A Family Reunion Read Online Free Page B

him.
    “Something about the family reunion.”
    Taye’s head snapped up. “The Bennetts are having a family reunion?” At her father’s nod, she asked, “When?”
    “Sometime this summer. Agnes is running things, so I expect the gathering will take place come hell or high water. You know what a meticulous planner she is, never leaving anything out.”
    Taye nodded as she read the letter. The Bennetts were having a family reunion. It would be the first one in fifteen years. The first one since Mama Idella had died. “What gave Cousin Agnes this idea?”
    “Pop did.”
    “Poppa Ethan? Why?”
    “Probably because he knows he’s getting older and wants to spend as much time with his family while he can. The Bennetts are so spread out now, I don’t know the last time we were all in the same place at the same time.”
    Taye nodded in agreement.
    “Well, I’d better go wash my hands and head back toward Macon.”
    Taye wasn’t ready for him to leave yet. He may have spent some time with the girls before she arrived, but he hadn’t spent any time with her. “Dad, the girls and I are going out for pizza. Would you like to come with us before heading back?”
    “Yeah, Grampa, come with us. Pleeze,” Sebrina and Monica pleaded with enthusiasm while jumping up and down and grabbing hold of his hand.
    Taye watched as he smiled warmly at her and his granddaughters. “I think I will. Thanks for asking.”
     
    It was Monday and the salon was closed; however, it was a study day at Morris Brown University for Taye. She and Sharon made it a point to take time out of their busy Monday schedules to have lunch together at the Pizza Hut that was located not far from campus. Sharon was a pizza junkie and had been for as long as Taye had known her.
    “Guess what?” Taye said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
    Sharon’s brows lifted. “What?”
    “The Bennetts are having a family reunion. It will be the first since Mama Idella died.”
    Sharon nodded. “You’re going, aren’t you?”
    Taye took another bite of her pizza before answering, “I haven’t decided yet.”
    “What’s there to decide? You’re a Bennett. Why wouldn’t you go?”
    Taye shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    Sharon looked up in time to catch the brief flicker of pain that crossed Taye’s features. She’d been her best friend long enough to know how she was thinking. “You should go, Taye. I bet when you get there, you’ll find that you aren’t the only Bennett who’s a single mom. Mrs. Otha Mae has brainwashed you into believing you’re an isolated case.”
    “There may be a few others, but I’m probably the only one the family had high hopes of making it to the top.”
    “And you still can and you will. It’s not easy holding down a job, taking care of two kids, while pursuing a college degree. You should be proud of your achievements, and I bet once your family hears about all of them, they will be, too.”
    A smile touched Taye’s lips. Sharon always took the liberty to toot Taye’s horn and knew just the right words to get her out of the slump at times.
    “Besides,” Sharon continued. “If for no other reason, I think you should go just to see if your cousin Michael looks as good as he used to.”
    Taye met her best friend’s gaze. She had thought that very same thing a few times herself since her father had handed her the letter. “You remember Michael?”
    “Remember him? Who can forget him? Even back then he was a good-looking brother. The only reason I never went after him myself was because I knew you were interested.”
    “He was my cousin.”
    “So? That didn’t stop you from having the hots for him, and I know for a fact you did because you told me so. Besides, it’s not like he’s your first cousin or even a second. What is he, a fourth or fifth? And him being your actual cousin is a moot point now anyway, since we found out a few years ago that he’d been adopted. So the two of you aren’t even related.”
    Taye