I Hate Love✅

22. Back to the Lou Again

She felt like a twenty-pound weight was lifted from her chest.

Cliche, but true facts.

"Kitty, Icee, thanks for making me so at home here. Y'all my fam for real, you know I love y'all." She gave IceeJay a snuggle and kiss. "But it's time I go up and get to know my other family."

"Girl, we are here for you. Do what you gotta do," Icee said.

"Yes! So happy for you. And text me. Call me. I want to know everything that happens." Kitty was truly the sister she always wished for.

"It may not be all good, it may be bad, but, I think I got this."

Instead of getting a rental car, Icee let her drive one of his cars, the Lamborghini. It was his way of forcing her to come back to visit to return it. She did not know how long she would stay, but she was not going to run away this time. She wanted to take the time to get to know her mother, her stepfather, her siblings...and even her stepbrother.

She was a bit nervous, but she called Apryl when she made it to the city limits.

"Ummm.... hey, it's Ginger, and I'm back in town."

"Oh, sweetie!"

"Yeah umm, I'm headed back to the hotel. Are you working sometime this week?"

"Nonsense! Don't stay at the hotel when you can stay right here with me. Come on over, I'll get a room ready for you."

"No...no, that's okay. The hotel was fine."

"Ginger, please. We will have more time together. I want to get to know you. You get to know me. I told your sister and brother all about you. They've been listening to your music and they go crazy every time they hear it."

She smiled. She had a sister and a brother. Actually blood-related family members.

"Ok, I'm on my way."

She headed that way and pulled up and parked as another car pulled up in the driveway behind her. She hoped it was not DJ, she was not ready to see him just yet.

"Heeeey! You must be Ginger!" It was an older man, tall, low fro full of curls. This had to be DJ's father. She saw the resemblance. He grabbed her in a hug. "So glad I'm finally meeting you."

"Hi."

"Don't hi me, come on in girl. Your mother just called and told me you were on your way, so I left work early to come and see you. I hope you can stay awhile."

"I don't know. We shall see."

"Hey, nice ride!" He looked over the car, examining it like it was on display at a museum. "This joint gotta set you back quite a penny. I know Apryl said you were in the music business, what do you do?"

"Really? You don't know who I am?"

"Naa. You look like you sing some young folk music. If it ain't Guy, New Edition, or EnVogue, I don't know."

"That's nineties music and I know it all, how come you don't know any of my generation's music? That's shady."

"What do you know about my music girl." He grabbed her suitcase out of the car, she grabbed her smaller bag and they headed for the house.

"I can sing every EnVogue song they ever made. I can dance all the New Edition moves. You don't want me to show you, old man." She liked him. He reminded her of Pops, Icee's father. Old people liked to say whatever they wanted to say, no filter.

"Old man?" He chuckled. "Yes, you are your mother's child."

He opened the door and they entered the house, which was very quiet. Maybe her mother wasn't home yet. She at least hoped she could meet her brother and sister.