The following week after Thanksgiving, Lorna waited in the lobby of the Sable Inn for Jamal to pick her up for their trip to the big city. She stood talking with her sisters, as the staff went about their duties.
“Have a safe trip,” Lana told Lorna, hugging her gently.
“I’m only going to Detroit,” Lorna said, returning her embrace.
Lana smiled. “You know I hate when anyone leaves the Inn, but I’m working on that.”
Lorna patted her sister’s arm. “I’ll be fine and I’ll be back in two days.”
Lena shook her head. “Girl, have a good time, bring me back one of those Detroit dudes, like Lance.”
“I don’t think Jamal wants me finding men while I’m there,” Lorna teased.
Laughing, Lena agreed. “Jamal is just trying to get you away from here and I don’t blame him.”
“Since Daddy is away, this is his perfect chance,” Lana added.
“I’m glad that he went with Lavender to visit her daughter in Atlanta. It was so sweet of her to come here early to support Jamal.” Lorna said with a smile.
“Her knowledge along with her gift is amazing,” Lana commented.
Lorna watched as her man entered the door with a single flower in his hand. He smiled and walked over to where she stood with her sisters. In his warm jacket, jeans and boots, he looked every bit the country boy, she loved.
“Hello, Beauty,” he greeted, handing her the single flower.
“Thank you, Jamal.”
Lena looked between them. “I swear, you too. Get married already…”
Jamal smiled at Lena. “I’m trying my best.” He looked at Lorna. “Are you ready?”
She nodded. “Yes, my bag is by the door.”
Turning to her sisters, Lorna hugged them both. “Take care of my Inn,” she told them.
“Girl, bye,” Lena told her and Lana smiled.
“We will,” Lana assured her.
Jamal took her hand and walked with her to the door. Stopping to grab her bag, he escorted her to his truck and helped her inside.
Climbing in the driver’s seat after putting her bag away, he started the car and turned to her. “Let’s ride.”
Lorna buckled her seatbelt and felt the warmth of the heat coming through the vents, as Jamal took off and they began their journey.
“Is your father enjoying Atlanta?” Jamal asked.
“Yes, he always enjoys the time he can spend with Lavender.”
He glanced at her. “I know the feeling.”
She smiled at him. “Me, too.”
“I’m so glad that we can go ahead with the next steps in the plan. I was worried about the town’s reaction,” Jamal confessed.
“To be honest, I had some doubts…but I had to think positive. I was so happy when Khayla, Lance and Lavender showed up,” Lorna admitted. “Also, I didn’t know about Mrs. Langston, Miss Jackie and Willie.”
Jamal laughed. “I knew about Willie.”
Lorna looked at him. “You did?”
“Like I keep saying, I’m not a snitch.”
“You can tell me,” she pointed out. “We don’t keep secrets anymore, right?”
He took her hand. “No, Beauty, we don’t keep secrets.”
“So who else smokes marijuana?” she asked eagerly.
“There are just a few other people that I know of,” Jamal answered.
“Anybody I know?”
Jamal shook his head. “Nah, not really. You don’t come into town much.”
“I would’ve never guessed that Mrs. Langston did,”
“Yeah, that one surprised me,” he agreed.
“And Mr. Perkins grandson?” Lorna shook her head. “He’s the City Manager.”
“My father picked him up, yesterday to question him.” Jamal informed her.
Lorna grimaced. “Did he arrest him?”
“No, he warned him. People around here are going to have to get some Medical Marijuana cards. I told Mr. Perkins’ grandson that he should open a legit dispensary,” Jamal said, getting to the highway.
“You still talk to him?”
“He came and asked me about my crop, trying to get in on the venture.”
Lorna frowned. “What did you tell him?”
“Hell nah…I don’t want those kind of problems. He’s used to doing things illegally and I don’t want that anywhere near me…or us.”
“Does he even still live in Grayling?” Lorna questioned.
“He travels back and forth to Detroit.” Jamal relayed. “My father picked him up at the gardens when he came to talk to me.”
“This is all so surprising.”
“I think we’re bringing Grayling into the future,” he told her. “Some of them, kicking and screaming.”
She laughed. “As long as they get there,”
A few hours later they arrived in Detroit and Jamal drove downtown to the historic Westin Book Cadillac Hotel. Inside, Lorna stared at the opulence of the lobby.
“Jamal, how much does this cost?”
He smiled down at her. “Lance put us up here.”
“This is amazing…” she said in awe.
Jamal picked up one of the brochures and began to read. “It says that at one time this hotel was the most extravagant in the city and the tallest in the world in 1924.”
Lorna continued to look around.
“And it says that Dr. King stayed here, shortly before his assassination,” Jamal added.
