“Huh, just like that?” Alphonso asked.
“Yup.”
Alphonso couldn’t figure it out, Tamia was only friendly with people she knew like his dads and Cristyn, everyone else she gave them the cold shoulder.
“Stop trying to figure things out and sit or your soup will get cold.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Alphonso did as he was told and sat down ready to rest Tamia on his legs when his grandmother reached down and picked her up.
“No, you don’t. Tamia is a big girl and will sit in her booster seat while you eat,” she told him. “While you’re here you will let me take care of the little witchlet while you let the magic of Vale renew your body. Hopefully, you’ll find a mate in the process.”
“I’m only here for a while, Nana, and then it’s back to Los Angeles. Besides, aren’t you acting Mayor while Grayson and his new husband are on their honeymoon? Plus planning the Valentines dinner party, you give every year?”
“His name is Chance, and I think you guys will get along. They are only gone for two weeks, and I’m quite capable of doing more than one task even if I’m an old woman.”
Alphonso snorted. “Still, I’m only here for a bit then I need to get back to my life. I still need to attend to my clients. Finding a mate and staying here is not in the cards for me, Nana.”
“You can set up an office here, Vale doesn’t have enough lawyers, and everyone needs a mate, grandson.”
Alphonso stared at his grandmother while she attended to Tamia. “What are you up to?” She looked at him with innocent eyes that screamed she was scheming something.
“My dear boy, I am not up to anything. I’m merely stating a fact. Everyone needs a mate.” Alphonso went to speak, but she stumped him with her next words. “Even me. I loved your grandfather more than the world, and he’s probably cursing me out from the grave that I haven’t open up my heart to love, rather watching everyone else around me find it. But I wasn’t ready, but now I think I am.”
Alphonso saw the sadness in her eyes. After twenty years she still loved his grandfather and had closed her heart off to the prospect of finding love again.Well, good for her.
“Not a word to your uncle about this, he has a way of overreacting and will probably scare away every suitor who knocks on the door.”
“My lips are sealed, Nana.”
“Good, now eat up. I’m sure it’s been a while since you’ve been able to have human blood instead of animal mixed into your meal. You’re looking a bit pale.”
Alphonso didn’t say anything else and dived into his meal that his grandmother and daughter made for him. He ate the entire thing, not leaving a crumb.
It was good to be home after so long. He looked over at Tamia who seemed more than content to let his grandmother pamper her without a care in the world. He smiled when the thought of staying just a bit longer came to him. There wasn’t any harm in it, and his clients knew how to get in touch with him if they needed him.
Just an extra week and then it’s back to the daily grind.
