Chapter 4 #2
“I don’t have kids, Melonie,” I chuckled. “But that’s fine. I don’t know how long they’ll be here, but her having some toys will hopefully make her a little more comfortable,” I added. “Oh, her daughter has Down Syndrome, so don’t come in over doing it Melonie.”
My cousin’s personality was big, and she could be a bit forceful with it sometimes, but she meant well.
I just didn’t want Leila to meet her, and feel uncomfortable, or her daughter to feel a way.
She’d said it was hard getting her acclimated to new people and places, so I didn’t want to upset them.
“Contrary to what you think of me, Dr. Ward, I know how to conduct myself,” she replied and I laughed.
“I’m not saying you don’t.”
“Oh, but in so many words, you just said I don’t, negro,” she countered playfully. “Anyway, I’m on the way, so I’ll see you soon.”
“Aight.”
After disconnecting the call, my stomach rumbled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten anything today.
I closed my laptop before getting up to leave my office.
As I made my way down the hall I was hit with the aroma of food.
The savory smell of the homecooked meal had my feet moving even quicker toward the kitchen.
When I rounded the corner, I saw Leila pulling something from the oven and her daughter seated on one of my high back bar stools watching something on her tablet.
The moment she noticed me, she hopped down and scurried to her mother, tucking her small body behind her legs while peeking around at me.
“It’s alright, sweetie.” Leila smiled down at her while stroking the top of her head. “She’s shy.”
“It’s fine.” I nodded then looked at the pan she’d pulled from the oven. “You cooked?”
“Chicken pot pie.” She removed the paper towels she’d covered the pan with revealing a flaky, bronze layering. “You had all of the ingredients for it, and I couldn’t stand just sitting here doing nothing to express my gratitude.”
“It’s fine,” I said again, chuckling and making my way deeper into the kitchen for a better look. Both the smell and sight of the meal had my mouth watering. “I just can’t believe I had the stuff in here for this.”
Her smile was back in place, spreading across the bottom of her face. “You don’t need much to whip this up. Sit, I’ll fix you a plate if you have time.”
She’d already moved toward the cabinet that held my plates and bowls, and baby girl was right behind her.
I did as I was told, sliding onto one of the high backed chairs, then watched her move around my kitchen like it was her own.
She scooped a healthy helping onto a plate before she grabbed a spoon from the drawer and placed it in front of me.
Then she ripped off some paper towels and grabbed a cold water from the fridge, placing them right behind my plate.
I thanked her then whispered my grace before digging in.
She was standing there looking like she was holding her breath the entire time before she asked, “Good?”
“Amazing actually,” I admitted after my first bite. “But Leila, I didn’t ask you to stay here to cook for me or anything else. You’re good to chill and get your mind together,” I let her know. “I can cook for myself or order takeout.”
She dropped her hand and smiled a little. “It’s the least that I can do.”
I reached across the counter to take her hand and had to ignore the jolt of electricity that surged through me when I did. “And I appreciate it, for sure, but I wanted you to know that I don’t have any expectations of you, aight?”
“I know, but again, this was nothing. Just a small thank you.” Baby girl had begun to tug on the bottom of her mother’s shirt, so she turned her attention to her.
She lifted her arms, so her mother picked her up.
It was funny to see because she was so small to be lifting a six year old.
“Kiyan, this is Ava. Ava, will you wave to Mr. Kiyan?”
Ava eyed me mysteriously, biting her index fingernail, then looked back to her mother who nodded telling her it was okay. Baby girl then faced me and waved her small hand, mumbling a low, “Hi.”
Smiling at her, I asked, “Are you hungry?”
Again, her eyes were on her mom for confirmation.
“It’s okay, baby, you can answer him.”
She gave me her eyes again and said, “Hungry.”
“I’m sorry,” Leila laughed a little. “We’re working on full sentences.”
“You don’t owe me an apology for that.” I waved her off. “You two sit, let me fix your plates.” I prepared to stand but she stopped me.
“Please, don’t get up. Eat. I’ll get our food.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
Nodding, she walked around the counter to sit baby girl on the stool she was on before. She whined a little when her mother walked away, but Leila assured her that she wasn’t leaving and everything was fine. She made their plates then got them something to drink before she joined us.
When she asked Ava did she want to bless the food, she peeked around at me causing me to laugh a little. It seemed like she was checking to make sure I wasn’t watching, so I focused on my plate so she was comfortable.
I heard her mumble her grace with her mother before they both said ‘Amen’ in unison and started to eat. The three of us ate in a comfortable silence before my doorbell sounded, reminding me that my cousin was coming by. I excused myself to go grab it; seconds later I was returning with Melonie.
“Hey, Leila, this is my cousin, Mel,” I introduced.
“His favorite cousin.” Mel smiled and extended her hand to Leila. “He always leaves the important part off in my introductions.”
I shook my head and chuckled, “Mel, this is Leila and her daughter, Ava.”
“Well, aren’t you just as pretty as a magnolia in May.
” Mel beamed, leaning down to get eye level with Ava.
“I brought you some things to play with.” She set the duffle bag that was thrown over her shoulder on the floor in front of her then unzipped it, producing a small doll and hairbrush that she demonstrated brushing the dolls hair with. “Do you like to do hair?”
Ava eyed her just as she had me, but reached for the doll and brush, then started to do what she saw my cousin doing seconds earlier.
“I hope you don’t mind, Leila, I just knew Ki didn’t have anything in here for her to play with.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine,” Leila quickly replied. “I’m just shocked that she accepted it. Ava never takes well to new things this quickly.”
“She’s good with kids,” I said, leaning into the door frame with my hands in my pockets watching Mel give Ava different accessories for the doll.
“Do you have some of your own?” Leila asked Mel and she scoffed.
“Girl, you almost made me curse in front of your baby.”
Leila laughed and said, “Sorry. Sensitive subject?”
“Chi, more like my mother has sensitive ears,” she shook her head. “She probably heard my name and baby in the same sentence all the way in Chicago.”
“Oh, you’re not from here?”
“No ma’am.” Mel stood all the way up. “We were born and raised in Chicago. The two of us moved down when he accepted the position as Chairman of ACU almost a year ago.”
“Oh, nice,” Leila nodded. “You work there too.”
Mel nodded. “As his executive assistant because his life would be in shambles without me.”
“Says who?” I smirked just as my phone started to ring.
I saw that it was the campus president, so I let the ladies know I was stepping out and left Mel to do her thing. I was glad that she’d come by to talk to Leila because I truly felt that it would be easier for her to talk to a woman, someone she felt would understand her better.