focused on the sluggish traffic.
“Where was I when all this thievery was going on?” Jackson asked. “I don’t want to hear any more complaints.” He gave Ginger a quick look. He meant her, too. “You all are going to have to get along. I promised my cousin I’d keep an eye on his wife and kids while he was in jail. So everyone might as well tuck in their lips and get used to them being around.” An angry silence descended over the vehicle as they drove home over Palmer Park and through the woods.
“Sierra, are you almost finished?” Ginger called from the family room.
“I can’t get these creases straight.” Sierra’s long, delicate fingers were frantically straightening and restraightening the fabric of her baggy Used jeans.
As Ginger closed her book and gathered up the pile of wrinkled clothes lying next to her, she felt a sharp pain stab at her temple. She walked toward the laundry room, trying to shake it off, massaging her forehead with her free hand.
Jason caught a glimpse of the grimace on her face as she walked past the exercise room. “Ma, you all right, Ma?” He set down the hand weight and put his arm around her shoulder. A shock of black hair and funk hit her at nose level. She patted him off. “I’m okay.” Pushing him back into the room, she returned, “You got fifteen more minutes to work out and I want to see and smell you showered and fresh for school tomorrow.”
After showing Sierra for the fiftieth time how to match all four seams together and steam in a hard, razor-sharp crease, Ginger ironed her own clothes along with Autumn’s. Next year, she thought to herself, when Autumn turned six, she’d be joining Sierra down in the basement to iron her school clothes, too. Jackson had babied Autumn long enough. It was about time to let her do some of the chores along with the other kids.
Ginger spied Jackson in his familiar napping position as she gathered her nightclothes. Running a few minutes behind schedule, she elected to take a quick shower before the hot water ran out, instead of the relaxing bath she desperately craved.
By 9:01 P.M. Ginger kissed a loving good night to each of her children, who were bathed and dressed in their PJs, and issued last-minute orders that they knew by heart: lights out, TV off by 9:30.
Closing her bedroom door, she rested her head against its smooth oak surface. Her headache had subsided after she took two extra-strength Tylenols and a cup of strong Lipton tea.
After cleansing and moisturizing her skin, she brushed her teeth and finished preparing for work the next morning. Then, sitting across from Jackson’s slumbering figure, she prodded him with her feet.
After several kicks, he sat up straight and scooted to the front of his seat. “What time is it?” He checked his watch and jumped up, quickly peeling off his clothes. “Honey, I asked you not to let me sleep so long. You know I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
She coiled a long auburn lock of hair around a pink plastic roller, clasping the cover between her lips. Through clenched teeth she answered, “I was busy with the kids, I forgot to wake you.” She watched him peeling off his clothes, leaving a trail behind him.
Within minutes he’d showered and slid next to Ginger between the freshly powdered sheets, his cologne mingling with the fresh scent of the talc. He pulled her close and planted kisses along her shoulder. “It’s okay with me, baby, about the real estate thing.” She turned to face him, surprised. “I don’t want to feel any guilt about holding you back. If that’s what you want, and you’re sure about it, I won’t give you any more arguments.” She kissed him on the mouth, silencing his next comment.
“But,” he said, after coming up for air, “I want you to promise me. And mean it this time. Because this is the last time I’m going through this — promise me that this is it. That this is the last time you ask me to go along with any more of
“Where was I when all this thievery was going on?” Jackson asked. “I don’t want to hear any more complaints.” He gave Ginger a quick look. He meant her, too. “You all are going to have to get along. I promised my cousin I’d keep an eye on his wife and kids while he was in jail. So everyone might as well tuck in their lips and get used to them being around.” An angry silence descended over the vehicle as they drove home over Palmer Park and through the woods.
“Sierra, are you almost finished?” Ginger called from the family room.
“I can’t get these creases straight.” Sierra’s long, delicate fingers were frantically straightening and restraightening the fabric of her baggy Used jeans.
As Ginger closed her book and gathered up the pile of wrinkled clothes lying next to her, she felt a sharp pain stab at her temple. She walked toward the laundry room, trying to shake it off, massaging her forehead with her free hand.
Jason caught a glimpse of the grimace on her face as she walked past the exercise room. “Ma, you all right, Ma?” He set down the hand weight and put his arm around her shoulder. A shock of black hair and funk hit her at nose level. She patted him off. “I’m okay.” Pushing him back into the room, she returned, “You got fifteen more minutes to work out and I want to see and smell you showered and fresh for school tomorrow.”
After showing Sierra for the fiftieth time how to match all four seams together and steam in a hard, razor-sharp crease, Ginger ironed her own clothes along with Autumn’s. Next year, she thought to herself, when Autumn turned six, she’d be joining Sierra down in the basement to iron her school clothes, too. Jackson had babied Autumn long enough. It was about time to let her do some of the chores along with the other kids.
Ginger spied Jackson in his familiar napping position as she gathered her nightclothes. Running a few minutes behind schedule, she elected to take a quick shower before the hot water ran out, instead of the relaxing bath she desperately craved.
By 9:01 P.M. Ginger kissed a loving good night to each of her children, who were bathed and dressed in their PJs, and issued last-minute orders that they knew by heart: lights out, TV off by 9:30.
Closing her bedroom door, she rested her head against its smooth oak surface. Her headache had subsided after she took two extra-strength Tylenols and a cup of strong Lipton tea.
After cleansing and moisturizing her skin, she brushed her teeth and finished preparing for work the next morning. Then, sitting across from Jackson’s slumbering figure, she prodded him with her feet.
After several kicks, he sat up straight and scooted to the front of his seat. “What time is it?” He checked his watch and jumped up, quickly peeling off his clothes. “Honey, I asked you not to let me sleep so long. You know I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
She coiled a long auburn lock of hair around a pink plastic roller, clasping the cover between her lips. Through clenched teeth she answered, “I was busy with the kids, I forgot to wake you.” She watched him peeling off his clothes, leaving a trail behind him.
Within minutes he’d showered and slid next to Ginger between the freshly powdered sheets, his cologne mingling with the fresh scent of the talc. He pulled her close and planted kisses along her shoulder. “It’s okay with me, baby, about the real estate thing.” She turned to face him, surprised. “I don’t want to feel any guilt about holding you back. If that’s what you want, and you’re sure about it, I won’t give you any more arguments.” She kissed him on the mouth, silencing his next comment.
“But,” he said, after coming up for air, “I want you to promise me. And mean it this time. Because this is the last time I’m going through this — promise me that this is it. That this is the last time you ask me to go along with any more of
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