“I’m not telling you to cook for Elijah. I’m telling you to cook with him. Elijah’s interest in cooking as a child was directly related to watching his father and me laugh and play as we prepared family meals. He understood that preparing food was just another way we took care of each other. We loved each other, so we took care of each other. He wanted to be part of the love we shared with each other.
“As independent as Elijah is, he always thrives within a team. Whether it’s family, sports, the job, or his friends, Elijah is happiest when he’s part of something that’s bigger than him. Or haven’t you noticed that yet?”
Camden dropped his eyes in shame. He should know that, and if their act had been authentic, Camden would probably have been able to figure that out for himself. He’d seen it with his own eyes how much lighter Elijah’s mood was after his family had arrived. Those first twelve hours between the two of them had been awkward to say the least. Elijah had growled more than he spoke to Camden, not that Camden’s behavior hadn’t warranted that kind of treatment. But Evelyn was right, things had eased between them once Elijah was surrounded by what was most familiar to him, his family.
“So, if you will be the man in Elijah’s life, cooking with him is something you must do.”
Slight panic set in in the middle of Camden’s chest. Yes, things between him and Elijah had taken a decided turn for the better. Yes, they both wanted more than just that one moment in time. But neither of them had concluded precisely what more meant. Elijah’s desire to be with Camden was easy as long as they were in this little cocoon in Westchester. But once they both returned to life in Brooklyn, would Elijah want to take on the battle of wills with Camden’s father? It was too great a deal to ask of one individual. Not to mention, Camden wasn’t certain he deserved that kind of loyalty from Elijah, not after everything he’d put him through.
“As much as Elijah and I care for each other, we haven’t yet decided on anything regarding our relationship. It’s complicated.”
Evelyn tipped her head to the side, watching Camden, using what he assumed was her sixth mother’s sense that Elijah had described earlier. Alarm spread through him. He was a trained prosecutor, someone who knew how to read people and keep them from reading him. However, sitting there under this petite woman’s gaze, it was as if she knew all his truths, no matter how he tried to hide them.
“You young people, always making things more difficult than they need to be.” Evelyn waved a dismissive hand through the air before she leaned down and pulled a cast-iron skillet from the cabinet. She rinsed it, set it on the stovetop, and turned on the range. When she was done, she pulled a platter from another cabinet and set it between them on the island. “The only thing that matters is how you and Elijah feel about each other. All of this complicated stuff isn’t important.”
Camden lifted a disbelieving brow as he watched her arrange all the items on the counter in the order she preferred. “If you knew what our issues were, I think you might say different, Mrs. Stephenson.”
Evelyn held her pointer finger into the air and said, “Evelyn, or Mama if you’d prefer.”
Camden’s mouth hung open in response. Not that he’d have a problem using the term to address Evelyn Stephenson. Her warmth, her concern, made it easy to see mothering was her specialty. He’d known her for just a few days, and she’d soothed him in ways his own mother had never managed to. Yet he still hesitated to take that liberty. No, he couldn’t address her that way when he wasn’t certain if being with Elijah was even a possibility at this point.
Fortunately for Camden, Evelyn had pulled her gaze from Camden’s face and set about uncovering the bowls she’d placed on the counter, so she didn’t see the way his mouth was hanging open at the moment.
He shook his head, giving himself a second to compose himself before he spoke again. “Evelyn, Elijah and I have a great deal to work on. No matter how wonderful these last few days have been, they haven’t fixed all the problems Elijah and I have to figure out.”
The matron gave Camden an easy smile as she leaned forward, placing both her elbows on the counter, bracing her chin on her opened palms. “Did you cheat on my son? Were you abusive to him, emotionally, sexually? Did you put your hands on my baby?”
Camden shook his head as the questions spilled from the sweet curve of her lips. Her tone was so light and sugary, what you’d expect coming from a loving matriarch. But he could tell by the squint of her eyes she was tuned in, waiting for Camden’s answers.
“No, Evelyn. Our struggles had nothing to do with any of the things you just mentioned. And in case you’re wondering, those things would never be a concern for Elijah and me.”
She kept the same inviting smile on her face and nodded her head. “I didn’t think so. But a mother always has to worry, even when her child is the burly protector type.”
Camden chuckled at her apt description of Elijah. He was big, beautiful, and fierce, in all the best ways, and if there was one thing Camden understood from his interactions with Evelyn Stephenson, it was that her son hadn’t inherited just her smile, but her heart and spirit too.
“My point about those questions is this, Camden. Those things are deal breakers. Those are the kinds of problems that keep people apart even when they love each other. If your problems aren’t those, then they’re not that complicated at all. As I see it, it just comes down to one thing. How badly do you want it?”
The question was simple, and yet Camden couldn’t fashion an answer for it. He knew Evelyn had no way of comprehending what sort of obstacles rested in the gap between Camden and Elijah. But somehow the confidence with which she spoke was comforting, like a down throw on a chilly night in front of a fire, the kind of comfort one experienced when they were covered in absolute truth.
“Camden, my son is there. If you know what signs to look for, it’s easy to tell he’s ready to give you everything. The only problem is, you don’t seem sure of whether you want what he’s offering. If you wanted him to, Elijah would chase you to the ends of the earth. You just have to decide if you want to be caught.”
She winked an eye at Camden, then pointed at the bowls on the counter. “Go get yourself an apron out of the pantry. I’m gonna show you how to make salmon croquettes and biscuits for my boy.”
“I thought you said it didn’t matter if I could cook or not, that Elijah wanted me to cook with him, be part of his team?”
Evelyn’s body shook with laughter. Even after she composed herself, happiness shone in the depths of her dark brown eyes. “Yes, honey. All of that was true. But what’s also true is that the quickest way to any man’s heart is a good meal he didn’t have to prepare himself. Get on in here so I can show you how to get and keep your man.”
Not the least bit embarrassed by his eagerness to get to Evelyn’s side, Camden walked around the counter and wrapped his arms around Evelyn in much the same way she’d done to him upon their initial meeting. Hugging it out wasn’t exactly Camden’s modus operandi, but nothing else made sense at the moment. So he stood there, well past the time when it would’ve been polite to release her, and hugged Elijah’s mother like he’d never had the chance to hug his own.
Chapter Twenty-One
FAMILIARscents from his childhood invaded Elijah’s dreams, settling into the happy space where memories of Saturday morning breakfasts with his family were stored. Those moments where his father’s presence filled the house, and how they interacted as a complete unit, defined what family meant to him.
Those Saturdays began as early as his school days, but Elijah didn’t whine about getting up for them. Once he heard music filling the house, Elijah would jump out of bed, wash his face and brush his teeth, and run down the stairs.
He could always tell who was cooking by what kind of music he heard playing. His father’s Caribbean roots dictated that fast-paced calypso or the heavy bass of dance-hall reggae would saturate the air. But if he heard old-school R&B or gospel, his mother was at the helm and more than likely making Elijah’s favorite meal.
Elijah tried to settle back into sleep, but the distinctive intro the Isley Brothers’ “For the Love of You” began, and Elijah’s eyes popped open. He blinked to clear his vision and stopped to listen for Ronald Isley’s smooth tenor begin that all too popular, classic first line of the song. A few seconds later, Ronald didn’t disappoint.
