“What does this have to do with Cara?” I ask
“I know you and your macho conquests. I won’t let you do it to her. Take it elsewhere.”
“I wasn’t planning to,” I scoffed, even though I absolutely was. “So, you need not worry.”
She let out a breath she’d been holding since Ms K left. “Good, do you still plan on staying the week?”
Way to switch, sis.
“Yes, I promised Cara that I would drive her to school tomorrow and hang out with her all week.”
“It would be nice to have you around,” she says, leaving the study.
I move towards my quarters at the back of the house. Knowing my sister, it’s prepped for me.
Once inside, my first thought is to place a call to Bruce, so I can find out everything about Ms K, but I stand back for a second.
I really need more info, and my best resource is Cara. A sheepish smile curves my lips. “Bad uncle,” I smirk.
After unpacking my bag and a quick change to lounge wears, I head back into the main house. I can hear my niece still on the piano and I must admit, her playing is better than the last time. Maybe Miss K is right, Cara does have potential and I’m about to mix that potential with my own interests.
I find my sister in the kitchen as her house manager sets the table. Maggie loves to cook, and she’s good at it too; one thing she learned from our mom. You couldn’t pay my oldest sister Sarah to cook, she dislikes being in the kitchen. Our mom realized this early and didn’t push her to be in the kitchen. Unfortunately, she died before I was old enough to decide if I wanted to try it. Well, I’ve lived alone and fed myself just fine without issue. I do love visiting Maggie and Cara because I'm sure to eat meals like our mom’s cooking. My sister is obsessed with two things, my niece and her cooking. Which means I always get the best meal whenever I visit.
Now with Ms K in the mix, I might stay a few days less to avoid showing my slight obsession with her, though I still want to know everything about her for Cara and Maggie.
Liar.
Maggie calls out to Cara to wrap up her piano playing and come over for dinner. I take my place across from Cara. Maggie sits at the head of the table.
My sister and Cara’s father are divorced. Luckily, it wasn’t a bitter divorce. Nathan was a reasonable guy, his only requestwas he wanted his daughter to live in Chicago, so he could spend time with her. Maggie requested the divorce which Nathan was originally fighting against. He gave up and agreed to my sister's terms as long as Cara lives in Chicago. There wasn’t a need for their divorce except the fact my sister was paranoid about everything since my niece was born and she refused to have another child, much as Nathan wanted another one and Maggie was unwilling to bend her rules, which led to constant fights. Nathan had insisted on therapy for Maggie because, truth be told, my sister was spiraling. I’m glad the therapy is working, she’s getting better. And Cara gets to see her dad often, which is a win-win.
My sister brings the roasted half chicken with garlic, shallots, rosemary, lemon and olive oil, served with roasted potatoes and a side of sautéed spinach. The smell hits my nostrils and the room. Cara beams, because her mom just made our favorite dish. I sit back ready to devour the food and enjoy my time with my niece.
We soon start eating and Cara is talking non-stop about school and the fact she doesn’t want to travel with her dad this year because she wants to spend more time practicing with Miss K.
There it is, just when I think I’ve managed to block her out of my mind, she invades my whole being with just the mention of her name. Makayla Kuti. Woman I can’t get out of my head.
“You would miss the trip with your dad for music lessons?” I ask, making sure not to mention her name.
“It’s not just lessons, it’s lessons with Ms K. I can’t afford to miss it, and if I leave, Ms K might fill my time with someone else, then I have to get another teacher that I don’t like and I just might quit music forever and that would break my heart,” she whines. “Can you please talk to my dad?”
Great, I have to be a mediator for my niece too. I turn to my sister, hoping for her to jump in, but she just ignores me. It almost feels like this was a set up.
“What if I pay Ms K to keep your spot so you can go and spend time with your dad?”
“You can’t do that.” She shakes her head.
“Your dad misses you and he’s looking forward to spending time with you.”
“I miss him too, but we can do stuff every weekend,” she argues. “Besides, Ms K won’t take your money to hold my spot.”
“Why don’t you let me speak to Ms K?”
“No, just speak with my dad, please Uncle Dan,” she whines in between bites of her food.
“How about I speak with both of them, and we can work something out?”
She relaxes.
