Page 97 of Plus One

“My God.” She plopped down on the chaise, letting her head fall into her hands. “We figured out it was a setup, but… just wow.”

“Yeah, Cousin Tommie told us.” Jasmine came to sit beside her, resting her head on Monique’s shoulder again. “And it’s okay, Ma. Maurice is like ninety-nine-point-nine-nine percent in love with you already. I bet you’re not far behind.”

What did she know about love? She was nineteen. Yet here she was pulling strings and orchestrating matchmaking schemes with the family elders like she understood how love calcified into loss, how opening yourself up just gave the world more ways to destroy you.

“He doesn’t really love me.”

Justin scoffed, “Whatever, man. I saw you when you came up in here last night, looking all busted and defeated. You probably love him too.”

“I’d been traveling all day, and my friend just died!”

Patting her leg, Jasmine said, “Make whatever excuses you need to while you eat your breakfast, but don’t use Chickie’s death as one.” She slid the tray in front of Monique and handed her the fork. “It’s gonna be a long day. You need fuel.”

“Come on, Ma. Dr. T will be here any minute.”

Monique looked at the food, and her stomach twisted. “I’ma eat this because I don’t want it to go to waste, but y’all two”—she waved her fork at her children—“don’t think for a second y’all’re off the hook.” Monique stuffed a forkful of eggs and sausage into her mouth. “Talk. Now.”

Jasmine and Justin looked at each other in that twin-y silent communication way that they sometimes did. “Well,” Justin began. “Auntie Deb always asks if you’re seeing anyone. I mean, she’s been asking for like five years now.”

“What? Why’s she asking y’all?” Her aunt’s wife was the living representation of actions speak louder than words. The woman hardly ever talked, practically blending in with the background everywhere. Over the years Monique learned that Deborah Fairbanks was a sentinel, always watching and ready to take action.I guess she finally took action…

“And she started talking about some guys she’d known for like forever.”

“Guys in Jersey or Philly. We live in Chicago,” Monique said flatly, already knowing.

“Well, we thought it was a good idea at the time,” Justin said. “Give you something to do, someplace to spend time away from what you’re used to.”

What she was used to was doing her mail route and taking care of her kids. Those two things were all that she ever thought that she needed. “What do I look like in a long-distance relationship?”

Jasmine scoffed. “What do you look like inanyrelationship, Ma? We don’t hardly remember you and Daddy together, and when have you ever given anybody any play since?”

She coughed around a piece of toast. “Play? Are you serious?” This child was taking things a little too far.

“As a heart attack.” Jasmine sucked her teeth andalmostrolled her eyes at Monique.Smart girl.

“You don’t need to know what I’ve done and who I’ve done it with.”

“But with everything that’s happened and with Jasmine away at school and me—” Justin paused and pulled his lips tightly closed.

“You what?” Monique asked. “What are you not telling me?”

Jasmine let out a long-suffering sigh. “Just say it, Jay. The Aunties told you not to wait.”

“The Aunties… what? Wait a minute. Y’all having all these conversations behind my back?”

Jasmine held her hands up to stop the fresh tirade on Monique’s tongue. “We’re adults, Ma. They’re our family too. I know you feel the need to run everything, but we can’t hold ourselves back for your comfort—especially not Jay.”

“I…” Monique hadn’t thought she was being controlling or codependent. She never imagined that the fun-sucking hall monitor was her and not cancer. “Wow.”

“A scout from an international soccer league approached me last year,” Justin admitted, hanging his head.

“Say what? Why didn’t you tell me?” She took his chin in her hand. “That’s incredible. What happened?”

“You were sick,” Jasmine answered for her brother. “Recovering from another surgery, infusions, something. You were angry. You were sad. We were scared, Ma, just like you.”

Tears spilled over Justin’s thick, enviable lashes. “I couldn’t leave you alone or make Jazz defer. There would be another scout for me.”

“Oh no, baby. I shouldn’t have left you to make that choice on your own.”