Page 38 of The Marriage Rebound

Big Mama letting me take over some of the dishes was bittersweet. On one hand, it let me put all the years I spent with her in the kitchen to use. She’d taught me everything I knew, and I was proud to showcase that, and to get her approval. On the other, it was another reminder she was getting up there in age, a fact I liked to ignore when I could, because the reality of it was not one I was completely ready to face.

However, spending the morning passing some of those same teachings on to my sister-in-law, and to have her eagerly and happily soak it all up, just felt so right. It was what being married and having family was meant to be.

“We here, Big Mama,” I called out as I entered the house.

It never failed—every time I crossed the threshold, or hell, even pulled into the driveway, a sense of peace always came over me.

“In here, baby,” she hollered.

Courtney and Mya followed me deeper into the house where we found Big Mama at the stove, stirring the pot of collards. It was the one side she refused to let me take over. Not that I minded. She made some bomb-ass collard greens and refused to tell me what her secret was. Always saying a woman had to maintain some mystery.

“Oh, look at everybody. Mya, baby, so good to see you again.”

“Really, Big Mama, there’s three of us standin’ here, and you only speak to Mya?”

“I’m getting to you, girl, hush. But I don’t get to see my Mya as often.”

I watched as my grandmother embraced Mya, who hugged her back just as tightly. I understood though; she and Courtney weren’t really close with their remaining grandmother, who was on their dad’s side. She lived out of state, so they didn’t see her often. Their maternal grandmother had died shortly after Courtney was born. Having a grandmotherly figure around they actually liked had to be comforting. Being witness to how my grandmother poured into them, welcomed them, it warmed my soul.

When she set eyes on Courtney, Big Mama’s smile got even bigger. “Courtney, Sasha told me you’d be here, I couldn’t believe it. It’s been forever since I laid eyes on you.” Big Mama placed her weathered hands on either side of Courtney’s face. She held Courtney there, quietly examining her face. “Ya look tired, baby. And stressed. You doin’ okay?”

“Yeah, Big Mama, I’m good. Other than Sasha waking me up before the ass crack of dawn to help her cook.”

I rolled my eyes at her complaining as Big Mama smiled. “You know your way ’round the kitchen?”

“No, she don’t,” I answered.

“Don’t matter, that’s what ya got a wife for.” She paused for a minute as if something just dawned on her from the way her brow wrinkled. “Well, I guess y’all both wives. Still, ya got ya a good Southern wife in my girl, she got ya covered. I’m just glad ya could join us this year. I’ve missed ya.”

“I’ve missed you too, Big Mama,” Courtney laughed as she leaned to place a quick kiss on my grandmother’s cheek. She held up her broken wrist. “This accident has made me, as I’ve been told, ‘sit my ass down somewhere.’” She turned to look at both me and her sister when she said that, and we both looked at each other before shrugging unapologetically.

Big Mama gave Courtney’s arm a light squeeze before she headed back to the stove, and the warming sensation that blossomed in my chest watching the two of them interact spread throughout my entire body. Yes, I’d wanted my parents’ approval, but the person I’d been most nervous to introduce Courtney to had been Big Mama. Defying my parents, that I was used to, but I honestly had no fucking clue what I would have done if my grandmother hadn’t approved of Courtney. Luckily, it wasn’t something I had to worry about. It was hard not to love Courtney.

“Well, we been up early to get all the food cooked. How much longer on the turkey?” I asked.

“Oh, we should be ready in about another hour.”

“Sounds good. I’m starvin’.”

We headed out to get the food along with the Sterno sets to make sure everything stayed warm. Mya and Courtney worked to arrange everything on Big Mama’s buffet, setting up each of the racks before placing the food pans in. They looked so natural in the space, I had to force myself to head outside to get the last few items instead of watching them work with minimal bickering.

“I hope we made enough,” I said when I came back in. “Who all’s comin’ again?”

“Hmmm, your auntie and ’em should be here in a bit. And before you ask, yes, she’s bringin’ the sweet potato pie,” Big Mama answered as she basted the turkey.

“You heard from Momma and Daddy?”

“Yeah, they called this mornin’. Said they’d be comin’ by. Might be a little late for dinner. They headin’ to the church to help with dinner they put on every year.”

I nodded. It was an election year, so I was sure their acts of service were for photo ops to really sell how much for the community they were. Always focused on their image. Everything came second to how they were perceived by the public. It didn’t matter that he’d held his seat as district representative at the state capitol over fifteen years and had run unopposed the last few elections. Seeing their daughter for the first time in three months—or hell, simply spending the holiday with family—could wait until after the photo op was over.

They wouldn’t dampen the day for me.

Once my aunt, uncle, and cousins started arriving, the house really livened up. Courtney hadn’t been to many family functions, and even though I knew she had fans, it was somewhat strange to see my youngest cousin going all fan-boy. It was all well and good until he started in on “getting a hookup” talk. Then I had to shut him down. She could probably get him tickets to a game, but I didn’t want it to become a thing where he felt entitled and she somehow felt obligated since he was family. I wouldn’t stand for them trying to take advantage.

Everyone was eating and enjoying conversation by the time my parents finally arrived. They made a show of things upon their arrival as if we should all be lucky they’d graced us with their presence. My annoyance unfortunately didn’t stop the immediate nerves that stamped down any desire to finish the delicious food on my plate, especially since they looked at and greeted everyone else first. I pushed back from the table, smoothing down the front of my dress, and made my way over to greet them.

“Baby girl,” Dad exclaimed, squeezing me in a tight embrace.