Casey whistled. “That’s some shiner you got there, sis.”
“Nori got you good. What did you do to her?” I asked.
Daisy gasped dramatically, channeling her inner Felicity, and placed her hand on her chest. “Are you victim-blaming?”
“I’m not victim-blaming. You two have put us through twenty-plus years of bullshit. I’m simply withholding judgment until I have all the facts. Hell, for all I know, Nori’s the true victim.”
“Dad!” Daisy protested.
“What is it, honey? I’m on the phone with your mother, telling her that the wedding may or may not be on for this weekend.”
“The wedding is still very much on. I’m not canceling my wedding over a love tap.” The conference room erupted in groans. “What? That woman put me through too much hell for me to let her go. She’s quite literally my soul mate.”
“Never mind—false alarm. I’m sorry to bother you, Kierra. Mhm. Yep. I love you, too. Yes, Kierra. I’m aware they need therapy, but they’re mildly functioning adults. What can we do about it? No, don’t put me on—I’m on hold.”
“Tell us the story, sis. Why did Nori punch you in your eye on this beautiful Monday morning?” Casey teased.
“Look…she wanted to get braids for our honeymoon, and I told her no because I didn’t want her standing beside me looking like Taryn Manning fromHustle & Flow. Then I proceeded to remind her that just because her mother is Black doesn’t mean she is. Next thing you know, I’m looking out of one eye,” Daisy explained with a shrug of her shoulders. “I regret nothing.”
“She did what?” Dad exclaimed, cutting his eyes at Daisy, who scooted behind me in an attempt to seek refuge from our father’s heated glare. I whirled around and faced her.
“What did you do?”
Daisy grumbled something unintelligible under her breath while digging in the pocket of her slacks. She produced a familiar hard protective case.
“Oh, Daisy…you didn’t.” I sighed, feeling the earlier tension return.
“If I can’t see, then that bitch isn’t gonna hear.”
“You stole her hearing aids?”
Daisy nodded shamelessly.
Uncle Ant and Ms. Simone started teaching Nori ASL when she was a toddler, thinking it would be beneficial for her to have later on. Little did they know that Nori would depend on that skill a few years later when she lost 90% of her hearing after a severe case of chicken pox.
Yeah, Dad. Cancel the wedding.
* * *
My phone buzzed, and I groaned when I read the caller ID. I hated being caught up in Daisy and Nori’s drama. It was like a never-ending episode ofJerry Springer.
“Is it her?” Daisy asked anxiously.
Yeah, you should be scared. Hurricane Nori is coming for your ass.
I nodded.
“Tell her I’m not here.”
I rejected the call, and for the next three minutes, the Bakers played Dodge Nori, rejecting her calls left and right out of a sense of self-preservation and loyalty to our kin.
Daisy checked her BVLGARI Serpentini Spiga watch—a gift from me for joining the firm and muttered, “Oh, wow. Look at the time. I have a client to meet. Unfortunately, she was run over by a mail truck and broke her back. Fortunately for the firm, she’ll never walk again,” she said, snickering as she grabbed her briefcase and walked towards the door. I nodded at Kieran, who subtly blocked her exit. She bumped into him and scowled. “Move out of the way, loser.”
“I’m not a loser,” he huffed defensively.
“You failed the bar…twice.”
“I think differently. That’s why I’m an asset to the team.”