Read Online The Interruption of Everything by Terry McMillan - Free Book Online Page B

favorite getups—those multicolored nylon jogging outfits with the jackets that zip and yet Arthurine, like most of the women who wear these suits, does not jog nor has she ever thought about jogging, especially in this number, which she thinks of as haute couture. I can’t understand the color combinations these things come in, but when I find myself admiring them on the rack at Nordstrom’s one day, I’ll know that I’ve aged even further than I ever imagined. “Well, since you don’t seem to be needing my help, I’m going in my room and read a little bit.”
    “What are you reading?”
    “A book. You want me to take the baby so you can have a few minutes to move around without bumping into her?”
    “No, she’s fine. What kind of book?”
    “A good one. Come on, go with Great Gram, baby,” she says, holding her hand out to Sage, who seems to take to anybody who shows her some attention.
    “What’s the name of it?”
    “I can’t remember right off the top of my head.”
    “You left it on the couch over there. Go get it and tell me what the title is.”
    “Oh, shucks,” she says, wobbling over and picking it up. Sage follows her. “Well, if you just have to know, it’s called The Widower’s Folly .”
    “Hold it right there, Arthurine.”
    Both she and Sage seem to freeze.
    “And what’s it about? Where’d you get it and why are you reading a book about a brash widower?”
    “You are one nosey daughter-in-law. Do I try to get all in your business? No, I do not. But if you’re just dying to know, my friend Prezelle bought it for me at the mall today. It’s a story about romance.”
    “Who is this Prezelle?”
    “He rides on the van that takes us to the mall in the morning. We walk together. He lives in a very nice apartment complex for seniors right down the way on Skyline.”
    “Is he some kind of freak or something?”
    “Watch your mouth in front of this baby. He ain’t nobody’s freak. He’s a lonely old man and I’m a lonely old woman. He might be coming to visit me one afternoon in the very near future so don’t act surprised when you see us sitting in the living room entertaining each other. Now go on and cook something so we can eat. I’m starving and this baby looks hungry, too. Did Leon say he’d be home in time for dinner?”
    “Probably not,” I say.
    “These professional men just work work work. How much fun could they be?”
    I’m not answering that. While cooking, I don’t wipe the smirk off my face until after reaching for and sprinkling what should be paprika but turns out to be nutmeg all over the pasta! Today must have been Spice Day for Arthurine. One day I’m going to hurt this woman. However, after adding a little half-and-half and a tad more garlic, I discover that nutmeg provided a very nice flavor to an otherwise run-of-the-mill dish, which I will probably add even more of when I make it from scratch.
     
    Little Sage’s body is so warm we both fall asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow. I’m holding her hands. Her fingers feel like feathers when they brush against mine. I could’ve put her in the guest room, but she likes cuddling with me and I like cuddling with her. I’m glad I saved most of my kids’ books. Sage loves Goodnight Moon . I read it twice and she propped her feet on my thighs and listened with her eyes. I remembered when Sabrina used to do the same thing when I read her this story. In fact, I was having a hard time getting through it, so I decided to try Liza Lou and the Yeller Belly Swamp , which, thank God, Sage liked enough to laugh each time I scrunched up my nose and made a continuous sniffing noise.
    The real smell of something rancid wakes me up. When I feel myself rocking, I realize it’s Leon’s hand on my shoulder, shaking me. “Honey,” he whispers, “wake up for a second and come look out the window. I want to show you something.”
    “What?”
    “I want to show you something.”
    “What’s that horrible