At seven o’clock in the morning it already 80 degrees, the air conditioner on but the air is stale, and the scent of appled baking in the air. Janae is sitting out front with Ms. Pearl in yellow tank top and jean cut off shorts, her cuts are healed but the wounds are visible. Her curly hair is wild, that damn dimple in her cheek, and her thick legs, her round ass, and big ass tits has me wanting more of her crazy ass. I can’t mess around and fall for this broad it is not my mission and I can't go into saving some broad with issues. I do some push ups, situps, and jumping jacks, shower, throw on a white t shirt and shorts. I can smell Ms. Pearl the cinnamon and apples stuffed french toast my stomach growls and though I am not messing with her she can cook her ass off. I look outside and they’ve went in the house. I go down and Ms. Pearl is the first person I see she has on a blue sun dress but her legs are visible her ankles and feet are swollen to the point they are overlapping slippers. Janae waves and she takes a bite of the apple. Why the hell does she have to be so damn sexy in the morning?
“Good Morning, Jensen!” They both say in unison.
“Morning.”
“Sit with us and eat.”
I sit across from Janae and notice she has on some red lipstick. She and I lock eyes, and I can smell her perfume, I feel myself allowing myself to connect to her. She takes the spatula and put two french toast on the plate, pours a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She runs her tongue across her lips, and I shift in my seat. Ms. Pearl clears her throat and passes the whip cream.
“I love the repairs you did on the garage and how you cleaned it out. Where you learn how to do all the handy man work?”
“The foster home I grew up at the dude would make me work or I wouldn’t eat. So he’d show me one time and if I got it wrong he’d basically beat me. So I was forced to be handy.”
Ms. Pearl lowered her head and looked at her feet not looking me in the face.Janae picked up a piece of bacon and bit into it.
“I’m sorry you had to endured those horrible beats.”
“It’s whatever no need to apologize.”
“Jensen, how many foster homes did you live in?”
“Why does it matter, Ms. Pearl?”
“I’m curious.”
“I lived in ten different homes.”
“I looked for you, Jensen but I had no name, or anything.”
“I had no name I was John Doe your daughter told them leave me on the table to die. Ms.Grace gave me the name Jensen.”
“I wish I could change your past, and the things that you’ve been through. All I can do is love you now.”
“You love me, really Ms. Pearl?”
She shifted in her seat, her eyes opened wide and sat forward. Janae folded her arms and raised her eyebrow.
“Yes, I do. You are my grandson why wouldn’t I love you?’
“You want me to save my murderer's life don’t bullshit me, please. You’ve been doing this the whole bus ride, now in your home and if that is love I don't want any of it.”
I push the chair back and Ms. Pearl nose flares, she bangs her fist on the table.
“You will respect me and not curse in my presence.” She snapped.
“No disrespect you can’t sit in my face and tell me about loving me. I’m a stranger to you. You know what let me leave out of here.”
“She is not your murderer because you are on this earth. Whether you like it or not she is your mother and I am your grandmother.”
“I don’t need a reminder your daughter does and for the record both of you have lied and played me. I keep it a 100 all the time and came looking for her not the other way around. Like I said this conversation is done.” Janae followed behind me and she tapped me on the shoulder.
“She’s trying to be there for you. I know people make mistakes but she wants a relationship with you. You can’t blame her for your mother’s actions.”
“I’m done with the whole situation just drop it.”
“I’m just saying she isn’t your enemy and you had no right talking to her like you did.”
“Yo, what the hell did I say, Janae? You can’t school no one on their family affairs until you get your shit together and fix your damn life.”
Her eyes watered up and I looked away from her. She turned on her heels and walked away from me. I walked up behind her and grabbed her hand.
“I was just trying to help, but I get it, okay.” She throws her hands up.
“I’m sorry for coming at you like that. I don’t know how to deal with Ms. Pearl and whether I can trust her.”
“I understand that but you and me are friends. I am here for you and snapping at me will get you jacked in your eye, okay.” She rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth.
“I know you are not talking with all the mouth and attitude you have.”
I pull her into my arms because she is truth no matter how ugly it is. I know she is really there for me. I hold her tight and look across the room at Ms. Pearl on the phone, her tears, and I feel like shit. I kiss the top of Janae head rock her in my arms, and take in her scent, her touch, and on my life I can’t love this broad. I can’t get caught up in her. I break away from her and she takes a sigh of relief.
“Are we cool?”
“We cool, Brick! Are you going to talk to Ms. Pearl.”
“I need time to sort this out in my head and heart. Too much shit approaching me at one time.”
“I’m going to clean up breakfast.”
“I’m going to go paint the garage. Janae on some real shit I didn’t mean to come at you in a disrespectful matter. You are the one person I know has my back and I appreciate your friendship.”
She stood on her tippy toes and kiss me on the cheek, and then she turned on her heels, her round ass bounced as she walked away. I got to stay away from her because I was paid to do one thing and every second around her I find myself wanting to protect her more than hurt her.