“I didn’t have an abortion just to have it.” Tears glazed Kennedy’s eyes. “Chaz broke my heart.”

“Yeah, I heard about that too, but it doesn’t condone what you did. God had a plan for that child, and you ruined his plans.” Big Ma coughed. “Hand me my water.”

Kennedy picked up the glass from the nightstand and gave it to her.

Big Ma took a few sips, then continued. “Everybody round here talking about that stuff Kisa got going on, and you knee deep in the middle. All of you girls need to let them streets go. I’m telling you, I got a feeling that this is going to end bad this time. You girls are going to see death, prison, or both. Listen to what I’m saying, baby. You need to get with your husband, resolve this thing, and save your family.”

“How can I go back to him when I can’t forgive?”

“You still love him?”

“Yes, I love him … that’s why it hurts so bad.”

“Forgiveness is hard, especially when the person you love hurts you. The thing that you must keep in mind is that love is forgiveness.”

Kennedy didn’t doubt her grandmother’s wisdom for one second, but she didn’t know if she could follow the advice that Big Ma was handing down. The pain was just too great. “You know, Big Ma, the craziest thing is that she was never pregnant. She faked the whole thing, but I still can’t get past the betrayal.”

“I’m about to tell you something that I’ve never told any of my children. I expect you to treat this person the same and take what I tell you to the grave. Can you promise me that?”

“Yes,” Kennedy responded, curious as to what she was about to be told.

“Your aunt Janice is not my biological child. But your grandfather, God rest his soul, was her biological father.”

Kennedy gasped loudly and her mouth fell wide open. She was astounded, but so many things suddenly made sense. Now Kennedy understood why Janice was the odd child. All the children looked like a blend of Big Ma and their father, but Janice favored only him. Then there was her name: It started with a J, and the other girls’ names started with a K. Kennedy always thought Big Ma couldn’t come up with a K name for her. “So, so,” Kennedy stuttered, “how did you end up raising her and keeping it a secret all these years?”

“Close my door.”

Kennedy leaped up, shut the door, and rushed back to her grandmother’s side. “Okay, finish.”