The Bryson Blood Wars by Cynthia Blue, Nyeshia Page B

between them. Afterwards, he went on a business trip trying to start his own company in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island and they wanted him to attend classes to help him out.”
                  She actually bought that bullshit! Clover decided to hide her highly justified suspicions and asked the big question to trump Wallace’s boldface lie. “Why weren’t you able to pick up the phone or…”
                  “My phone died,” Wallace interrupted. “I tried to get another charger for it but my phone ended up getting damaged. I thought about writing Opal but I didn’t remember her address like that.”
                  Oh he’s good! “What brings you here?” Clover asked.
                  “I wanted to surprise my baby and take her to lunch,” Wallace turned to Opal and added while looking at her body up and down. “We all know you love to eat.”
                  That last remark made Opal feel very uncomfortable and Clover noticed. Opal tried to brush it off and said, “Clover, I’ll be back in an hour.”
                  “Alright.” Clover said as Opal and Wallace took their leave. “Who the fuck is that motherfucker fooling?” Clover wondered out loud. She saw one of the bakers pass by her and called out, “Marsha!”
                  Marsha turned around and walked towards Clover, “yes, Mrs. Bryson?”
                  “Tell my sister, Opal that I’ll be gone for the rest of the day when she gets back from lunch and help her close up,” Clover requested.
                  “Yes Mrs. Bryson,” Marsha said and went back to her duties.
                  Clover went into her office and took a seat at her desk. She took her phone out and scrolled through the contacts to find Laliyka Collins-Moore and dialed her work number and waited for an answer. “Raylene’s Salon, this is Eve how may I help you?”
                  “Eve, this is Clover. Where’s your boss lady?”
                  “She’s putting her last client under the dryer.”
                  “Great! Put me through.”
                  “All right, I’ll connect you to her office.”
                  “Thanks.”
                  “Hey chick,” Laliyka greeted as she made herself comfortable at her desk.
                  “Hey girl! Do you have any more appointments scheduled for today?” Clover asked.
                  “Nope,” Laliyka answered.
                  “Great! Can you squeeze me in?” Clover requested.
                  “Your hair day is the day after tomorrow,” Laliyka said with confusion.
                  “I know but can I just get a basic wash and set and then you can do my perm and sew-in next week?” Clover asked.
                  “Sure.”
                  “Thanks.”
                  “Now, I have a question for you. What the hell is going on?” Laliyka asked accusingly.
                  Clover started to try to act innocent. “Why Laliyka? Good buddy? Whatever do you mea.....”
                  “Bitch, don’t even think about trying that shit with me!” Laliyka interrupted. “Even Ray knows she can’t pull that shit with me. Matter of fact, I can’t even pull that shit with her.” That daughter of mine is too much like me. “We go back longer, so your ass should definitely know better.”
                  “You’re right,” Clover said with a laugh and Laliyka joined in.
                  “I know you like to be prompt and stick with schedules. The only time you change plans out of the blue is when something is wrong. Now what is it?” Laliyka asked.
                  Damn, this hoe knows me too well! “I’ll explain in person but the short version is that