Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
I pull back from the hug, beaming as I spot my little mama, hustling through the gathering crowd of family and friends like a tiny hurricane in a Voodoo jersey, as “proud to death” as she always is when I play.
Even when my team loses.
Beanie is loyal to the center of her hard-loving heart.
Bernadette Graves—Beanie to her friends, and she’ll make you her friend as soon as you stand still long enough—is five feet nothing of Creole determination wrapped in purple and green. She’s pale like her father, but her salt-and-pepper curls are Haitian through and through. Now, her signature mop is practically electrified with pride and excitement, forming a halo around her grinning face.
“Hey there, Mama!” I set Mimi down and step forward, lifting an arm to catch Beanie’s eye. “Get over here and let me hug you hard, ti maman!”
I swoop her up, giving her a spin before setting her back on her feet, where she laughs as she babbles, “Magnifique, mon bébé! Tres magnifique!” She pulls me down so she can kiss both my cheeks with a proud Cajun mama’s enthusiasm. “But don’t be so sweet next time. Remember, chère, being a gentleman is only for—”
“Off the ice,” I finish with a smile. She’s been saying the same thing since my brother and I were in Peewee leagues.
“Exactement.” Her sharp eyes dart past me, finding Elly and Mimi. I haven’t told her much about them except that Elly and I have been dating for a while and just moved in together, making it serious enough that it’s time for them to meet the family.
Past time, my mother will say I have no doubt, though I’ve yet to get feedback on my timing.
I deliberately waited to say anything about Elly and Mimi to my mother until this morning, knowing Beanie wouldn’t risk throwing me off my game on opening night by reading me the riot act for keeping my long-term girlfriend a secret.
But I’m sure to get an earful later, a suspicion my mama confirms as she mutters a soft warning for me to prepare myself to apologize for being a “secret keeper with snake manners” in French before adding in English, “And you must be Elly and Mimi! I’m so happy to meet you both. Oh, you’re even prettier than Grammercy said. Such beautiful, sweet ladies. Hearts of gold and sugar and fire, I can tell. Just from a glance.”
Mimi’s eyes widen, an awed smile spreading across her face as Beanie folds her into a loving embrace. “I like that!” she says as Mama pulls back. “A heart of gold and sugar and fire…”
“Well, good,” Beanie says, cupping Mimi’s cheek with a tenderness that assures me she’s already falling hard. “Because that’s what you have. And magic. I think you have some magic, too.”
“I think you both do,” Elly says as she steps forward, anxiety and warmth mixing in her expression as she graciously accepts one of Beanie’s too-hard hugs. “It’s so lovely to meet you, Ms. Graves. I’ve heard so many wonderful things. Thank you for raising such a wonderful man.”
My mama pulls back, beaming up at her. “Oh, sweetheart, call me Beanie. All my friends do, and I can already tell we’re going to be friends. We mamas have to stick together.” She loops her arm through Elly’s like they’ve been partners in crime for a decade, then takes Mimi’s hand with her free one. “Come on, ladies. Let’s go get some sweets for the sweet and talk all night. Or at least until our petite bébé has to go home to get her beauty sleep before school tomorrow. I made reservations for four at The Midnight Melody, where they have the best ice cream desserts and coffee desserts, and puff pastries.” She winks as she adds, “And Café Brûlot for proud mamas who want a little kick in their sweet after a night like this. My treat!”
“Oh, Beanie, thank you, I love ice cream so much,” Mimi says, bouncing along beside my mother as she heads for the exit, completely charmed. “This is the best night ever!”
And just like that, we’re off, swept into my mother’s hurricane of love and fun and shameless sticking-her-nose-as-deep-into-my-business as possible. By the time we’re settled at our table at The Midnight Melody, Beanie knows Elly’s entire work history, Mimi’s favorite subjects in school, her art teacher’s name, and has all of us on lock for Sunday lunch next week.
“I would do this Sunday, but I have my tennis club competition and they’re hopeless without me. Not to brag, but this boy gets all his athletic skill from his mama,” she says, making Elly laugh. “But next Sunday will be good, too. Maybe even better. We might finally have a cool afternoon by then, and a cool afternoon is always best for spicy gumbo.”