Naeem #2
I returned to the living room with her hot beverage in tow. She was still sitting in front of the fire but had moved from the ottoman to the floor. She removed her hat giving me a better view of her face.
“Here you are. I didn’t know how you took it, so I kept it black. I can get you some condiments if you need them.”
“Black is perfect. Thank you.”
“I see you can manage to speak without stuttering now. That means you’re thawing just fine.”
She chuckled as she nodded. “I am. And to answer your question from earlier, me and my friends wanted to spend Valentine’s weekend with each other instead of with men who seem to be nothing but disappointments nowadays. I would’ve ridden with them if I didn’t have obligations to handle first.”
“The cabins aren’t far from here at all. Maybe you should call your friends and let them know what’s going on. In the meantime, I’m going to finish dinner. Do you care for a hot plate?”
“I’d appreciate that, Naeem.”
The angelic tone was on a constant loop. The softness of it and how leveled it was. I instantly craved more of it. Even down to her tiny laugh, I found it all to be intriguing.
I tended to the task at hand and occupied my time in the kitchen granting me a temporary distraction.
First impressions were everything and because she had to spend a night with me, I was going to bless her with my skills.
The way she described men in that brief conversation said she was low key over them as a whole.
I knew some men could be dogs but not all were the same so us real ones had to work twice as hard to prove what makes us different.
“Daddy, who is that lady?”
Serenity was finally woken and was questioning Charmaine’s presence. I picked her up and quickly pecked her on the cheek before ushering her to the living room to make proper introductions.
“Charmaine, I’d like to introduce you to my baby girl Serenity. Serenity, this nice lady got lost and the snow trapped her here with us for a little bit. Is that okay?”
She wiggled her legs to be let down and I placed her on her feet. She walked up to Charmaine and started touching her hair. When she looked back up at me, she had the biggest smile on her face.
“She’s pretty, Daddy.”
Charmaine sat with her cheeks hiked up not saying a word. She gave her time to check her out without interrupting her.
“She is very pretty baby girl,” I seized the opportunity to compliment her.
“Thank you. Both of you.”
I didn’t miss the flirtation at the end of her response. That sparked something in me.
“Dinner is ready you two so can we eat or are y’all about to leave me behind to do your own thing?”
“I’m down to eat before I allow her to show me her chest full of toys,” she said holding Serenity’s hand.
Baby girl jumped up and down with excitement. She had been a friendly spirit since she’d been born so I knew that having a woman around to play with was better than having to entertain me.
“Cool. Let’s head to the kitchen.”
I led the way as they set at the table and engaged in their own conversation. Charmaine didn’t know but she was racking points up by the second. Serenity was my heart and soul so if a woman outside of her mother could bring a smile to her face, I was content.
I fixed their plates and placed them in front of them.
Baby girl dug in immediately while Charmaine smelled the food as if I laced it with some type of poison.
I found that to be funny because she truly didn’t know what she would be missing out on if she turned it down.
I wasn’t a chef, but I was taught by the best.
“That’s low key rude, Charmaine.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just… it smells really good, and I don’t know if it’s too good to be true.”
“It’s food, Charmaine, not a proposal. Eat and enjoy your meal. I promise I’m not out to get you.”
Nodding, she followed suit behind Serenity. I knew I had her when I heard her moan. That was all I needed to hear, and I was satisfied.
“Oh, my goodness, Naeem, this taste the way it looks. If you don’t mind me asking, who did you learn from?”
“My grandfather. He was the man to be when it came to busting out the pots and pans. He did more cooking than my grams. He said it was therapeutic and I didn’t understand what he meant by it until I started doing it for myself.”
“He taught you well. Are you going to join us?”
I grabbed my plate and sat across from the both of them. My own child had turned on me. Normally, she would be right under me wanting to steal food off my plate but instead she was giving all her attention to the pretty woman that joined us for the night.
I watched on as they tuned me out and started to form their own bond.
Charmaine was new to us, yet we were so accepting.
She could’ve been a serial killer on the low and here we were smiling in her face eating up her beauty.
The only thing was, we couldn’t get attached because of how soon her departure from us would be.
“You have a smart daughter, Naeem.”
“Thank you. I’d like to think she gets that from me and not her mother.”
“Oh yeah? What makes you say that?”
“I won’t trash her mom in front of her. That’s not me. However, I don’t mind holding a conversation over a glass of wine after I get her to bed in a few.”
“Alright. I understand that completely.”
Dinner went on with the two of them ignoring my presence. I didn’t mind because I was enjoying their interaction. When one smiled, the other followed suit and it caused me to watch in admiration. As long as my baby was happy and felt safe then Charmaine was good in my book.