Green Eyed Monster

Green Harvest

Lola's Kitchen is now Lola International, Incorporated. My company sells wine, as well as my handmade cards, poems, and short stories. Everything is based on family love. 

Lee has taken York Printing and Savannah & Lola's Marketing to higher heights. Lee and his family are living the dream. Their businesses are self-sustaining entities that Lee, Hyde, and Solomon own and manage. And so is Lola International. My own family is living the dream as well.

Lee planned a grand event for my 67th birthday. He and Joy stopped dating shortly after Lee and I talked, but they're still close. Lee is a hopeless bachelor, but Hyde is married with four children. Hyde has a beautiful family.

It's the morning of my birthday party. Lee was supposed to have picked me up at 11 a.m. so we could all meet and go to the yacht together. I took my time dressing and primping, but it's almost noon, and I still haven't heard from Lee. 

Trevor and Deuce are inquiring about what's going on. Drake has been sick, so he can't do too much. If the festivities start much later, he may have to miss my party. Now, it's past 1 p.m. This isn't my Lee at all.

Trevor says, "I reach out to King, time to time. Let me see if he knows anything."

As I nod, my heart starts beating fast like a young high school girl from knowing Trevor's calling him. Inwardly, I pray he comes to my celebration at least for Lee.

Trevor answers, "Hey, Eloise. No, this is Trevor. Yes. ...What? ...Awww no!"

Wide-eyed, Trevor looks my way, then walks out of the room, whispering. I call out, "Trev!"

He goes upstairs and shuts the bedroom door behind him. Deuce is on his phone, on my front porch. I call out. "Deuce!"

"Yes, nana?"

"Follow me upstairs!"

We get to the foot of the stairs, but now Trevor's coming down, pale-faced and wet with tears. I cry, "Oh God! What's wrong? Where's my Lee?"

Snotting and choking, Trevor answers, "The hospital..."

"The hospital? Trev, where's my Lee?"

"King's gone, ma. He passed this morning. He was in a car accident coming from the airport. His driver lost control and they crashed."

Everything goes blank. Trevor reaches for me, but I pull away.

"Ma, come here."

I feel my body quaking. "Ma, are you okay? Here, sit down. Ma? Ma!" I faint.

Solomon's funeral was fit for a king. When Hyde entered the church, I thought it was Solomon. He's the same height, complexion, and build; everything about him mirrors Solomon. Afterward, this turned into a family reunion. Hyde introduced me to his family. During the repast, he asked to speak with me alone. 

Hyde escorts me to the gazebo in the beautiful garden near the pond, behind the banquet hall. We sit locked arm in arm. With tears in his eyes, he looks at me, then looks away. As he squeezes my arm tighter, I pat his hand.

I whisper, "It's okay, Hy-Dee. Nana never stopped loving you, not one day."

He drops his head and weeps. Gently, I pull it down to my chest and let him cry until he's content.

After Solomon's funeral, I was with Hyde almost every day for over two months. All our families got reacquainted. It was simply awesome. Hyde and Lee planned a family reunion in England. All expenses paid. All we have to do is show up.

After meeting Hyde, Joy teased, "Now why didn't you introduce me to Hyde first? He's a little closer to my age, Ms. Mae. I could be your daughter right now!"