Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
Brandy Noel
AS WE PULLED UP TO Innocent Hearts , my heart was full.
The building had been renovated from the looks of it: fresh paint, a new sign, new fence, and a playground.
It looked nice. I didn’t ever remember seeing a facility with a playground.
That had Armond’s name all over it. Chardonnay let it be known that there was nothing wrong with the facility originally, but it was always nice to make changes and additions to make the kids feel seen. I couldn’t agree more.
The second we walked into the building after getting buzzed in, we were greeted by a kid walking by with a juice box. He had to be about twelve years old and the second his eyes landed on us, his posture changed and a huge smile spread across his face.
“Miss Nay! What you doing up here?” he said as he walked up to us and went for a hug. She gladly welcomed him and wrapped her arms around him tightly. I could see it now that this was her favorite kid.
“Now you know I had to pull up and see about my kids. How’ve you been, Jeremiah?”
“You know I’m good, Miss Nay. And who is this? You been holding out on me?” he said as he looked my way.
He put on a winning smile and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
I smiled and extended my arms for a hug.
He rushed over to me so quickly I couldn’t help but laugh at him.
He was a tall kid, towering over me already.
He had a cinnamon complexion with a curly fro most girls would beg for and dark brown eyes with long lashes.
He was a charmer. I could see it already.
“I’m her little sis. Nice to meet you, Jeremiah. Brandy.”
“You smell good, Miss Brandy.”
I laughed and pulled away from him. “Thanks. Can’t be stinking up the place, you know.”
“Yeah, I feel that. Well, Miss Nay, you bring any of those cookies? These fools took ’em all before I could grab one last time,” he pouted.
“You know I got you. Here,” she said, pulling a Ziploc bag from her purse with a half dozen chocolate chip cookies our mother just made. She opted to stay home and soak in the jacuzzi with her bottle of wine.
The smile that grew on Jeremiah’s face made my heart leap. He was so happy. He quickly gave us both hugs before running off to his room. I noticed a petite older lady walking over to us.
“You really must stop spoiling him so much, Chardonnay. He’s gonna act a fool every time someone else comes in here trying to do something good,” she said as she approached us.
“You know I can’t help it, Mrs. Darby. That’s gonna be my kid one day, if nobody snatches him up,” Chardonnay replied.
That caught my attention because she hadn't mentioned it before during her visits. It’d been a year. But hey, since it wasn’t happening yet, I guess I couldn’t be mad at it.
“You’ve said that, but I haven’t seen the motion to make it happen yet,” Mrs. Darby replied.
“I know, I’m waiting until I’m officially married so there will be nothing to stop the process from happening. I haven’t told Jeremiah my intentions because I don’t want to get his hopes up yet. I just need a little more time to make sure things are in order,” she explained.
“Well that I can understand. What brings you here today? Pardon me for my rudeness, I’m Mrs. Darby, I’m in charge around here.” She extended her hand for me to shake and I took it with a huge smile on my face.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Brandy, her little sister. She wanted to show me the facility and feed these kids.” I smiled.
“You’ve already made their preparations for today’s supper, Chardonnay, and it smells delightful. Tina and Jerell are in there now making plates. Dinner should be served in about fifteen minutes or so, if not sooner,” Mrs. Darby explained.
“Well, I have dessert,” Chardonnay said, holding up her bag. It had my mother’s cake in it and another two dozen cookies.
“You’re too sweet. You might as well join the staff, woman.”
“I’d love to own it one day. I love these kids and all of you as well. I love cooking for them and just spending time. They are going to go crazy when we start cooking lessons this summer,” Chardonnay said.
“Oh, that’s going to be dope, sis,” I chimed in.
“Maybe I can convince my sister to come up this summer and join me a few times? Maybe even open a yoga studio nearby so we can see each other more?”
“Oh, she’s laying it on thick. You must live out of town.”
“Yes, I do. Dallas currently, but I have been considering moving to Colton. Been looking into houses these last couple of weeks actually and have a viewing of one coming up before I leave,” I explained.
