asked between stuffing her face.

“Atmosphere, sweetheart.” I never took my focus from our host’s face. “He’s not interested like that.”

“Why do you say that? ’Cause he ain’t announced it to you? Maybe he’s a gentleman, Gianna. It’s possible he’s tryin’ to do right by you and treatin’ you the way a lady oughta be treated.”

I hated to break an old lady’s heart, but the truth was the truth. “If he was interested, I don’t think he would’ve suggested I go out with his friend next Friday.” I’m sure she heard the hurt in my voice, but I tried like crazy to mask it.

“Jase is in love with Mommy.” Emmy giggled from across the table. She’d been so tired recently—it was nice to see her animated.

“No, sweetheart. Jase is just a friend.” I pacified my three-year-old and returned to Miss Pearl. “I hate to ask, but would you mind watching the kids that night? I can pay you for your time.”

“No, I don’t mind, but you’re not payin’ me to watch ’em. I’m an old lady with no one to keep me company. I welcome the sound of feet runnin’ about and little voices fillin’ the silence. Plus, it gives Derrick company, too.”

He and Trace were engaged in their own conversation, and neither of my girls were paying attention to me. “I’ve noticed Derrick’s been here more often. Is everything okay with his mom? You don’t say much about her.”

Miss Pearl wiped her mouth and leaned back in her chair. I hoped I hadn’t pissed her off. I wasn’t trying to be nosy. “Trina. You remind me so much of her before she started spending time on the streets. You’re the mama she should be, but drugs got ’hold of her. When she’s clean, she gets Derrick more, but that’s been less and less frequently.” She smiled fondly at the little boy who never glanced in her direction. He was busy making mashed potato castles with Trace. “I’ll be danged if dis neighborhood is gonna swallow my grandbaby. He’s the only one I got, and I’m determined to get him a good education and get him outta here.”

“Is Trina your daughter?”

“Well, biologically yes, but the girl I’ve seen runnin’ around recently’s no kin to me. I hate the way she gets strung out. It changes her. Changes her roots. She forgets where she came from. I may not o’ had money, but she knows the difference ’tween right and wrong, and that baby is all that’s right.” She pointed to Derrick and resumed eating.

I sat quietly, not sure where to take the conversation. As usual, the food was fantastic, even if we had all gained some weight in the last few weeks eating it every day. Nothing could compare to Southern cooking done right, but it wasn’t for those watching their waistline.

“So tell me about this boy you’re going out with next week.” And just like that, her mood had shifted, and my favorite neighbor was back in full force. Her bright smile shone across the table.

“He was at the charity benefit I went to with Jase on Friday. His name is Drake, but it’s not really a date so much as an escort.”

She dropped her fork on the plate. The clang startled the kids into silence. She cleared her throat, loudly. “An escort?”

“Not like that.” I rolled my eyes at her having the same assumption I’d had. “These guys are like Jase. They all have a ton of money. I mean a ton of money, and they get used by women looking for built-in paychecks, not loyal husbands. So Jase asked if I’d be willing to accompany them to different functions to help keep women at bay.”