She turned to Jamal. “There’s a lot of history here.”
“Yeah, but it’s not the Sable Inn,” he told her.
Lorna laughed. “No, it’s not.”
“But it’s real nice,” Jamal said glancing around.
“Extremely nice,” she agreed.
They checked in and were shown to their room. Jamal opened the door and allowed Lorna to step inside then followed with their two bags.
“Jamal…”
He looked around. “Damn…”
She smiled. “It’s like a honeymoon suite.”
Jamal dropped their bags on the floor and took her into his arms. “Very soon,”
“This was so nice of Lance and Khayla to put us up here,” Lorna said softly.
“For two nights.”
She wrapped her arms around him. “What time do you have to meet with them?”
He checked his watch. “Like an hour.”
“Can we see the city until then?”
“Anything you want, baby.” Jamal kissed her. “Thank you for coming with me.”
Lorna looked around. “I would’ve hated to miss this.”
“Just the room?” he questioned.
“What compares to this?” Lorna teased, before he held her tightly and kissed her passionately.
Eventually, Jamal lifted his head and looked down into her heated face.
“I swear I love you, girl…”
“I can’t wait to get into that bed with you,” she whispered.
Jamal kissed her again. “Let’s go, before I put you there right now.”
The couple left the room and explored the city until it was time to head to Lance and Khayla’s residence. Pulling up in front of the stately home, the looked at one another.
“See, this is what I’m talking about, baby…” Jamal said quietly. “This is going to be us.”
Lorna stared out of the window. “This is like a mansion.”
“Uh, I think it is…” Jamal confirmed.
“Lance must be very successful,” Lorna commented.
Jamal stared at her. “Would you like a house down here? We could bring our kids to the city and learn all the culture and history?”
Lorna nodded. “That might be nice. It’s still close enough to Grayling and it’s actually very pretty here.”
“It is…Detroit has a remarkable history and it’s future is looking better every day,” Jamal commented.
They saw the door open, and Lance came out and stood on the porch. He waved them inside and waited for them to exit the car. Jamal walked around the truck and opened the door for Lorna, before walking her to the front porch.
“Hey, you made it!” Lance told them happily.
“Yeah, thanks for the hotel. It’s incredible.”
Lance grinned. “That’s what’s up! I like to show my city off…” He turned to Lorna. “Hey girl!”
She hugged him. “Hi Lance, again thank you for the room.”
“You’re welcome. Khayla picked that spot for you.”
“I’ll be sure to thank her,” Lorna said, before a movement caught her eye and she saw the handsomest little boy standing behind the glass screen door. “Oh my god! Is that your son?”
Lance turned back and saw the boy, who waved at his Daddy.
He laughed. “Yeah, that’s my son…who is supposed to be napping.” Lance opened the door and took the little boy into his arms.
“Hey, little dude…” he told his son. “What up doe?”
The toddler smiled. “Up doe,”
Lance laughed again. “This is LJ, and he’s my partner.”
“Lance!” Khayla came rushing to the door. When she saw her son, she sighed…then shivered. “Why is that door open?”
Lance allowed Jamal and Lorna inside and closed the door. “Your son was wandering,” Lance told his wife.
“I was looking for him. He slipped out of his bed.” Khayla said, rubbing the little boy’s head.
“He probably heard me open the door,” Lance explained. “He believes that whenever this door opens, he’s on his way out.”
Lorna smiled at the boy. “Hi, LJ.”
LJ laid his head on his father’s shoulder and waved at her.
“He’s so adorable,” Lorna said softly.
“Thank you,” Khayla said, then welcomed them. “I’m glad you made it safely.”
Lorna looked at her. “It was a nice drive and thank you for the beautiful hotel room.”
“I’m glad you liked it. We like to show off our city,”
Jamal and Lorna laughed at her repeated words.
“Come on inside. Our attorney will be here shortly,” Lance told them. “Then we can get this show on the road.”
Khayla took their coats, then led them to a family room, filled with toys and books.
“I hope you guys don’t mind sitting in here. This is LJ’s world and we all just dwell in it.” Khayla told them.
Lorna took a seat. “My sister is pregnant and we can’t wait for our Sable baby.”
Jamal sat next to her and rolled his eyes.
“Stop!” Lorna told him and he laughed.
Khayla looked at the couple. “What about you two?”
Jamal leaned forward. “Very soon, Lorna Sable is going to be Lorna Winston and we’re going to have some Winston babies.”
Lorna smirked at him and he leaned over to kiss her quickly. Lance sat his son on the floor, then watched him go to work with his toys.
“What are you two waiting on?” Khayla asked with a smile. “You’re clearly in love.”