I wanted to surprise Chardonnay with it, but she pulled my card in front of this lovely lady, so I had to go ahead and let it be known that I seriously considered it.
Chardonnay leaped for joy and screeched like a kid being told they were going to Disney World for their birthday.
She started doing a little shimmy and I couldn’t help but join in.
Mrs. Darby laughed at us then led us to the kitchen.
Jerell and Tina were putting plates on serving trays, already finished preparing the meals.
The dinner looked amazing. Barbequed chicken with a nice glaze, mac and cheese from the oven, sweet potatoes all gooey and juicy looking, and green beans that looked like they’d been brewing for hours. My stomach rumbled and I couldn’t wait to eat later.
“Sis, you did your big one on this meal here,” I said.
“Yeah, she did,” Tina said.
“She never misses,” Jerell chimed in.
They caught eyes and I clocked the chemistry. He was fascinated with Nay and I could tell she took a liking to him as well. Maybe in another lifetime they might’ve hit it off.
She blushed and that was something rare for her when it came to her cooking because she knew she was all that. She didn’t need a soul telling her that she bussed down because she made sure to learn from the best in our mother and went to Le Cordon Bleu in Paris to stamp it.
“You’re right about that,” I replied to take the heat off them.
Tina looked at me with a smile as she shook her head. She knew just like I did that Chardonnay was well spoken for. Sis better stop lowkey flirting with that man.
“Guys, this is my sister, Brandy. Brandy, this is Tina and Jerell. They hold the kitchen down around here,” Chardonnay explained.
“It’s nice to meet you guys.”
“Likewise. Nice to see she has some family around,” Tina said.
“For sure. She always acts like she’s lonely as hell even with her man popping up all the time,” Jerell stated.
So, he does know about Arlando and still has eyes for sis? Okay, okay. I ain’t even mad at it. My sister is the catch for sure.
Jerell was a nice-looking man too for real light brown skin, nice brown eyes, dimples, and locs that made you want to put your fingers through them. We caught eyes and he smirked like he caught my analysis of him.
Once he placed his final plate down, he winked then went to wash his hands.
“Girl, he is cute,” I murmured to my sister as I leaned closer to her. She nodded while rearranging the plate he just set down.
“It’s a battle with that one, girl. He be making me wanna test the waters,” she mumbled back. I giggled then looked around the cafeteria.
The round tables were set up with five chairs each and they all had navy blue tablecloths.
The dinnerware was simple paper products and I understood that with all the kids this place must house.
I would not want to be doing any extra dishes I didn’t need to.
A huge window on the far end showcased the playground and it made me feel like I was in elementary school all over again. I loved it.
“Was that playground always there?” I asked.
“The swing set and slide were but the main playground just got built a month ago. You know Arlando and Armond didn’t spare any expenses. Each kid was able to buy two things to personalize their rooms and all. It means everything to me, girl.”
“You really want to own this place one day?”
“Oh, for sure sis.”
“I’ll go in on it with you. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind a silent partner.”
“Silent? Girl bye!” She laughed. “You don’t know how to be that.”
“Oh whatever.”
“I’d love that, Brandy. Honestly. I know it’s a whole process to do so and lots of things I’d have to do to accomplish it but if you’re going to move out here for real, then I’d love for you to be part of this journey with me.
The kids could use a mentor like you to help guide them.
Knowing you have a degree in business management and are the owner of three yoga studios would grant so much motivation for them and you cute too so you’d be the cool auntie in the place,” she teased.
“I’m her regardless, what you say?” I smiled then broke out in a little dance that got her and Tina laughing.
Though I had my girls in Dallas, this was what I’d been missing. The comfort of my sister, how freely everything flowed, and doing things that truly made me happy without feeling like it could come crashing down at any moment.
I truly was blessed at this point in my life. Though it seemed like something small, this was grand for me. After all the years of having someone down my neck, being in Colton with my sister was everything I needed plus more.