A Heart to Heal Read Online Free PDF Page A

down in a chair at the kitchen table. He scratched his chin with one hand while pulling the black wave cap off his head. “She didn’t forget, she left it on so I’d have something to eat when I got up.”
    â€œI didn’t know you liked burned grits.” She said getting two bowls out of the cabinet.
    â€œNah, Momma adds extra water before she leaves and turns it way down.”
    â€œIf I remember correctly, you don’t get out of bed before noon. Even with extra water they’d be burned.” She spooned grits into both bowls and put them on the table before grabbing the plate of bacon and setting it down.
    Kenny laughed. “I got class this morning, that’s the only reason I’m up.”
    She cut her eyes at him. “Then why were you screaming at me for knocking on the door.”
    â€œI’m sitting in the bathroom minding my business and someone comes banging on the door. What would you do?”
    She grimaced. “Sorry I asked.” She looked in the fridge for some juice. The only thing in there was Kool-Aid and milk. She grabbed milk and two cups out of the dish drainer next to the sink before sitting down.
    Kenny held out his hand. “I need a spoon.”
    â€œI fixed your grits and brought you something to drink. The least you can do is get your own spoon.”
    He leaned back. “You need one, too.”
    She glared and he grinned. With an exasperated sigh she got up and took two spoons out of the dish rack. “Here, fool.” She said tossing his spoon on the table. He laughed and she sat down with a smile. “Man, you’re spoiled.”
    â€œNo one to blame but you and Momma.”
    â€œYeah, I know.” She said eating a spoonful of grits. She looked around the kitchen. “Did momma leave the paper?”
    He nodded. “Yeah, I had it in the bathroom; you want me to get it?”
    With an exaggerated cringe she shook her head. “That’s okay, I’ll go to the library later. I need to look for a job.”
    â€œWhat’s the rush? You took a pretty hard hit down there in Atlanta, take some time off. Relax and regroup before putting yourself out there again.” He said in between shoveling large spoonfuls of grits into his mouth.
    She raised an eyebrow. “What, you majoring in psychology now?”
    He grinned flashing even white teeth. Neither she nor her brother looked like their mother who was short, plump, and fair skinned. They both inherited height and chocolate skin from their dad. Shayla hadn’t seen her dad in years, but Kenny was a mirror image of the man. Bald head, thick build, and winning smile. Still, she was the child her mom resented.
    â€œNah, just a suggestion. You out of money?”
    She shook her head. “No, I was smart enough to save, and Mr. Porter’s rent is much lower than what I paid in Atlanta. I just need to get the hell out of Helena.”
    Her brother frowned and put the spoon in his bowl. “Why you always hating on Helena? It ain’t so bad here.”
    She picked up and bit into a crispy slice of bacon. “Maybe to you, but I don’t have many good memories here.”
    He shook his head. “You didn’t have to leave town and become a wild child.”
    â€œI didn’t become a wild child.”
    â€œThat’s what everyone round here was saying.”
    She slapped her spoon on the table. “That’s exactly why I left. People in this town feed off rumors. Where did this come from? All I know is that one day mom calls me at Spelman saying I’ve embarrassed her by going off to college and sleeping with every man who visited our campus.”
    Kenny’s brows came together in confusion. “Peaches visited you and met the two different guys you were dating. Then she told Momma about three other guys coming to your dorm when she was there.”
    Shayla sank back onto the seat. Peaches had been a part of her high school