Jamal sat up. “I need to wait until I get all my finances straight, so that I can give Lorna all that she deserves.”
Khayla looked at her husband. “Who does that sound like?”
Lance agreed. “I was serious about that too. I had to do it my way.”
“And I didn’t care about that at all…” Khayla told him.
“That’s why I’ve always loved you,” Lance said kissing her face.
Khayla lifted her left hand. “I remember when Lance took me to have this ring created just for me.” She stared at him. “That was the happiest day of my life.”
Lance took her hand. “You’re right, I did take way longer than necessary and if I could go back, I would’ve married you long before, but now you’re mine forever.”
Khayla smiled. “That’s all I ever wanted to be.”
LJ ran over to his parents with a book and handed it to his mother. “Read Momma…”
“He’s our little reader and loves books…” She glanced around the room. “As you can tell.”
The doorbell rang and Lance stood to answer it, as Khayla began reading the book to their son. When he returned with the attorney, he invited Jamal into his office. Lorna stayed behind with Khayla and LJ, playing with toys and reading from the many books.
“You’re very comfortable with him,” Khayla said, with a smile.
“He’s very sweet,”
LJ ran to his mother and touched her stomach. “Baby…”
Khayla smiled at him. “Yes, it’s our baby.”
Lorna’s eyes lit up. “You’re pregnant?”
“We’re hoping for a girl this time. Another little Nigist.”
“A little Queen? Congratulations,”
“It’s a wonderful holiday gift for us,” Khayla admitted.
LJ smiled and rubbed her stomach. “Baby…” he repeated.
“As you can tell, we’re excited about it,” Khayla said laughing at her son.
“LJ is going to be a great big brother.”
“He has a lot of male role models, so I’m expecting great things from him.” She kissed her son’s face and he returned her kiss.
The doorbell rang again, and Khayla excused herself. “Can you keep an eye on this little magician, so he doesn’t disappear?”
Lorna agreed. “I won’t let him out of my sight.”
Khayla left to answer the door and Lorna stared at the little boy. He brought his book over to her and held it out. “Read…”
Lorna took the book and opened it before she began reading, while he pointed at the pictures of the words he recognized.
“Wow, you’re smart,” Lorna told him.
He gave her a toothy grin and pointed back at the book.
“Bossy, too…” Lorna went back to reading before he climbed on the sofa and into her lap.
She stroked his baby soft hair. “And so sweet and handsome.”
Khayla returned and saw her son in Lorna’s arms. “He’s a ladies man, like his father.”
“And he likes big fronts,” the tall man, holding the baby carrier added.
“Be quiet, Corvus. Can’t you see we have guests?” Khayla admonished.
The pretty woman with him frowned. “I don’t like that,” she told him.
“Lorna this is Corvus, he’s Lance’s best friend and this beautifully patient woman is his wife, Miracle.” Khayla introduced them. “And that precious baby in his hands is, Heaven.”
Standing to her feet, Lorna greeted the couple.
“Lorna is from Grayling, Michigan and her family owns the Sable Inn,” Khayla informed them while taking their coats. “Her boyfriend, soon to be husband, Jamal, is working on that deal with Lance.”
“The one with the weed?” Corvus mentioned, sitting down and unwrapping his daughter.
“Weed?” Miracle asked confused, sitting next to Corvus.
Khayla put their coats aside and shook her head. “Medical marijuana, Corvus.”
He looked up. “Isn’t that still weed?” Corvus removed his daughter from the carrier and held her securely in his arms.
Lorna’s heart melted. “You guys are giving me some serious baby fever with these beautiful children.”
Miracle tousled her daughter’s dark hair, as the little body cuddled against her Daddy. “She’s still sleepy.”
“So what’s up with the Kush?” Corvus asked.
“Corvus, I swear…” Khayla told him and he smiled.
Lorna defended her man. “Jamal is applying to become a medical marijuana grower for the State of Michigan.”
Miracle looked at her. “That’s interesting, I’ve never met anyone who does that.”
Corvus looked at his wife. “Have you ever even seen weed?”
She shook her head. “No, I haven’t.”
“I didn’t think so,” he laughed.
“I haven’t either,” Lorna admitted and Corvus laughed harder, holding his daughter.
He looked at Lorna. “Well I hope your soon to be husband has seen it, since he wants to grow it.”
“Oh, he’s done more than see it,” Lorna assured him.
Corvus paused. “I have got to meet him. Lance says he’s a cool dude.”
“They’re meeting with the attorney to finalize the paperwork.” Khayla informed them.
Corvus looked down and saw LJ standing in front of him. “Baby…” he said, pointing at Heaven.
