Southern Gossip: A Complicated Love Story Read Online Free Page A

shower.”
     
    “Mama Gray, chill. Sit back down and relax.” Marlon insisted. “Keem is alright. I’m sure Dad has taken care of it. Plus, Unc is the Sheriff of this city. When has Keem ever had to do time for anything mischievous that he’s done?”
     
    “Yeah I know, but I’m gonna have a talk with him when I see him. He’s been doing so good by staying out of trouble.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “Lord, no telling what he’s done.”
     
    Out of nowhere Mrs. Gray’s voice could be heard entering the kitchen as she was ear hustling on her way in. Quickly she thought she’d ease her mother-n-law’s mind. “He was caught driving with a suspended license, Mama Gray. That’s it.” Immediately she sat her handbag on the granite countertop and grabbed a glass out of the cabinet. She’d already spotted the bottle of wine the minute she entered the kitchen. She held the wine bottle in her hand and read the label. “Clos Fourtet Saint-Emilion 2009,” she raised a concerned eyebrow. “This is a three-hundred dollar bottle of wine. What are we celebrating?” she questioned knowing that Mama Gray was content on drinking the cheaper red wines for the simple reason that she felt they got her tipsy quicker.
     
    Marlon got up from the sectional and joined his mother in the kitchen. “Mom, you didn’t tell me about that before I left the house earlier.” He said as he watched her pour a half glass of wine.
     
    “I didn’t know until your father made it home which was after you left.” She said sitting down on one of the bar stools that was pulled up to the counter.
     
    Marlon sat down beside her and watched how quickly she drank her wine. “You and Mama Gray and that wine,” he said shaking his head. “Are you okay drinking like that?”
     
    “Yes I’m fine, son.” She said as Mama Gray entered the kitchen and gave her daughter-n-law a light peck her on the cheek.
     
    “Good Morning, Celeste.”
     
    “Good Morning, Mama Gray.” Mrs. Gray spoke back. “How are you feeling?” She said looking down at her watch to time A’keem’s arrival.
     
    “Oh pretty good,” she said reaching for the bottle of wine. “Pretty good.”
     
    Mrs. Gray slid her bare glass over to her mother-n-law for a refill. “I guess if I have just a bit more I’ll be feeling just as good as you.”
     
    Mama Gray quickly poured a little more for herself then slid Mrs. Gray’s empty glass back over to her. “Here, pour your own troubles.” She hoarsely said handing her the bottle.
     
    “Even asking that you pour me a glass of wine is too much, huh?” Mrs. Gray questioned.
     
    “It’s not just a glass of wine,” Mama Gray said with sarcasm thinking about how expensive it was.
     
    “I already know that, but three-hundred dollars to you is like three American dollars. Don’t play Mama Gray. It’s too early for this,” Mrs. Gray told her. She and Mama Gray had a bitter, sweet relationship. Mama Gray learned to like her, because her son loved and married her, but it took a long time for her to see some good in the woman.
     
    “I’ll pour my own, anyway.” Mrs. Gray uttered while purposely filling her glass and emptying the bottle. For as long as she’d been in the Gray family, Mama Gray still didn’t fully embrace her the way that she’d wished she had. In return, their relationship was about as iffy and rocky as the city they lived in.
     
    Mama Gray ignored her smart remark for the simple fact that she was right. That was asking a bit much of her and at the moment all she was concerned about was grandson. “How’s A’keem? I know you’ve spoken to him.”
     
    “As a matter fact, I have and he’s on his way here once he gets his license straight.”
     
    “Good, I need to lay my eyes on him.” Mama Gray said. She was a firm believer that her prayer and the laying of her eyes on her family kept them safe. It was even known to some that anytime the men were having hard luck it was because