“We only did what Big Ma asked. She felt like you was going through enough.”

“Oh, so now all of sudden y’all wanna start listening to Big Ma,” Kennedy snapped.

“Wait a minute, lil’ girl.” Kora waved her finger. “I’m still your mother, and I will still whip your big behind.”

Kennedy rolled her eyes upward. “Okay, Ma, but you have to understand where I’m coming from. What if Big Ma’s health had taken a turn for the worse and I hadn’t gotten here in time to see her. I would have been so pissed.”

Kora hugged Kennedy, “I do understand, and I’m happy that you here so we can talk. Because as soon as Big Ma got a little better, I had plans to come up to see about all this mess you got going on.”

“I don’t have no mess going on, Ma, despite what others may be saying. I got a few issues like just like everybody else that I’m dealing with fine all by myself.” Kennedy greeted both her aunts with hugs and kisses then went in the house.

Like every home, Big Ma’s house had its very own unique aroma. It was mix of collard greens, pound cake, and fresh flowers. Kennedy inhaled the lovely smell deeply, then rushed through the antiques-filled living room and into her grandmother’s bedroom in the rear of the house. Big Ma was lying on her back sleeping peacefully. Kennedy thought she looked dead.

Standing over her beloved grandmother, Kennedy began to cry. She covered her mouth to keep her sobs from escaping. Big Ma was bigger than life in Kennedy’s eyes. She could not imagine life without her.

“Get from over me, crying girl.” Big Ma opened her eyes. “I ain’t dead yet.”

“Big Ma,” Kennedy said, hugging her tightly. “How are you feeling?”

“I feel fine for an old woman. What are you doing here?”

“I came to see about you, lady.”

“Well, there ain’t much to see. There is nothing wrong with me but my heart, been beating for eighty-five years. It’s bound to act up sometimes.”

Kennedy took a seat on the edge of the bed. “You know I’m mad at you.”

“For what?”

“Because you tried to keep your heart attack a secret from me.”

“Girl, hush. I did what was best for you. I didn’t want you getting all riled up. You got enough on your plate.”

“Big Ma, my plate is just fine. I had some issues, but I’ve gotten past them.”

Kennedy was Big Ma’s favorite grandchild, which was no secret; she saw so much of herself in Kennedy. Big Ma placed a hand on Kennedy’s knee. “You can’t lie to me. I know that you’re not all right. You went against what you believed and aborted your child. Baby, when I heard that, I was so hurt for you.”