THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET SON: BETRAYAL AND BLOODLINE

in one snap. My mama was gone. The form was over. The murmurs had st

gaping at the empty space where Mama's presence had towered. No steps down the

len

ea

plic

me faded seat she would sit and plait my hair as a child. My eyes drifted to her print on

each over again when a lou

s. Adeyemi's voice was heard

er eyes darted first to

" You should come out and meet the people who c

- I just dema

ses for this. You think it's easy carrying the name of

poke. My lips parted,

veling in shame among the pillows." Your youthful women's moment. No sense of shame at a

reeping back into my knees."

ou were sleeping around w

and a good woman, but look what you brought to her name. You were always too

e through it." I did all I could to get her out alive. I contended, I labored, I supplicated for help, but nothing heeded. You-yo

w could you speak to me that way

r formally? Did you ever ask if we had anything to eat? How

ling behind her eyes, but

t fingers. Say what you

back. "You will reap what you sow. A child born

out, slamming

artbreak ripped through me. Not because what she said was true,

and sat beside me, her head against my shoulder.

" she asked

r laugh." Do I l

ho has been crucified with

right," I said,

eople say doesn't count, okay? They alw

gestation, about me being alone. I went into that club, into that man's bed

she spoke," It brings you a lot, yes.

What? What ex

noiselessl

bitsy twinkle that had been inside me months ago had come

dle this?" I asked."

ed," she replied." And

ed others crossing thoroughfares to avoid me. The lessee pretended not to flash back my name when collecting rent. The chu

into bed and hear him say, "Goodnigh

mama's final Thanksgiving. My black d

by, the mur

t is

amel

efore her mama's

, soaking it in, letting it

a word about Mama. I climbed the way sluggishly and sp

ever knew. She loved me, tutored me how to supplicate and persist,

wept acros

an she got. But she failed peacefully, soliciting

ough the church,

moment to judge me. Flashback to how she smiled at your children. How she gave

eyes d

And I'll not let y

out, but I cleaved. Ethan waited outdoors with Kattie,

I sat down to wri

I'll survive. For my Mother