Family Lies

Dottie

July

"You know it's been a minute Dot," Irv whispered against my neck in between kisses to my skin. I couldn't help but to giggle because it tickled. "You better stop," I said quietly while pointing my finger at him before I changed the channel on the television. My husband had just gotten home from work and he didn't seem as tired and mundane and worn out as he usually was after a twelve hour day. My kids were off doing whatever it is that kids do these days. I knew that I.J. had True playing football with him and his friends from the team. Divine was probably somewhere running up my phone or internet or some other kind of electronic bill. And I'd left Treasure in the studio to finish a painting she started a couple days back hours ago. I hadn't heard from any of them in a while though so I was sure if I even thought about giving my husband anything more than a quick kiss on the lips one of them would pop up.

"Stop looking at that TV girl." Irving took the remote out of my hand and turned my face towards him with it. I watched my husband with low eyes as we kissed and he leaned into me. His arms wrapped around me like he was trying to warm me up and he was actually doing a damn good job at it when I heard, "Ahem— kids in the house! Ahehehem!"

I looked up to see Divine coughing her way down the stairs and I laughed as Irving stuck his face in my neck and kissed it one more time. My eyes flew to him and I put my hand on his face. He looked into my eyes and pecked my lips slowly as I crossed one leg over the other. "This is good babe. We like this movie. I'll take care of you," I said softly while rubbing Irving's leg as he pulled me closer. I sat there watching A Low Down Dirty Shame up under my man until True came in the door behind I.J. I looked up at the boys smiling. "Hey. You have fun?" I.J. nodded quietly as he leaned down to kiss my cheek.

"Good. Dinner's on the table. I made y'all's plates gone get somethin' to eat." I shooed them towards the kitchen. Only I.J. left. True sat on the arm of the loveseat watching me and Irving like he was trying to crack a code or something. Irving had told me that True stepped to him about some of what he saw back in the day. It might have been a little foolish of me to bring him out here without first knowing exactly how bent up he really was over our past. But I just wanted to spend time with my kids. I could deal with a little tension. Besides... even if True did have a little mean streak— he seemed to respect me and my word. He just barely did, but he respected me and my word. So I knew he wouldn't turn into no real problem.

"Where Tré?" He finally looked in my eyes.

"I left her alone to paint. I honestly thought she'd be done by now though." True looked away and laughed. "She done. She talkin' to Nic." I furrowed my brows. "How you know that?"

"The phone gone." He pointed at the end table and I saw that the phone was indeed off it's hook. Now how that girl come sneak by me like that?

"How long they been like that, True?" I asked and he looked up at the ceiling and shrugged. "Forever if I'm bein' honest. I always teased Tré cuz I knew she liked that girl from the first time we all hooped together at the park. But they been best friends since we was little little— like five, six years old."

"Well miss girl is a lil fresh. Walkin' round here callin' that girl baby." True shook his head. "Baby? She not callin' her Baby cuz that's her boo. She call Nicci Baby cuz her mama call her Babydoll and Tré used to fuck it up bad back in the day and we would all go in on her. She would say 'Babydiiiieeee' and get mad when we would start laughing and start stealin' off of niggas." I laughed while shaking my head. "I know you better stop that cussin'," I said while pointing my finger at him.

He laughed and shook his head. "I'm sorry Ma— Dottie..." I watched his face go flat just as it lit up. True smacked his teeth before getting up and going upstairs. I took a deep breath while caressing Irving's hand that sat in my lap. "I'ma go check on Treasure." I moved my husband's hand and stood to head up the stairs and find Treasure. Sure enough she was in that room on that damn phone. "Why you won't tell me what it is like I don't know there's somethin' wrong witchu?" I heard Nicci's voice say as I reached for the door handle. I decided to hang back a second and press my ear to the door. "Cuz I'm always tellin' you some shit. Don't you get tired of hearing it?" Treasure asked flatly and worry flooded my spirit.