No Sister Of Mine

Chapter Three: Warning

     Dana looks Genie up and down. Her daughter is still in her night clothes with no makeup and disheveled hair. She admires Genie’s perfect skin free of blemishes. The symmetric pattern on her face makes Dana green eyed. Genie is lucky that her vitiligo makes her look better instead of like a sideshow. That is the way Dana’s hands make her look like in her mind.

"You look good," she says with a smirk.

"Whatever." Genie rolls her eyes and shuts the door  "What you bring me?" She picks up the brown paper Olive Garden bag and heads for the dining room. 

"All of your favorites... And I made sure to get extra cheese for the salad." 

Dana follows behind Genie closely.  She notices her red, puffy eyes proving that her solid armor is finally being penetrated.

Her pending stint in federal prison starts in six weeks and counting. The image of herself in a small, dark cell wearing flip flops and prison blues makes her sick to her stomach. She has to remain strong during this time if her family is going to survive all they are about to be subject to. Genie and her tears are a necessary casualty of war and they can not distract Dana from what she needs to do. What her family doesn’t know is that she locked herself away from the world to prepare and plan for her time away. That’s it. Now is the time to put her plan in action. 

Dana is a successful business woman who owns and operates a chain of salons that bear her namesake and some beauty supply stores called Cooper’s Home of Hair. Her empire is spread all across Ohio. The company headquarters and flagship Dana’s salon are in Cleveland where Dana and her family resides. She also has salons and stores in Akron, Columbus, and Cincinnati. Dana's second oldest Helayna is the operations manager. She'll step in as co-CEO while Dana is away now she has to fill Helayna’s spot.

Genie sits plates and silverware on the table for both of them and began to make her plates. Dana sits and watches her. “Relax, Genie. This conversation is going to go well.”

“Yeah, I know because there won’t be one.”

“Come on now… Let’s just be grown women and talk. I’m not upset about anything you said.”

 Genie sits down and put a fork full of salad in her mouth. She chews and swallows before responding. “I really just wanna know what you could have possibly done to land your ass in the feds.”

“Well… The official charges are money laundering, fogery, and falsifying documents. I was able to make a good deal quickly and quietly. I was blessed.” Dana folds her hands, which are covered with white satin gloves and places them in her lap. “I couldn’t tell you all until I took care of it. I didn’t want you stressing about it.”

Genie drops her fork. “You been doing illegal shit in the business, Dana?”

“Oh, absolutely not! Our business is legit. Everything’s fine. 

“Then where did all them charges come from? What’s going on?”

Dana smiles. “That’s not important. The less you know the better. For now.”

“Please don’t be on that trash, Mama.” Genie slaps her hand over her mouth. Oh, my God. What did I just say, she thought. 

Dana holds back her shock. She keeps the same smile on her face. “It’s okay… I know it’s been a million years since you’ve called me anything but Dana.”

“Yeah… It’s time for you to go.”

“No it isn’t We haven’t settled things yet.”

“Ain’t shit to settle that can’t wait. Bye, Dana.”