Nine

T he melancholy strains of the gospel classic “Precious Lord” filled the small Baptist church as friends and family gathered to celebrate the homegoing of Cyrus Lee Perry. Faced with still not being able to drive and having no appropriate black dress in her closet anyway, Genesis had gone shopping online and bought a few things, including a short-sleeved black maxi with small flowers on the hem that mostly hid the black fracture boot she’d paired with one of a pair of black ballet flats she’d also ordered. Her normally wild curls were tamed into an Afro puff at the top of her head. Makeup was minimal, a good thing since the morning had come with more than one bout of unexpected tears. Not only because of her uncle’s death, but because of how alone she felt. She hadn’t heard from her mother, nor from Lance. She sat in the front row with her brother Habari, who’d thankfully agreed to join her for moral support, and a couple of distant relatives she barely remembered.

On the other side of the aisle, Clarence and Cleo and their wives, her cousins Tiffany and Kayla and other siblings rounded out Cy’s next of kin. The McCormicks were there, and the attorney who’d surprised her and Clarence and Cleo just over a week ago with the contents of Cy’s trust. A smattering of older people dotted the pews. Whether neighbors, longtime friends or members of the church, Genesis didn’t know.

What she was very aware of was how the atmosphere changed when Jaxson arrived. Not that he’d ever gone far from her mind. His accidental touch on her breast during the shooting lesson had scorched her like fire. She’d felt it for days. Memories of that interaction—his thoughtful dinner purchase, patient instruction, prolific gun skills—had all worked to lessen the animosity she was already finding hard to hang on to. The incident with her brother that in her mind had cost him a college and pro ball career now seemed far away and irrelevant, like holding on to an item well past its expiration date.

She observed the somber expression now highlighting the square of his jaw and watched him approach the casket. After a quiet goodbye to his friend and neighbor, nods at those in the front row, he scanned the pews. For her? It looked that way. He passed the second row, where she sat, made eye contact and squeezed her shoulder. His touch brought comfort, a brief balm over her sadness, something that hadn’t happened earlier when she saw her cousins for the first time in years.

That reunion hadn’t gone well. Kayla ignored her, but Tiffany, always outspoken, had bypassed courtesies and cut straight to the chase.

“You know you’re wrong.”

“Hello to you, too, cousin. Long time no see. About ten years, right? Where’s my hug?”

Genesis had taken a step forward. Tiffany, a step back.

“It’s behind you doing the right thing. What Grandpa did wasn’t right at all. I can’t believe you’re going for it.”

“I’m not going for anything, nor am I going to argue over what Uncle Cyrus owned with his casket on the other side of the door.”

That comment had not only shut Tiffany’s rant, but it had glued her to the spot long enough for Genesis to walk around her and enter the church. Whispers had been followed by daggers flung in her direction, but once the first note from the organ sounded, it was all about Cyrus Perry.

The service was short and heartfelt. She’d braced herself to have to defend her mother’s absence, but no one said a word about her not being there. The hugs from Clarence and Cleo were perfunctory, but those from their wives felt sincere. Tiffany finally came around, and so did Kayla. Neither apologized for their earlier actions and incorrect comments, but when they hugged and thanked her for how she’d written the eulogy, it felt genuine. At the repast, the mood was more relaxed and somewhat cheerful. Amid platters of meat loaf, ham, sliced turkey and roast beef, and bowls of spaghetti, green beans and candied yams, and the obligatory macaroni and cheese, Genesis enjoyed catching up with her cousins, swapping stories about Cyrus and reminiscing about good times on the farm.

“Which one of you got chased by the pig?” Tiffany said, laughing at the memory.

Genesis and Kayla pointed to each other.

“It was you, Kayla,” Genesis said.

“Genesis, you know you clocked a sprinting record trying to outrun that pig. I was the one who almost went vegetarian after finding out about the chicken.”

Genesis nodded. “Right, that was crazy. You absolutely loved that chicken-and-vegetable soup until you learned the bird that tasted so delicious had been running around the yard that afternoon.”

“You still ate the soup, though,” Tiffany reminded Kayla.

“I couldn’t help it. That food was so good. I always hoped Grandpa would marry Miss Margaret.”

“Me, too,” Genesis agreed. “I loved her cooking.”

“Yeah, unfortunately for us, the skills that his other girlfriend Miss Jackie lacked in the kitchen were clearly made up in the bedroom.”

“Ooh, stop!” Kayla said, play-punching Tiffany’s arm before lowering her voice to a whisper. “I can’t unsee that from my imagination!”

