Granny Mabel put her print all over the house and when she got in a tit for tat with the cook on whether to wash meat and if meat needed to be washed in water or vinegar my long time cook put in his resignation effective immediately.

In less than six months time, Granny Mabel became the cook, the maid, and babysitter and she would have it no other way.

"Richard. Good to see you boxing up some of those memories. I'm proud of you. You have come a long way."

"We've come a long way." I remarked smiling at Granny Mabel.

"Is that so?"

"You barging into my life with your family helped more than any therapist."

"Is that how you see things? Is that how your narrative plays out...me barging in?"

Granny Mabel was ready to put her spin on things. She was ready to dance and I didn't feel like getting dizzy with confusion. I could just imagine her version of events based on facts but covered in all kinds of convoluted fiction.

"No. Just me stepping aside." That response right there had her quiet. She wasn't expecting it. I've learned to do Granny Mabel right back to her.

So, Granny Mabel switched gears, "Sometime you got to talk about it. Let it out into the atmosphere. That is what Andre always says...let all that negative energy and emotions out so the good stuff has room."

"Sounds like something Andre would say. Very wise for his age." I couldn't help but smile thinking about the little person that meant so much too me.

"I am so thankful to you Rick, I am thankful to God first and foremost but I am thankful for you being there for us. Helping us out like you have...like you continue to do."

"Andre, Abigail, and Noah make wanting to give easy. They are the kids I never had."

"You are definitely a father figure they ain't never had, that is for sure. Michonne even said so herself."

"Michonne?"

I didn't want to go asking for her. I had no excuse really. I guess Granny Mabel knew that I was curious where she went in one of my cars.

"She went to go take the bar exam today."

"If I had known her test was today, I wouldn't have kept her up all night, last night. Practically all night. I don't know which one of us fell asleep first."

"You better be glad I found you both fully clothed on the theater room floor upstairs asleep or I would have given you two some words."

I sealed the box of mementos of my past life, "Which would have been what Granny Mabel?"

"No fornicating under this roof. Not on my watch."

"Well this is my house and I would hope you weren't watching if it came down to something like that happening."

Granny Mabel had a smile on her face. It was weird to see a serious face that she always wore with a smile on it. Like I said something or she knew something. I was befuddled. She had the power to do it every time.

"Which is the lightest box you got? I can help you take on up to the attic."

I handed her a small box that held my wedding band, "Is that light enough for you, Granny?"

She took the box but she had her other hand out and I knew what that meant. It was time for grocery shopping and stocking the shelves with every conceivable cleaning product laced heavily with bleach. She ruled the house and she ruled me.