Girl Talk, Gospel & Grits

Tasha was barefoot, one leg tucked under her, mimosa mocktail in hand like she had nowhere else to be but right there. Her silk robe slid slightly off one shoulder, and she didn’t bother fixing it. Enjoying her time of baby freedom while Evelyn refuses to give her back her daughter for long periods of time. Val sat in the recliner, bonnet slightly tilted, rocking one twin with that effortless rhythm only mothers seemed to master. The other baby was on the floor nearby, fully engaged in a deep theological debate with a stuffed giraffe.

“Ba-ba-ba.”

“Exactly,” Tasha said, nodding seriously. “That’s what I’ve been saying all week, as if the twin could understand.” Dalton Jr had Isiah outside playing his version of football.

The door opened suddenly, with no knock or warning. They both knew it was nobody, but Renee and the room felt it before she even spoke. She didn’t glide in like she usually did. This time she carried herself like a woman who was questioning her life choices. She closed the door behind her, stood there for a second, as if she'd forgotten why she came… then walked in and dropped onto the couch between them with a dramatic sigh that carried weight.

Tasha didn’t even look surprised. She just raised one perfectly arched brow. “Well, well, well,” she said slowly. “If it isn’t the walk-of-shame.”

Renee groaned and dragged a throw pillow over her face like she was trying to disappear into it.
“I came here for peace,” she muttered. “Not persecution.”

Val didn’t even turn around. “You came to the wrong house then, baby sis.”

Tasha leaned forward, eyes lit with curiosity and just enough mess to be dangerous. “So tell me this,” she said. “Was it fireworks… or fire falling from heaven?”

Renee peeked over the pillow, eyes tired but glowing. “Both,” she admitted. “Maybe. I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Val turned now, fully engaged, giving her a look that said, "Don’t come in here playing." Her gaze dropped to Renee’s outfit. “That hoodie you got on says you know exactly what happened.”

Renee followed her eyes. Marcus’s hoodie. “It wasn’t supposed to keep happening,” she said quietly.

Tasha reached over, grabbed a biscuit, and pressed it into her hand. “What do you mean, KEEP HAPPENING?”

For a moment, nobody spoke; they let her sit in it. Allowing her to decide how much she was ready to say. Renee exhaled slowly. “I don’t feel guilty if that’s what you want me to say.”
That got their attention. Tasha sat up straighter. Val’s rocking slowed just a bit. “What?” Renee paused, glaring. “Don’t give me that, you sinning look. It’s not like y'all never tested the waters prior to your spouses.”

Tasha set her glass down really slowly. “Girl…” she rolled her eyes in the most dramatic way. “We aren’t talking about us, and we didn’t even say anything.”

Val’s expression shifted to less teasing, now more serious. “We know what we did when we did it; that is why we do not want you making those same mistakes. Anytime you lie with a person, it's not just “SEX” or MAKING LOVE. You form a soul tie with each other, which means you are taking on everything from him and everyone else he has been with. Sis, when you know better, you do better, and I would not be any sort of First Lady, Christian sister, or just your sister in general if I do not offer correction, not judgment,” she said gently.

Renee laughed, but it wasn’t her usual confident laugh. “You right Val, the flesh was weak and I didn’t fight it,” she admitted. “I embraced it.”

Tasha blinked. “You ain’t fight nothing?”

“Not a thing.”

Val leaned back slightly. “Well, I know the Lord is a forgiving God.”

Renee rolled her eyes. “I'll be the first one at the altar on Sunday morning.”

“I’ll bring the holy oil,” Val said. “The extra prayed over the kind they used on Melody to get her to act right.”

“Facts,” Tasha added. “I will bring the prayer cloth.”

Renee sighed. She sat up then, pulling her legs under her. “But I did not tell y'all the worst part. Dalton showed up.”

Both women froze. “He what?” Val blinked.

“Unannounced,” Renee said. “Knocking like he was making prayer calls.”

Tasha sat straight up. “While Marcus was still there?!”

Renee nodded slowly. “Oh yes.”

Val let out a soft laugh. “He must’ve felt it in his spirit.”

“It was awkward,” Renee admitted. “Like… not angry awkward. Just…

“Big brother awkward,” Tasha filled in.

“Exactly.”

Renee looked down at her hands. Renee’s lips curved slightly. “He asked Marcus if he was ready.”

Tasha leaned forward immediately. “What he say?”

Renee shook her head, a smile creeping in despite herself. “That he didn’t come for my body…”

“He came for my heart.”

Tasha fell back against the couch dramatically. “Ooooh JESUS.”

Val laughed softly. “Sounds like that man has been in prayer.”

Renee shook her head, but her smile stayed. “I don’t know if I’m ready for all that.”

Val tilted her head. “You don’t have to be ready for forever. Just be ready for right now.”

Tasha added, “And make sure he is consistent and intentional. Not just being sweet at the moment. Men have the tendency to think with their smaller heads.”

Renee laughed. “I think he is.”

“Just make sure he always has sweets on him, that’s how you know he's the one,” Tasha said as a matter of fact.

Val chimed in, “He has been doing a great job with the expansion project. Marcus has really proven himself. After the kick-off BBQ next Saturday, we will officially meet with the vendors and start signing contracts.

Renee has the biggest smile on her face, “I am so proud of him.”

“Yeah, maybe y'all can stay out of the probation office long enough to enjoy your success,” Tasha said, falling over on the couch laughing.

“Yeah, Sis, we heard all about y'all morning excursion.” Val giggled.

As they were deep in laughter The front door opened again. Heavy footsteps and familiar voices. “We’re back,” Dalton called. Cameron followed behind him, already loosening his tie like the day owed him a break.

Val leaned her head back over the couch. “How was the meeting?”

Dalton walked over, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead. “Profitable. Long. Boring. Your usual. We looked over the vendor options with Marcus and your dad. We are all leaning toward AM Enterprises because they offer the majority of everything we need in a nice package.”

Val was lost in thought, “That sounds interesting, just make sure you vet them properly, cause out of all my years of managing projects, nothing good comes wrapped in a nice package.”

Tasha perked up instantly. “Boring talk. Cam, you got anything sweet? I have a sweet tooth.”

Cameron paused. Then smiled. Reached into his pocket like he was about to perform a miracle and pulled out a pack of Welch’s fruit snacks. “Boom.”

The room went quiet. Tasha blinked. “Seriously?”

“I keep ‘em on deck,” he said proudly. “Two grams of protein too.”

Val turned her head slowly toward Dalton. “You bring me anything?”

Dalton didn’t say a word. Just reached into his inner blazer pocket like a man with surprises and pulled out a family-size pack of Skittles. Renee LOST it. Tasha fell into the couch. Val held the bag up like it was sacred.

“This,” she said. “Is love.”

The room erupted. Laughter bouncing off walls. Cameron threw his hands up. “Y’all laughing, but I’m the one feeding the youth ministry!”

Dalton grinned. “Pastor. Husband. Provider… Candy King.”

Tasha clapped slowly. “You win this round, man of God.”

Val opened the Skittles and popped one in her mouth like she’d just been rewarded for surviving motherhood and marriage at the same time. “He always does.”