Page 29 of The Sweetest Return

I sat because all three of them had started watching me.

Mama’s face softened immediately.

That was the problem with becoming still around people who knew me. I could stay busy enough to fool myself for days. My family needed maybe ten minutes.

She pushed a plate toward me.

“Eat.”

Half a turkey sandwich and kettle chips.

I took a bite and discovered I was hungrier than I thought.

“You have been home one week,” she said, “and you’re already working like Pittsburgh might disappear if you take a nap.”

“I had deadlines.”

Daddy leaned away from the console. “You had something to avoid.”

Bari gave a low laugh.

Mama turned toward him. “Do not encourage your father.”

“I’m not. I’m just glad somebody else said it.”

I pointed my sandwich at Daddy. “That was dramatic.”

“No. Dramatic was unpacking spices before your sheets.”

“The sheets are on the bed.”

“You know what I mean.”

Daddy never needed a long speech, which was unfortunate because long speeches gave a person time to build a defense. He preferred leaving one sentence nearby and letting me decide whether I intended to embarrass myself by stepping around it.

“I’m not avoiding anything.”

My mother made a sound into her tea.

Bari slid a book onto the shelf. “What time you leaving Thursday?”

I knew exactly what he meant.

“Why are you involved?”

“Because if you act weird all weekend, Mama gon’ call me. I’m protecting my peace early.”

“I do not act weird.”

Bari looked at Daddy. “She just lied in front of the Lord and didn’t even blink.”

“I skipped church,” I reminded him.

“That don’t make Him unavailable.”

Thursday night was the opening mixer at Royal House, AWU's alumni house on campus. Royal House had history, beautiful old rooms, and nowhere near enough space for everybody who wanted inside during Crown Weekend, which was part of its charm and half the reason invitations mattered.

By Friday, the celebration moved downtown to The Nocturne for the Crown Legacy Gala. AWU and the St. James family had been doing some version of that dance for decades. Alumni stayed there. Donors met there. Reunions, retirement dinners, award nights and the occasions too important for folding chairs had passed through those rooms. The Nocturne wasn't part of AWU, but during Crown Weekend, it had always felt like family.