Green Eyed Monster

Green Harvest

Lola's Kitchen is now under Lola International, Incorporated. I now sell wine and 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 he, Hyde, and Solomon simply own and monitor. And so is Lola International. My own family is living the dream as well.

Lee's planning a grand event for my 67th birthday. He and Joy stop dating shortly after Lee and my talk, but they're still close. Lee's a hopeless bachelor but Hyde's now married with four children. Extremely attractive family he has.

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 take my time dressing and primping. It's nearing noon and I still haven't heard from Lee. Trevor and Deuce are inquiring about what's going on. Drake's been sick so he can't do too much. If the festivities start much later he may have to miss my party. It's now past 1 p.m. and this isn't my Lee at all.

Trevor then 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. Inward, 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 Trevor's now coming downstairs. His face is pale 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 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, build, everything about him mirrored Solomon. Soon this turned into a family reunion. Hyde introduced me to his family. After the repast he asked to speak with me alone. He escorts me to the gazebo in the beautiful garden near the pond, behind the banquet hall. We sit locked arm and arm. 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 then starts weeping. 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 everyday for over two months. All our families got reacquainted. It was simply awesome. Hyde and Lee then planned a family reunion in England. All expenses paid. All we have to do is show up.

After meeting Hyde, Joy teases, "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!"