The laughter Genesis enjoyed from her cousins’ teasing dissipated when she took in a scene across the room. Clarence and Jaxson had their heads together in what looked to be a serious conversation. Clarence’s animated gestures suggested being passionate about whatever it was he was sharing. Jaxson’s furrowed brow was evidence of his intent listening. Genesis knew how badly Clarence wanted to sell his father’s farm. Jaxson knew her position, but was he really on her side? She watched as he pulled out his phone, punching in keys while Clarence continued speaking. Cleo walked over with his wife and sister-in-law. Jaxson shook Cleo’s hand and bowed slightly for the ladies. They conversed quietly until Cleo said something that made all of them laugh and Clarence slapped Jaxson on the back as though they were old pals.

Genesis’s eyes narrowed. Standing there, watching him, watching them , every interaction she’d had with Jaxson became suspect. How had she allowed her guard to fall, to not remember that the guy now over there conspiring with her cousins was the same one who’d slept with her on a dare, then robbed her brother of a state championship and a glorious pro ball future? What else from her family was he trying to snatch away?

In that moment, the opportunity to find out presented itself. Clarence turned and waved Tiffany and Kayla over. Genesis, hot on their heels, almost led the charge. She forced herself to act nonchalant when inside her blood was on a low simmer. All this supposed wheeling and dealing with the dirt not yet shoveled on Uncle Cyrus’s grave. The nerve!

“This is my beautiful daughter, Tiffany,” Clarence said, presenting her as though cameras for The Bachelor were rolling and the host was nearby. “And my niece, Kayla.”

“Nice to meet you,” Jaxson said. His expression was appreciative yet respectful. Genesis tried to tell herself she didn’t care one way or the other. She did, though.

Damn, damn, damn!

“Kayla is married and has two sons. Tiffany is single, smart and thinking about moving back to Tennessee. Right, Tiff?”

Genesis barely concealed her surprise. At one time she and Tiffany had shared the deepest of secrets, but not a word of this possible move had been uttered.

“I’m thinking about it,” Tiffany admitted, looking at Jaxson with a flirty expression on her face. “Being back here and reminiscing has me thinking it might be the right time for a move. Keep the house in the immediate family. Pass it on to the next generation when the time comes.”

At least a half a dozen sarcastic responses danced on Genesis’s tongue. She practiced restraint. She wouldn’t remind Clarence about his comment of no one wanting to marry his single, smart daughter, nor bring up the fact that until this moment, Cyrus’s “immediate family” had said nothing regarding relocation plans.

Genesis wasn’t left unaffected. The immediate-family comment stung more than Tiffany could know. Another reminder that once again she was with a group where she didn’t quite fit in. An outsider. Where she wasn’t an official or actual member. Not a daughter, but a stepdaughter. Not a niece, but a great-niece. An outsider the way Tiffany would likely feel in the country. In Genesis’s mind, her Vegas Strip–loving, club-hopping, lights/camera/action, citified cousin had about as much chance of being happy in Holy Mound as the German shepherd Nipsey had of turning into Garfield the cat.

“I guess you and Genesis will be roommates,” she heard Jaxson say, as she refocused on the conversation.

Tiffany turned accusatory eyes toward Genesis. “Are you living there?”

“Only temporarily.”

“I didn’t know you’d already grabbed a broom and swooped right in.”

“Your dad knew,” Genesis said, feeling defensive and becoming increasingly angry that she felt that way. “I was at Uncle Cyrus’s house when this happened.” She held out her leg. “I can’t drive right now.”

A grunt was Tiffany’s response.

She waited for Clarence to cosign her statement. His glare was as hard as Tiffany’s. She thought there was empathy in Kayla’s eyes, but her cousin stayed quiet. The animosity from them made one thing abundantly clear. The only real family she had in Holy Mound, Tennessee, was no longer there to protect her. She decided to protect herself.

“I’ll talk to y’all later.”

She walked away without waiting for a response but didn’t get far. A hand grasped her arm.

“Genesis.”

She stopped at Jaxson’s voice behind her. “What do you want?”

“Are you okay?”

“Do I look okay?”

“Look, I apologize if I spoke out of turn. I assumed your cousins knew you were at Cyrus’s house.”

“You know what they say about people who make assumptions.”

“This guy bothering you?” Habari walked up, filled with the heightened bravado and macho testosterone of a man who’d just turned twenty-one. Genesis noted the added bass to his voice.

“My brother Habari,” Genesis offered. “Bari, this is Jax King.”

“I know who he is, the fool who stole the championship from my brother and ruined his career.”

“Your whole family believes that story?” Jax calmly asked. “And you’re all still angry?”

Habari tried to stand taller than his average five-nine height. “You got a problem with that?”

Genesis stepped between them. “Okay, Habari, that’s enough.” Said even though a part of her had appreciated Habari standing up for their family. There was already enough tension in the air. Clearly, before the service someone had passed around a big bag of argu-mints!

“Jaxson was Uncle Cyrus’s neighbor, helped around the farm after he got sick. They were good friends.”

