“What’s going on around here?” Dwayne asked.
“The police—”
“What police?!?” Dwayne and Uncle Bubba chorused like two angry bulls.
“The neighbors called the police because me and Kurt were arguing.”
“Did he put his hands on you?” Dwayne asked, scanning her from head to
toe.
She shook her head. “He didn’t.”
“And he never will if he knows what’s good for him,” Uncle Bubba said.
“Where is he?” Dwayne asked, craning his head toward the steps leading
upstairs.
“The police told him to leave,” she said. Tears began to roll down her cheek
and she blurted, “I’m pregnant.”
“But that’s a good thing, ain’t it?” Uncle Bubba always expected tears of joy
when she finally said those words. Instead, her pained look told him that the
announcement had blasted shrapnel into her heart.
“Kurt doesn’t want me to have the baby.”
“Be-caussse?” Dwayne prodded, his gaze narrowing on her.
“Because he’s a damn fool, that’s why,” Uncle Bubba answered.
“You haven’t heard the worst part,” Val explained. “His mistress gets to keep
her baby.”
Dwayne folded his sister into his arms while she cried.
“I’ll getcha some water, child,” Uncle Bubba said, ambling toward the
refrigerator. “I don’t know what to say ‘bout Kurt, runnin’ ‘round here
pornicatin’.”
“Fornicating,” Dwayne said.
Uncle Bubba pulled out a pitcher of ice water. He asked Val, “Who’s this
other hussy who’s having his baby?”
“Some woman named Whitley,” she said, taking the glass he offered. “She
brought her crazy behind over here today.”
Uncle Bubba was just about to sit back down but froze mid-air before his
overalls made contact with the stool. “She did what?” he shrieked. “Humph,
forget the police. Yo’ neighbors shoulda had to call the ambulance. Come on,
Dwayne.”
“Where’re we going?” his nephew asked, digging for his car keys.
“Home to get my shotgun. We’re gonna be right here when Mr. Man comes
back.”
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