Sights of East Row are just the pick-me-up I needed. I have much work to do here, too, but it’s been weeks and weeks of Council meetings in Ghizon. Julius and I have been back and forth between here and Ghizon, getting started on some of that work. But what I’ve really been craving is a day to just sit down with Ms. Leola’s pound cake and a side of mac and cheese.

I raise a fist to knock, but her door sweeps open and the room is full of people. Ms. Leola always has a packed house, but this is even more so. A banner hangs above.

WELCOME HOME, QUEEN!

“How did they…”

Julius cheeses.

“You…”

“I might’ve made a call.”

They usher me inside, and the house smells like heaven. I’m swallowed in hugs and cheek kisses. I can’t get a word in edgewise before my butt plops in a chair. The air is a congested mess of questions, and I try to answer as many as I can between bites. My stomach thanks me and I shovel in more. Notes of salty bacon pop on my taste buds. I’m warm all over when I notice Tasha sitting across from me, hand resting on her chin.

“So, like, does this make me a Princess now, or…?”

I laugh. “Actually, about that.” I scoop my last bite of mac and cheese from the plate. “I have something to show you.”

She perks up.

“Actually, all of you.” I dab the corners of my mouth and push back from the table. “Jue!” I wink at him and he already knows. The project. What we’ve been coming back and forth to East Row these past few weeks for. The sign goes up today, so it’s time we give our peeps a peek.

“Aight, fam, this way,” he says. “Everybody form a nice neat line.”

Ms. Leola scoots to the front. “I’m a senior citizen, can I get the front spot?”

“You a Queen, Ms. Leola, y’all slide over.” The crowd parts like the Red Sea and Ms. Leola heads up the line. I stuff a piece of corn bread in my pocket and follow the crowd out the door.

The sun is beating over the concrete in East Row.

“How far we going?” Aunt Niecey says, walking arm in arm with Ms. Leola. “You know my arthritis can’t do these long walks.”

“Just around the corner here.” I lead us to the backside of the Row, and an old building that used to be boarded up is hugged in construction equipment. It’s really amazing how far solid gold goes here. Especially when your face is on it. It’s two stories tall with sweeping windows and clean lines. The ground sinks in in one spot, roped off with orange cones where an underground parking structure is going to be.