“What’s up little dude?” Corvus greeted him. “You want to see my baby?”
He lowered the little doll so that LJ could see her sleeping face.
“Baby sleep…”
“Yeah, she’s sleeping. She likes me to hold her,” he glanced at Miracle. “Just like her Momma.”
Lorna laughed before she could stop herself. This Corvus guy was hilarious and his wife just gave him a look.
Khayla glanced at Miracle. “I warned you before you married him.”
Miracle stared at Corvus. “I know, but look at this beautiful baby he gave me.”
Corvus turned to Khayla. “Now, what?”
Lorna enjoyed the banter between the obviously close friends. When Jamal and Lance returned, Jamal was introduced to Corvus and Miracle, while Lance saw the attorney out.
“So you’re the weed man?” Corvus asked.
Jamal sat next to Lorna. “I guess you could say that.”
“You know good product?”
Jamal nodded, silently.
“Kush or Hybrid?”
“Straight Kush…”
Corvus laughed. “My dude…”
Miracle looked at Corvus. “It’s an herb from Khemet, Little Goddess. Ask Pam Shaw about it, she knows.”
“Mrs. Shaw?”
Lance returned to the room, saying, “Khayla has my mom using it for her Lupus, and it’s made a hell of a difference in her pain management and her attitude.” He sat next to Khayla. “I should’ve been buying weed for her a long time ago.”
Khayla shook her head. “No baby, you shouldn’t have been buying it for her off the street.”
Corvus looked at Lance. “So you’re a drug dealer now?”
“Nah, Jamal’s the plug. I’m just the investor.” Both laughed and Jamal joined them.
“Okay, for the money that Lance just put in my pockets, I’ll be the plug,” Jamal told them.
Lance nodded and pointed at Jamal. “That’s my dude.”
Corvus agreed. “You can’t not like a dude who prefers straight Kush.”
All the women looked at their men.
“What’s the next step Jamal?” Khayla asked.
He took Lorna’s hand. “Lorna’s going to work with me on finishing the application and then we’ll submit it next week. As you know, the licenses won’t be granted until the Spring, but until then, I’ll be making sure that I’ve got everything covered on my end.”
“My father has been the Sheriff in Grayling for over twenty years, and he’s agreed to help me set up the security for the crops,” Jamal explained. “Since the town has given the okay.”
“Lance told me about the town meeting up in Mayberry,” Corvus told Jamal. “I thought he was lying.”
Lorna chuckled at Grayling being compared to Mayberry.
“Nah, he wasn’t lying. Grayling is in a bit of a time machine, but it’s our home and we love it.”
“That’s what’s up,” Corvus agreed. “I might have to come up there and check it out.”
Khayla smiled. “The Sable Inn is beautiful. The first time Lance took me there, I was overwhelmed with the building and the surroundings.”
“She was cold the entire time,” Lance told them.
“But it was beautiful,” Khayla added.
Lorna grinned. “Grayling is beautiful and like Jamal said, we love it.”
Corvus looked at Miracle. “We should go, baby.”
“That sounds nice,” Miracle agreed and he leaned down to kiss her upturned face.
Lorna glanced at Miracle. “I’ve enjoyed your city today, as well. Jamal and I just looked around for a short time today, but I’m looking forward to seeing more.”
“Detroit is that spot!” Corvus told her and Lance agreed.
“Spoken like true Detroiters,” Jamal told them.
They all laughed.
“We are completely biased,” Khayla admitted.
“I am too about Grayling,” Lorna said with a shrug.
“We can tell you some spots to visit while you’re here,” Lance offered.
“We have to stop by your restaurant, Katydids.” Lorna turned to Khayla.
Nodding, Khayla responded, “Yes, and try some of your recipes that we implemented.”
“How’s that working out?”
“The customers love the new dishes.”
Lorna looked happy. “Mrs. Langston can make some really good meals.”
Jamal rubbed his stomach. “I’ve eaten so many times at the Inn, and it’s always good.”
“Ain’t nothing like a woman that can cook,” Corvus commented. “In fact it’s a requirement,” he added, and Khayla frowned at him.
“If you two haven’t noticed, Corvus was dropped on his head as a baby,” Khayla told them and the group chuckled.
“Girl, you know damn well my Momma never dropped her favorite baby boy,”
Miracle looked at Corvus. “You did say that she was smoking marijuana.”
He looked at his wife. “Don’t do that.”
Lance screamed in laughter and LJ ran to his side in a panic. Picking him up onto his lap, he settled his son. “It’s okay son, your Uncle Corvus is just a straight clown.”
“Clown…” the boy repeated.
Lance nodded. “Exactly.”