Reunited By The Badge. Deborah Fletcher Mello

      For the briefest moment she stared in Paul’s direction, then snatched her eyes away when he sat down and stared back. There was a hint of relief in her gaze and then that sliver of anger revved back up to full throttle. Paul smiled, vaguely amused by the wealth of emotion she was struggling to contain. Mama Hill suddenly tapped him against the back of his head, snapping him back to attention.

      “Ouch!” he exclaimed as he reached to rub the offending bruise.

      Simone and Mingus both laughed.

      “Mama was asking you a question,” Mingus said.

      “Sorry,” Paul responded. “I wasn’t paying attention, Mama Hill. What were you saying?”

      The old woman chuckled, her head shaking from side to side. “Liza is calling for you. She needs you to come downstairs.”

      “Who’s Liza?” Simone suddenly questioned, giving him another look.

      Mingus grinned, eyeing him with a raised brow.

      Paul shook his head, looking slightly flustered by the sliver of jealousy that blew over her spirit. “She’s a friend of your brother’s. She’s helping us out.”

      Mama Hill looked from him to Simone and back. “Take Simone downstairs with you and introduce her. Then the three of you come back up dem stairs and get you some breakfast. Tell Liza Mingus is here.”

      Paul nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

      Simone sat for a second too long before the older woman admonished them both. “Y’all ain’t got all day now!”

      Mingus laughed, a deep belly guffaw that made Simone shift her annoyance in his direction as she stood and followed Paul to the basement.