The words rolled out of her mouth unbidden. Even as they made their way to the air, Genesis questioned her taking up for this man.

Habari’s expression calmed as he lost some of the attitude. “I guess that explains why he’s here.” He looked at Jaxson. “I would have figured you for more of a West Coast dude. Especially after you got that analyst spot on the Sports Network. Why’d you move back here?”

“Family matters.”

Genesis heard that end-of-story punctuation mark. Bam! She would never admit that misery loved company, but it looked like she wasn’t the only one in Holy Mound with land mines of the bloodline kind. She didn’t know much about Jaxson beyond his connection to football and being her uncle’s neighbor. She wanted to, which was something she’d rather not think about. When Hazel caught her eye, Genesis was more than happy to make her exit.

“Habari, come meet another neighbor.”

With that, she pulled her brother away and made sure both of them steered clear of Jaxson for the rest of the afternoon.

The next day, Sunday, Genesis sat at the dining room table trying to figure out her life. She hadn’t worked for several days, and though she’d regularly sent out résumés, she couldn’t seem to buy a job. Next month’s rent would just about clear out her savings. And Lance had flat out told her moments ago he didn’t know when he could pay back the loan. Hard decisions had to be made.

Borrowing money was out of the question. Her mother and stepfather could easily afford it, but Genesis wouldn’t ask. When told about Cyrus, Lori had barely reacted to the news. She felt obligated to let her mother know what she’d inherited. Lori’s only comment was a question. “How much is it worth?”

Ironic that doing what Clarence wanted would solve a lot of her immediate woes. The paperwork showed the land and home to be valued in the low six figures. Split three ways between her, Clarence and Cleo, it would still leave enough money to get her life back on track. There was only one problem. Selling the farm was not what Cyrus wanted. Her uncle would get the last word.

She wouldn’t ask Hank either. He had responsibilities, a fiancée and child, and was doing better than he had in a long time. Most of her friends had little discretionary income. Bottom line? She’d have to figure life out by herself.

The familiar sound of a certain truck interrupted her thoughts.

“Don’t these people know how to call first?” she said out loud, though, truth be told, she’d had worse distractions.

She reached the porch, put a hand on her hip and adopted what she thought was an appropriate scowl to show her displeasure. Jaxson slowly unfolded himself out of the cab, offered a quick wave, then retrieved a box from the bed of the truck. He looked all sexy and mysterious with his ball cap, airplane shades and a smile, and Genesis found it hard to hold on to the act. But she tried.

“Have you ever heard of calling before driving over to someone’s house?”

“Have you ever heard of the phrase Do drop in ?”

“What?”

He sauntered by her just as unaffected as you please. “Leave your attitude outside, Hopalong Cassidy, and come in the house. I’ve got a gift for you.”

Did he just? I know he didn’t. “Did you just call me...?”

“Hopalong Cassidy? Yes. I did.” He laughed as she hopped inside. “You’re always copping an attitude with me. I’m trying to get you to lighten up.”

He pulled a box cutter out of his pocket and cut the tape. “Your uncle got me watching those old-time Westerns. Country classics, he called them. Gunsmoke. Bonanza. The Wild Wild West. Hopalong Cassidy was one of his favorites.”

Genesis knew he told the truth. She didn’t even know television used to be shown in black-and-white until visiting her uncle.

“What’s that?”

“A security system. I tried to talk Cyrus into getting one years ago. This model comes with five cameras, including one for a doorbell, and motion sensor lights.”

“It looks expensive. You shouldn’t have bought it. That kind of money won’t be in my budget for a while.”

“Consider it payment for being an ass the other day, sharing information with your family that you didn’t want them to know.”

“You didn’t have to do that.” But he had, and Genesis was touched by the gesture. She couldn’t remember the last time Lance or anyone she’d recently dated had done something to help keep her safe.

“I was joking earlier. I wasn’t really that angry at you for coming here. I do remember the ‘do drop in’ kind of casualness out here. When visiting Uncle Cyrus, people were always stopping by.”

“I admit it takes getting used to.”

“It’s actually refreshing. I’ve lived in my condo for three years and have people living close by that I still don’t know.”

“Around here everybody knows everybody. But times are hard. The world is changing. Just in case someone you don’t know comes around, I want to make sure you’re protected.”

He wanted to protect her. Genesis’s heart fairly swooned at the words. Men their age seemed more focused on themselves. She’d encouraged Lance to follow his dreams of opening a blues-and-BBQ spot in Little Rock, Arkansas. Had invested her last dollar to help make it work, along with her blood, sweat and tears. She knew the restaurant world was a hard code to crack, but had faith when Lance swore to repay her. They’d been friends before they became lovers. She knew he cared. But could he protect her? Would he put her well-being before his own? With Lance, there was no way to be sure. But when it came to Jaxson...she knew the answer.