Grown Folks Business by Victoria Christopher Murray Page A

go?”
    “Away from me.” Then the story poured from her. It was a practiced speech now. As Sheridan gave the details of the events of the past week, her brother stayed silent except for the occasional “I don’t believe this” exclamations that punctuated her soliloquy. But as was their way, Sheridan included the parts she’d left out with her parents—the conversation with the children, the AIDS test, how Christopher knew the truth.
    “And so where is he now?” he almost screamed when she finished.
    Sheridan flinched at his question, and everything that she found painful to imagine rushed to her mind. She inhaled. “He’s”—she paused and breathed—“with Jett.” This was the part where she was sure the tears would come. And surprise filled her when she didn’t cry. For days she’d been fighting to take her heart to a place where tears didn’t live anymore. Maybe she was winning the battle.
    “Ain’t this some s—” He paused. “Well, praise the Lord anyway.”
    Sheridan couldn’t help it; she laughed. Her brother always caught himself before he actually cursed. It amazed her: in all the years they’d shared on this earth, she’d never heard him say a bad word. She wondered how he stopped himself though, since he always came so close.
    He continued, “I can’t believe Q is going out like this.” He whistled. “Do you need me to come down there?”
    “For what?”
    “Well, first, to help you get your divorce started.”
    “You’re not a divorce attorney. What are you going to do, litigate him to death?”
    “I’m glad you got jokes, but someone needs to look after you.”
    She couldn’t count the number of times he’d said that. He couldn’t have been more than five the first time he’d declared himself her protector, and he’d always lived up to that promise.
    “I’m going to get the divorce papers started,” he said, taking control. “And I know some people who know some people. You won’t even have to wait the six-month period.”
    “Okay,” she said because that was the easiest way to work with her brother.
    “I still can’t get over this. You know, I want to come to L.A. There are a few things I’d like to say to Mr. Q.”
    “I’ve already said everything that Quentin needs to hear.”
    “Maybe you left some things out.”
    “I don’t think so. We were married for seventeen years. I know what to say to my…to Quentin.”
    His voice softened. “Sis, just be grateful he didn’t waste any more of your life.”
    Sheridan shook her head. What was he talking about? Quentin hadn’t wasted her life. Every week of those years, every minute of those days, she’d live again. She’d even breathe every second of this last week if it would bring back her life the way it used to be.
    “Anyway, this is for the best.”
    Sheridan turned her attention back to her brother and frowned.
    “You’re still young,” her brother continued. “You’ll find someone deserving of you.”
    It was time to hang up. Her brother spoke as if he were swinging from a crazy tree. Talking about her finding someone else. Like she’d ever trust a man—besides her father, brother, and son—again.
    Sheridan said, “I’ve got to go.”
    “When are you getting the AIDS test results?”
    She could tell he was disgusted. “I’ll speak to my doctor on Monday and call you.”
    “Are you sure you’re all right?”
    “I’m a survivor. Destiny’s Child has nothing on me.”
    “I just want to see that m—well, praise the Lord anyway.”
    “I’ll call you in a couple of days.”
    “I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said. “Hang in there. I’ll be praying.”
    She hung up and massaged her eyes. The call didn’t bring her the comfort she had expected, but in a small way she’d found some consolation. The thought of her brother getting on a plane, flying for ninety minutes to Southern California to confront the man who had once been his friend, made her smile just a bit.
    Her BlackBerry