Derrick had shown me romance in ways I’d never dreamed of, showering me with diamonds and furs. He even bought me a new car. There is no question that those were the happiest six months of my life, and if you knew my life, you’d know happiness was rare. Yeah, those were happy times, all right. That is, until Big Momma got involved. God, I remember it like it was yesterday. Big Momma was at the house eating dinner when Derrick looked at his watch.

“I’ve got to go to court,” he said, kissing me as he got up and put on his sport coat.

“What kind of lawyer did you say you were?” Big Momma asked him with that tone she used when she thought we were lying.

“I’m a defense attorney. I do mostly legal aid work through the night courts,” he answered, no doubt expecting Big Momma to shut up. But he didn’t know Big Momma at all. She never said anything unless she was going to make a point.

“Ohhhh, so that’s why you leave my grandbaby every night and don’t come home until the wee hours of the morning?”

She lit a cigarette, and that scared the hell outta me. ’Cause when Big Momma lit a cigarette, one thing was for certain: trouble was about to raise its ugly head.

“Big Momma, why you askin’ Derrick all these questions?” I interrupted.

“Hush, child. Let the boy answer for himself. He’s a grown man” She smirked at Derrick. “Well, Derrick, is that why you leave my grandbaby all alone at night?” I could see Derrick sensed trouble, but he still played it pretty cool.

“Yes, ma’am, night court doesn’t close until four o’clock in the morning.”

I sighed with relief. Big Momma was up to something, but Derrick seemed up to the task.

“So I guess you know Judge Jackson and Judge Jones?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ve had a chance to be in both their court-rooms quite a few times,” Derrick answered with confidence, although he did look a little agitated.