“Probably.”
“You don’t mind?”
“No.”
A week later, Hallmark updated the advertisement.
The photograph remained.
The slogan changed.
BANKING STARTS WITH LISTENING.
Monica saw it while riding with Jaylen.
She looked out the window.
“You approved that?”
“Yes.”
“It’s better.”
“Thank you.”
“Still too serious in the picture.”
Jaylen sighed.
Some things did not change.
The Sunday after the investigation ended, Jaylen came to Monica’s house with groceries.
Collard greens.
Bell peppers.
Sweet potatoes.
Hot sauce.
Cornmeal.
Two bags instead of one.
Monica opened the door.
“You bought too much.”
“I’m traumatized.”
“You weren’t the one on the bank floor.”
“I know.”
Her face softened.
“Come in.”
They cooked together.
Jaylen washed the greens in the sink.
Monica inspected his work.
“You missed dirt.”
“Where?”
She pointed.
“That is a shadow.”
“That is dirt.”
“Mama.”
“Wash them again.”
He did.
They fried chicken.
Monica seasoned the greens.
Jaylen made cornbread.
He added sugar.
Monica caught him.
“Absolutely not.”
“It tastes better.”
“It tastes like cake.”
“That’s why it tastes better.”
They argued for ten minutes.
Neither mentioned Karen.
Eventually Jaylen did.
“Do you hate her?”
Monica turned from the stove.
“No.”
That answer surprised him.
“You don’t?”
“No.”
“What about Preston?”
“No.”
“Mama, they—”
“I know what they did.”
She stirred the pot.
“Hating them doesn’t fix my back.”
Jaylen leaned against the counter.
“It doesn’t bother you that they hurt you?”
“Of course it bothers me.”
“Then how can you not hate them?”
Monica thought about it.
“Because hate is expensive.”
Jaylen frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It takes too much energy to carry.”
She put the lid on the pot.
“I’m seventy-three. I have limited storage.”
He laughed despite himself.
Then Monica became serious.
“Consequences are fine.”
“Yes.”
“Accountability is necessary.”
“Yes.”
“Protecting other people matters.”
“Yes.”
“But don’t confuse accountability with enjoying somebody’s destruction.”
Jaylen lowered his eyes.