down. It barely touched the counter before she murmured, “Bless you,” and picked it up, sucking back a wallop of wine. She winced but did it again.
“We could probably break out the tequila if your day was that bad,” I teased.
She shook her head and took another large drink. “Nope. I’m good. Just needed to get a head start on numbing the many voices swirling in my head.”
I nodded, poured Mama’s wine and my own, then handed Mama hers.
Mama had just cut the pizza and was serving slices to Jonah and Sonia. She set aside a slice of cheese she’d cut into three really skinny pieces then took the plate over to the glass table where Rory’s booster seat already was buckled into one of the chic dining chairs. “Come on, baby, pizza’s done.”
“You spoil her, Mama.” Genesis entered the space, her long dark hair hanging beautifully down her back in a perfectly flat sheet, the white romper she wore with a gold belt tied around her waist giving her a golden goddess appeal. She kissed Mama on the cheek and then came to me and wrapped me in her arms.
I held on to her while Mama fussed over Rory.
“Why do you think I had eight daughters? Multiply that by one or two and you’ve got eight to sixteen grandchildren. I have the rest of my life to spoil my grandbabies and there is nothing any of you can do about it.” She patted Rory’s cheek and gazed at her granddaughter as though she made the sun set each day and the moon rise each night.
There was no “adopted” in Mama Kerri’s world. We were just her girls. Her baby chicks. And any children we had would be her grandchildren. And not a word would sway her differently.
“How you really doin’, Si?” Genesis asked.
I hugged her tight. “Good. Really good.”
“Simone, you haven’t told them your news?” Jonah reminded me as he took a monster bite of pizza and closed his eyes as though he had just tasted a little bit of Heaven.
My temperature rose and excited butterflies took flight in my stomach. “Oh my God! Guess what?”
Blessing entered the kitchen, snagged a plate and a cheesy piece of pizza, and shoved an unladylike amount into her mouth. “What?” she asked around a mouthful.
“I got a new job! One with a real salary and medical benefits. And they are going to let me finish up my last course to get my Associates degree…get this. While on the job! Can you believe it?”
Sonia set her wine glass down. “Does this mean you’re quitting the bar and the waitressing job?”
I nodded excitedly. “Yep! Well technically I already quit the greasy spoon but I’ll be calling Tracks tomorrow. Probably during my lunch break as the office manager in training at A+ Construction.” I let my voice rise with my joy.
Blessing held out a fist and I bumped it with my own. We both allowed them to explode. Genesis held me tight. “That’s amazing, Simone. I’m so proud of you. I know you’ve been having a rough go of it, even before all this stuff,” she waved her hand in the air for emphasis, “was happening. This is awesome.”
“Thanks, Gen.”
Sonia got up from her chair and came to me with her arms out. “I’m so happy for you.” She tugged me into her arms and held on tight.
I patted her back, but she kept holding me. “I hated you working in that bar downtown. You’re finally going to be appreciated for your skills and talents. And best of all, you’ll be safe.” She let out a breath as she looked into my eyes. “I’m happy for you, honey.”
I grinned. “Thanks. I’m excited. But I have to admit, I didn’t just get it on my own. A+ Construction is owned and operated by Jonah’s dad and brother. However, he didn’t even know about the conversation when I spoke with his dad about finishing my schooling and wanting to go into office management. It just happened to be at the same time that their office manager was leaving to have a baby and not planning to come back.”
Charlie entered the kitchen, her red ponytail flapping with her bouncy steps looking cute as a button in her skinny jeans, vintage Pink Floyd tight tee, and bare feet. “Who cares how you got the job? All that matters is you got it and you’re going to slay at managing that office.” She came over to me and hip- bumped