Chapter 35 Kamryn
Kamryn
Kamryn laid out all the ingredients for the evening’s meal and surveyed the counter to see if she’d missed anything.
“You think you have enough?” Tariq asked with a laugh. “It’s only going to be four of you.”
“Oh, hush. It’s not that much.” She looked at the counter again. He had a point. This would be the first cooking lesson for
Giselle, and she’d decided to turn it into an evening for all her sisters-in-law. It had been three months since the family
vacation, and things had continued to improve between her and Giselle. They talked more, and Giselle had even invited her
to lunch a couple of weeks ago. Both were doing their best to build a better relationship, and Kamryn had to give Giselle
credit for her efforts.
“Come on, Daddy,” Imani said. “We have to go pick up Austin. We’re gonna be late.”
“I’m coming.” To Kamryn he said, “She’s getting more like you every day.”
Kamryn let out a little laugh. At five going on fifteen, Imani was outspoken and candid, and asked a million questions a day. “Give me a kiss, and you have fun.”
“I will.” Imani grasped Tariq’s hand. “Let’s gooo.”
Tariq kissed Kamryn. “See you later, baby. Oh, and save me a plate.”
“I got you.” She waved as her daughter skipped across the kitchen to the door leading to the garage. There was never a dull
moment with that little girl.
Giselle arrived twenty minutes later and greeted her with a hug. “I figured I should get here early since I need all the help
I can get.”
“By the time I’m done with you, Shawn is going to crown you queen of the stove.”
“I’ll just settle for it being seasoned enough to eat.” The lack of seasoning in her food had become a running joke. “What are we making?”
“Since you love Italian dishes, I thought we’d do fettuccini alfredo with either grilled chicken or shrimp and asparagus.
And for dessert . . . Mama Yvonne’s peach cobbler.”
“Aren’t you supposed to start with something easy for the first lesson? This is the beginner’s class, not the advanced one.”
Kamryn waved her off. “You’ll be fine.”
“If you say so.”
She got a couple of cutting boards from the cabinet. “How are things with Shawn?”
“Oh my goodness. It’s so much better. We’re talking a lot more. Well, I’m talking, and it’s been really helpful. I’ve also started some counseling to deal with all my past issues.”
The doorbell rang. “I’m so proud of you, and I’m glad you two are doing better.”
“Me too. I’ll get it,” she said, heading for the front.
Giselle came back with Taylor and Chanel. “Hey, sisters. Did you two get here at the same time?” Kamryn asked, greeting them with their customary hugs.
“We came together,” Chanel answered. “I figured since I had to pass her to get here, I’d pick her up.”
“What did we miss?” Taylor asked.
“Nothing yet.” Giselle leaned against the counter. “I was just telling Kam that Shawn and I are doing a lot better and that
I’ve started counseling.”
“That’s great, Giselle,” Taylor said. “It took me two years to realize I needed to talk to someone to unpack everything after
losing Austin.”
“Oh, and I forgot to tell y’all my sister Lisa got mad because Shawn and I wouldn’t give her money to help with a deposit
to get a new apartment, and of course she had to get Pat and my mom involved. Usually Shawn stays out of it, but this time
he got all three of them together and said that we are not a bank, and if they needed money, they should work for it like
we do.”
The girls screamed, and Taylor said, “Whaaat? Quiet Shawn?”
She nodded. “But that’s not all. He told them that they are never to say one negative thing about me or to me.”
Kamryn pumped her fist in the air. “That’s what I’m talking about. I’m making my brother-in-law his own pound cake.” Whereas
Tariq and Austin, and Vincent to an extent, had no problem setting someone straight, Shawn had always been less confrontational.
To hear that he went to battle for his wife put a smile on her face. “Okay, let’s get this dinner started.”
Giselle held up a hand. “Before we get started, I have one more thing to say.”
“It better not be anything bad.”
“It’s not. We’re having a baby!” she shouted with excitement.
Kamryn gave Giselle’s shoulders a squeeze. “I’m so happy for you two. How far along are you?”
“Three months. Let’s just say that makeup night when we were at Big Bear was good. Better than good.”
They squealed like teenagers.
“Did you just find out?” Chanel asked.
“No. I never said anything, but I’ve had a couple of miscarriages, and we wanted to wait until we were out of the woods.”
Kamryn said, “Then dinner is going to be a double celebration.” Her three sisters gathered around the kitchen island, and
they got started. Soon the space was filled with laughter, music, and the delicious aroma of the food.
“I’ve got the chicken,” Giselle said. “Who’s going to show me which seasonings to use? I don’t want to hear y’all talking
about it being bland.”
Taylor placed three different seasonings in front of her. “Here you go.”
Kamryn enjoyed sharing her kitchen with them. She talked Giselle through grilling the meat and showed her how to tell whether
it was done without being dry. By the time they sat down to eat, she’d decided that cooking should be something they added
to their sister time.
Chanel forked up a portion of pasta. “Now for the taste test.” She ate a bite, angling her head as she chewed, and then a
smile spread across her lips. “Giselle, this chicken . . . A-plus.”
“Yes! Hallelujah.” Giselle did a little dance in her seat. “Can I take some home to Shawn? I need to have some evidence.”
“Of course. Why do you think there’s so much of it left over? I figured the brother might want a plate. Tariq already asked for his.”
Chanel said, “Well, you know Vincent is probably going to take the plate before I even get a greeting.”
“He’s probably never going to change after all this time.” Kamryn shifted her gaze to Taylor. “You should take some to Damon.
I’m sure you’ll be seeing him this weekend.” She was so happy to see Taylor getting a second chance at love. She and Taylor
talked often, and though Taylor said she would never forget what she shared with Austin and he’d always hold a place in her
heart, she had finally made peace and was ready to move forward with Damon.
“He’ll be over tomorrow. It’s supposed to be my turn to cook. Now I can just heat it up, add some rolls, and pretend like
I slaved over the stove all afternoon.”
“What happens during sister time . . .” Kamryn started.
“Stays with sister time,” Giselle, Taylor, and Chanel chorused.
They continued laughing and talking, and Kamryn couldn’t be happier that the four of them were finally going to be the sisters-in-law
she’d always hoped for. She and Giselle still had a few awkward moments here and there, but they were growing closer. Being
a social worker, she could empathize with what Giselle had gone through and how it affected her. Kamryn just didn’t like that
she’d been the recipient of those projections.
“I really love that we’re doing this,” Chanel said. “I finally have a few more sisters that I can share my secrets with and
find out theirs too.”
“Me too,” Giselle said. “And I have another secret.”
Kamryn stared. “Girl, don’t tell us you’re having twins.”
She laughed. “Oh nooo. That’s definitely not it. I’m going back to school to become an event planner.” A loud cheer went up.
Kamryn lifted her glass. “And we’ll be there to support and help you every step of the way.” They all touched glasses.
I love my sisters-in-law.