It’s been a year and a half and Nikki still hadn’t grown used to Momma Mahina’s hugs. The sweet woman could choke a boa constrictor to death before she realized that she needed to let go.
“You want to ease up on that death grip, Mahina?” Hylan croaked.
Momma Mahina’s arms sprang open and Nikki quickly sucked in a few gulps of air despite her aching rib cage.
However, Mahina’s excitement quickly changed and she delivered a quick slap to Hylan’s arm. “How dare you stay away for so long!” She smacked him again and then jerked Nikki out of his arms to pull her against her heavy bosom. “I can’t believe that you’ve been so heartless as to leave this poor chile here all alone. If I was her I would have left you a long time ago!”
Hylan’s brows jumped up as he lazily folded his arms in front of his chest. “Is that right?”
Nikki shut her eyes as if that would somehow make her invisible.
“You have a good woman here,” Mahina said. “Don’t forget that I knew your mother and I know for a fact that she would not have been pleased about the way you’ve been treating her.” She waved her finger at Hylan as if she’d just caught him stealing. “I know that you think that becoming some big shot businessman is important, but let me tell you that all the money in the world is never gonna bring you even half the happiness that a good woman can.”
Somebody shoot me now, Nikki prayed.
After a long silence, Hylan said, “You’re right.”
Nikki peeled one eye open. Did I just hear what I think I heard?
Hylan’s dark gaze shifted from Momma Mahina to Nikki. “I’ve been a fool for staying away for so long. One thing I plan on doing is make up for this long absence to…my wife.” His lips twitched. “That’s if she’ll let me.”
He’s not going to expose me. Nikki’s knees threatened to give way in relief.
Momma Mahina’s baritone laugh rumbled through her chest and shook her entire body. “See. Now that’s the sweet boy I remember.” She released Nikki to move in closer and gather Hylan’s cheeks in her fingers, and then gave them a good, hard pinch. “I’m glad to hear that you’ve finally come back to your senses. I swear that if I ever hear of you mistreating this good girl, I won’t hesitate to turn you over my knee.”
Hylan laughed and tried to pull away from her grip before her fingerprints were permanently indented on his face.
“Don’t laugh,” Rafiq said. “She’s dead serious.”
“Better listen to the boy,” Momma Mahina said, releasing his face. “I turned his grown butt over my lap just last week for breaking my great nana’s china. Didn’t I, Rafiq?”
“The woman’s hand must have weighed about fifty pounds,” Rafiq deadpanned.
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