A Sister's Power. Cydney Rax

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СКАЧАТЬ that made her little heart feel empowered, Natalia took her sweet time walking away, looking back at Alita as if to mock her.

      “That one there . . . is a piece of work,” Alita told Burgundy.

      “And that ‘piece of work’ is my baby girl. Don’t you see that she’s trying her best to show me love?”

      “I don’t know about all that.”

      “Alita, I’m done with this conversation. No matter how much you disagree with how Natalia’s acting, she’s my business way more than yours.”

      Alita quieted down for a minute. Since her own mother, Greta Reeves, was the one who raised Elyse, she honestly had no clue of how it felt to parent a little girl. Maybe she could listen more and talk less.

      Burgundy spoke up. “Lita, I’m not trying to be hard on you. I’m glad you’re concerned. We just need to give it some time. The psychiatrist said that—”

      “Wait, hold up. Are you going to a shrink or are you sending Natalia?”

      “Not a shrink. He’s a grief counselor. We both go. It feels good to talk to someone who understands.”

      “Oh yeah?”

      “I-I can’t always talk to family. Sometimes I can. But other times, it feels safer to admit all these weird, awful emotions that I have to a complete stranger. Someone who won’t judge me as harshly as family. Not you, of course, Alita. You know I’m not talking about you.”

      “Hey, I caught that. And I apologize for sounding too harsh. But if you believe that Natalia is just trying to love you and help you in her own way, then hear me out and trust that I want to do the same thing. I care about y’all even if I have a hard time showing it.”

      Burgundy gave a tired smile that allowed her to overlook her sister’s plainspoken nature. “I know what you say comes from a good place, Lita. But what you’ve got to remember is that we’re treading on unfamiliar territory. You have no idea how I suffer from guilt, so much guilt, on some days.”

      “I heard that. I guess I should believe you, seeing as though I never had a spouse die on me, even though Leonard’s wack ass should have croaked a long time ago.”

      “Please, Sis. Don’t even joke like that. Being suddenly single when you never planned for it is nothing to laugh about. Things aren’t always as they seem.”

      “School me on it then.”

      “Alita Washington. You’re divorced. You’ve bumped heads with your ex. But you’ve met a great new guy since the divorce from Leonard. It’s apparent that Shade Wilkins is good for you, good to you, and I’m glad you all are hitting it off. And although you think Leonard is ‘wack,’ it seems like you’re finally getting over him. Nothing’s perfect. But life is much better than it was. Do you agree?”

      “You pretty much nailed it, B.”

      “Good. You’re transitioning.”

      “Hold up! What a minute.”

      “Stop playing. I’m trying to say that you’re transitioning from what used to be to what’s going to be. You’ve survived the worst parts of your life of trying to be the best single mom to your son. And I think you’ve done a good job.”

      “Why thank you, Sis.” Alita was startled by Burgundy’s compliment.

      “But it didn’t happen overnight, right?”

      “Right.”

      “It took you time to get to this new place in life.”

      “True that.”

      “So if it took you some time to make these important changes, you need to cut my child some slack, and let us take time to get to our new place in life.”

      For a rare, humble moment, Alita was speechless. Burgundy was right and arguing seemed pointless.

      “I think you’re enjoying your new happiness so much, Lita, that you’ve forgotten how it feels for a woman to suddenly face new, frightening challenges that she never ever expected to experience. And trust me, I haven’t read a handbook on how to deal with every miserable thing I’ve personally gone through the past six months.”

      Burgundy then noticed a man walk nearby. His facial features and body type reminded her of Nate. With one arm he pushed the shopping cart. The other arm was wrapped around a woman who probably was his wife. They looked comfortable and happy. And suddenly, Burgundy’s bottom lip began to tremble. She and Nate used to shop together when they had free time. And now she knew that simple human experience that she frequently took for granted when Nate was alive would never happen between them again.

      “Lita, my having to become a mother and a father to two children and handle every responsibility by myself is a real adjustment. I can’t bounce ideas off their father anymore. I am their father. It feels like a bad dream. And every night when I go to bed, I wish I can wake up and none of this be true.”

      “Oh, B. I’m so sorry. I’m an asshole.”

      “You can be, but I understand. You don’t mean any harm, Lita.”

      “Girl, you know I don’t. I-I’ve always had a mouth on me. You know that.”

      “Hold up, Sis, because I want to share something else with you. You’re not the only one who has strong opinions.”

      “Okay. Who else out here acts like me?”

      “Nobody!” Burgundy had to laugh. “But anyway, you know how I attend Solomon’s Temple? I’ve taught classes there for many years. Some of the members look up to me. But not long ago, when the rumors spread and the word got out about Nate being accused of sexual assault, some people looked at me as if I had Hep C. They whispered behind my back. Some didn’t even want me working in the bookstore anymore. They acted like I was responsible for Nate’s actions.”

      “Well, if they did that, then they’re simple ass church folk.”

      “I wouldn’t say all that, Lita. It’s just that, and here is the tough part. I got mad at them for getting mad at me. And I know that in the beginning I defended my husband because I couldn’t imagine him sexually assaulting anybody. And so I believed him.”

      “Humph, and that was crazy.”

      “Lita, I was just trying to be the best wife and mother that I could possibly be. But the people kept gossiping. Things got worse. And a couple of members confronted me in the church hallway. It got ugly.”

      “Who did it? Who was it?”

      “It doesn’t matter, Lita. But back then, I hated how they made me feel that what Nate did was all my fault. Like I should have known better and I should have controlled him.”

      “People are stupid.”

      “These people’s stupid, hateful ways got under my skin. And one night, I pretty much attacked Nate.”

      “What?” Alita laughed. “You did? How? How’d you do СКАЧАТЬ