“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 hopesup 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 starteddoing 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 isthe catchfor 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.
