Among Friends

Chapter 16

I was awaken by the doorbell. I slept naked that night so I had to find my robe. The doorbell stopped ringing and I heard Ma"s voice talking to K'Shawn. I came into the front room to find Ma sitting on the couch talking to her grandson. Jason came in. He was introduced as a friend. I saw the quick look of disappointment on his face. It wasn't the time.
"Good morning, Keisha." Ma greeted. I told her the same. Then she started with K'Shawn.
"Why you didn't come to see me?" She asked. K'Shawn apologized and said he was going to.
" I can bake your favorite." Ma replied.
"Grandma bakes a great apple pie." He told Jason. " I can bake it Sunday after church. You and Jason can join me."
K'Shawn was about to make an excuse but I gave him a look. He agreed. " Remember Lisa Johnson?" Ma asked. K'Shawn was trying to recall. " Well, she's always asking about you..." Ma informed.  K'Shawn and Jason told Ma that they had somewhere to go and quickly left. Damn.
"Did you talk to Jeremiah lately?" She asked. I replied in the negative.
"Ma, he is not a priority. We are divorced." I told her.
"Yes, but that girl kicked him out. He needs somewhere to go..." she told me.
"Well, that's his problem." I replied. Ma shook her head.
"He asked me if I can talk to you." Damn.
"Look Ma, he is grown. I am not his keeper." I told her.
"That's why you don't have a man, Keisha...you don't know how to forgive. He was nice enough to let you keep the house." I was furious.
"Well, Mama, I don't need a man. I been doing a good job taking care of myself and I did a good job raising K'Shawn. All Jeremiah gave me was misery. And I don't need it."
I left Ma in the living room. I don't need this today.
Later I got a phone call from Nia. She was frantic. " Ms. Keisha...Ma's really sick!" She exclaimed. " Call 911 and give me five minutes!" I exclaimed.
I followed the ambulance to the hospital. I scrambled to the E.R. I found Nia at the Nurse's Station in tears. She grabbed me.
She told me that Ma just passed out. I asked where was James. She said she didn't know but Tyrell was on the way.
A young male doctor came toward us. " She is stable right now..." he informed us. "She has responded some to the treatments but we need to keep her overnight for observation."
Tyrell came through the lobby door with an upset look on his face. Nia ran to him and he held her. I told him what the doctor relayed to me. I put my hand on his shoulder.
"Tyrell, you got to be strong for Nia." I told him. He seem to collapse in my arms and started sobbing. I held on to him. Nia held on to us.
James came to the hospital later that night.
"Thanks, Keisha..." he said to me as he held on to Nia. He did not touch Tyrell, just gave him a sympathetic look. Tyrell just nod. I wonder what was up with their relationship dynamic.
I told James that I was going home.  He nod and said that he was staying with them.
I thought of Tyrell and Nia as I pulled up to my driveway.
K'Shawn and Jason were still staying with friends. Why was my kitchen lights on? I calmly and slowly walked toward the front steps. There was K'Shawn's baseball bat from when he tried out from 4th grade in the living room closet. I slowly open the closet door and took the bat out. I heard water running and it seem someone was cooking.
I went into the kitchen, bat ready to slug a home run.
With a yell, I scrambled in the kitchen to find Jeremiah at stove.
At first, he was terrified, but he realized it was me. He was wearing a silk burgundy robe and tube socks up to his knees.
"Keisha!" He exclaimed. I threw the bat down.
"Jeremiah, what are you doing here?"