“I know you aren’t. I can try to help you—”
“Nah. Don’t worry about it. It’ll just be a waste of time and money.”
“I wouldn’t want your money.”
“Surely you wouldn’t do all this work pro bono. I couldn’t ask you to do that, and I won’t ask you to do that.”
“I wouldn’t let you pay me, Layah, and you aren’t asking. I’m offering.”
“No. I’ll figure something out.” She was quiet for a moment before grabbing her bag. “I should go.”
She went to get up, but I gently touched her arm. “Alayah, please. You’re already here. At least have something to eat. I’ll take you home.”
She peered down at me, then slowly sat. Quietly, she picked up the menu and looked it over. I kept quiet as I did the same. It wasn’t long before Wanda came over to take our orders. I smiled as Alayah opted for the same meal I used to bring her back in the day: a double bacon cheeseburger with chili cheese fries and a vanilla milkshake.
“You still have a hearty appetite, I see,” I said when Wanda walked away.
“After eating prison food for so long, you appreciate a good meal.”
“What’s the first thing you ate when you came home?”
She smiled softly. “Aunt Penny made all of my favorites—fried chicken, baked mac and cheese, cabbage, rice, cornbread, and a sweet potato pie.”
“I know that itis kicked in.”
“I definitely overindulged.” She peered over at me. “I should apologize for how I’ve treated you when I’ve seen you. It doesn’t excuse it, but it’s been a lot on my mental. Being home hasn’t been the easiest.”
“I get that. You’re adjusting to life on the outside again. Ain’t much has changed around here. Same old River Point.”
“What’s changed with you?”
I chuckled. “Nothing but age.”
“No girlfriend? Kids?”
“Nah. I’m single. I have a little one, but she’s not mine. My sister has a five-year-old little girl named Ellie.”
I pulled out my phone and pulled up a picture of Ellie and me. Her little face was plastered against mine, and she wore the biggest smile while holding up her award trophy.
“She’s adorable. She looks like you.”
“That’s my baby. Running my pockets every chance she gets. I swear she doesn’t forget a thing. I told her if she got all gold stars at school, I’d give her some ‘monies’ as she likes to call it. I walked into my parents’ house the other week, and she met me at the door with her hand out.”
“Well, you made a promise. You had to see it through.”
“I know, I know.”
“I would have thought you’d be married with kids by now. I remember how important family was to you.”
“It’s still important. I have family dinners with them every Sunday. We do birthdays and holidays. We take a family trip during the summer months, and we have an ongoing group chat. It’s safe to say those people stay in my business,” I added with a chuckle. “As far as marriage and kids…I don’t know. I guess I haven’t met the right woman yet. I’m sure the big man upstairs will send me my rib one of these days.”
“Good luck with that. I’m sure you’ll make a great husband.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Do you eventually wanna…you know, date? Get married?”
