mischievously, producing a chuckle from Lisa.
âListen to us talking crazy. This thing with Kyle really has me stressed out if I can start joking about killing folks.â Lisa ignored her work phone when it rang and seconds later the familiar number danced across her cell phone. âThatâs Eric.â She sighed. He was calling about their plans that evening. Lisa had informed Chanelle about their expected guest yesterday after church. Though both her mother and daughter were okay with him coming, Lisa still had reservations because sheâd never brought a guy home before. âI hate to do this at such short notice, but Iâm going to cancel dinner tonight. Iâm too stressed.â
âDonât do that; canceling your date will not solve this issue with Chanelle and Kyle, but I know something that will. You should speak with Kyleâs mother.â
âAnd say what?â
âAnything you want. Just be sure that when you leave, the ghetto chick understands that she better find some way to keep her son away from your daughter or else.â
âI donât know about that, Liv; it sounds too much like a threat.â
âIf no one else hears you threaten her, it didnât happen.â She winked. âSeriously, either talk to her or allow this entire thing to keep eating away at you.â
Lisa toyed with the idea in her head. âItâll be like pulling teeth to get the number from Chanelle. I guess I could sneak and get it out of her cell phone. Iâll give his mom a call later this week.â
âForget about calling. You remember where he lives, donât you?â
Lisa nodded affirmatively. The night the police officer took her to get her car, heâd pointed out the house where Chanelle had been picked up. The picture of the Section-8 complex was branded in her mind like pornographic images on a computerâs hard drive.
âThen go talk to her. And donât wait until later this week. Do it as soon as you get off of work so you can get it over with. Shoot, girl, leave now.â
âI canât possibly go today. I need to get home because Ericâs coming over tonight; and leaving now is not an option. With Megan out of the office, Iâm pretty much holding down the fort on my own.â
âYeah, and itâs really in danger of falling, right? Thatâs why weâve been sitting here talking for an hour and the fort is still intact. Girl, itâs only three oâclock. You have plenty of time to go confront the chick and get home in time for dinner.â
âWhat if sheâs not home? Most people work during the day, you know?â
âWhat if she is? Youâll never know until you knock on the door. Whatâs the real reason youâre hesitant to talk to her?â
âI donât know; I want to think more about what to say. Iâm worried that interfering may escalate Chanelleâs interest in him.â
âNot if youâre persuasive enough, it wonât. Girl, remember. . .Kyleâs ghetto mama doesnât have anything on you. I really shouldnât be calling her names when I donât know her, but real mothers donât allow their teenage sons to have parties where underage kids get drunk. Kids will be kids, but no matter what they do, we must look out for their best interests. Justin has not been perfect. The bottom line is that when he was in trouble, there was nothing Isaac and I didnât do to help him. A mother will do anything to protect her child. Chanelle hanginâ with this thug is trouble. Now, do whatever you have to do to keep her safe.â
â¢Â â¢Â â¢
Oliviaâs pep talk had encouraged Lisa quite a bit. Leaving work about a quarter after three, she took a deep breath and knocked on the screen door. The neighborhood was infested with trashy streets and boarded homes. The environment wasnât completely foreign to Lisa. She and
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