“You know what your reputation was, boo.Town bopis putting it nicely.”
“Damn. What’s with all the shots you’re takin’?”
“I was really mad at you,” she confessed.
“I know. You still mad?”
“At little, but not really at you. More at the situation. Sometimes, the main reason people can’t turn over a new leaf is that everybody around them keeps reminding them of the leaf they used to be. You’re not the same person that you were when you first got to Jackson Falls. And I’m not saying that because we’re together. I’m saying it because it’s true. The things you’re doing with your business and looking for land and stuff, . . . youwould probably be doing that even if I wasn’t in the picture. You get to be new if you wanna be, Jonah.” She gestured with her hand. “Fuck these people. You get to be new if you wanna be.”
I kissed her lips. “I have no choice but to be new. Old Jones was nowhere near being on your level. And I refuse not to have you. Fuck the world, Church. Just give me you.”
Chapter 16
Jones
Spring turned into summer, and before long, it was time for the 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration at the lodge. Done in conjunction with Father’s Day, the event featured aReal Men Cookcontest, where any local father was invited to display his skills on the grill. The winner of the cook-off would receive a check for five hundred dollars and bragging rights for the entire year.
The children were invited to enjoy multiple inflatables, a petting zoo, storytelling, and pony rides. For the teens, and even the adults, there were Double-Dutch lessons, sack races, and roller skating. For the culturally minded there was a mini-museum of African American history, black history trivia, and quilt-making.
There were also various stages set up throughout the lodge’s property. One was for people to try their hands at spoken word. Another was headed up by Church’s mom, Alisha. She taught “Chicago-style” stepping. There was a gospel choir, a DJ, and another that offered West-African dance lessons.
Then there were the vendors who offered everything from handcrafted jewelry, to bags and purses, to artwork, to kaftans,to baatis, to head wraps, and baked goods. It was in the vendor area that Lex and I helped Church and Mari set up their table.
Once the crowd started to descend on the Apple Head products, Lex and I became “do boys.” We were fetching, bagging up orders, and answering questions just as much as Church and Mari were. Two months after the rumors about me being the father of both Jenna and Kylena’s babies started, I noticed that no one acted weird about me helping them. Church wasn’t receiving any pitying looks, and I didn’t hear any whispers. I figured the worst had passed, and we’d gotten through it.
Collins, Perkins, and Bailey showed up after we’d been at it for about an hour, and the line had never let up.
“Oh, we came to help,” Collins told her. “But we see you two already have help.”
“Don’t let that stop you, sis,” I told her. “Step up here and bag the merchandise so I can open up some more cases of the moisture mask.”
“Sis?” Perkins repeated.
I made eye contact with her. Of all of church’s family members, Perkins was the hardest to win over. She never really did fuck with me, and the whole pregnant project-twins shit with Jenna and Kylena caused her to double down on her dislike.
Bailey sucked her teeth. “I don’t know why you don’t want to accept it.”
Church briefly looked away from the tablet where she was calculating a customer’s order to make eye contact with her eldest sister. She gave Perkins a half pout, half smile. “You know I love you, Perk. But I’ma have to just rip the band-aid off with this one. Jones is my man. He calls Collins and Baileysis. You’re the only one he doesn’t call that.”
She turned her attention back to the customer, but I spoke. “Come on and get you some of this,” I teased with my arms open for a hug.
“I’m holding my breath,” Church said.
“Go ’head, Perk. You know you wanna,” Collins teased. She was the only one I’d ever really seen give Perkins the business. I figured that was because they were the closest in age.
“Come on, Perkins. Let’s dead this shit. I hope I’ve proved to you by now that I’m all about Church.” My arms remained open and waiting for her.
“You know that boy ain’t never coming up off that girl,” Bailey said.
“Damn sure ain’t,” I agreed with a shake of my head.
Perkins stomped her foot like the spoiled brat she was then fell into my open arms. She let me hug her, but she didn’t hug me back, standing there all stiff and shit. She didn’t know me. I didn’t care. And to prove how much I didn’t care that she wouldn’t hug me back, before I released her, I placed a big, loud peck on her cheek.
Church cracked up. I walked over to her and duplicated the kiss I’d just given Perkins, firmly placing my lips on her cheek.
“Oh, okay. Y’all out here claiming each other publicly. We see you!” the customer that Mari was helping called out.
Everybody in earshot laughed. Mari smiled big at me.