LATER THAT EVENING, the front door opened and a slim woman struggled into the house. The crinkle of the plastic bags weighing her down drowned the ‘clop’ of her heels. When the woman turned around and spotted the mess left by Nelly’s video preparations, the bags slipped to the ground.
“Nelly! Get your butt in here!”
Nelly scrambled into the living room and grinned. “Aunt Shayla! You bought groceries!”
Her aunt’s glower failed to detract from her beauty. At twenty-five, Aunt Shayla was only a couple years older than Nelly. With her smooth cocoa-colored skin, neat braids and frank brown eyes, she could easily pass as Nelly’s sister.
“Why don’t you clean up after yourself when you’re finished with your work?”
“You called it work!” Nelly squealed and melted against the doorframe. “Could y
