“They never told you about her? Or her about you?” he asks.
“Hell nah. Dade County or the state didn’t give a shit about us. They barely had records or lied about having them. Tanjaya and I had a million questions but we never got any answers. With over thirty foster homes and orphanages in Miami, Welcome Home Kids was probably one of the worst. They didn’t give a shit about us or where we came from.”
“Shit,” he mumbles in awe.
“Yeah, that’s what it was, shit, real shitty. Tanjaya aged out and could have gone to college for free. Wards of the state and foster kids can go to any Florida public college without paying tuition. Tanjaya stayed in Miami but didn’t finish and I went toFlorida State in Tallahassee,” she reveals. He makes a mental note to have Axton check for college transcripts.
“We grew apart, you know. Life happens and we stopped talking. But she’s still my sister, my blood, my twin. Hell, the only real family I have. So when she texted and said she needed me to be her, I came. No questions; I just came. Based on her pictures in the apartment, nothing’s really changed. All I had to do was remove my braids, and poof, I’m here.” She peers up at him then cuts her eyes. “It fooled you,” she adds with major attitude.
The ringing of the doorbell saves him from replying, although he doesn’t have one. Her story is compelling and tracks with the little Axton has found but Akeem is still on the fence about her. Her eyes and his gut still lean toward her being Tanjaya. Afterall, Tanjaya clearly ran from Marcelin, using the alternate name Taya. She doesn’t want to be found.Why not make up this twin shit?
“That’s our food,” he says before standing.
At least he’s feeding me,Sunjiya thinks as he ascends the steps, giving her hope that this is a good gesture, a sign that he’s starting to believe her.
Plus, she’s starving. The last and only thing she had today was a latte and that completely vacated her stomach. Whatever he ordered, she’s going to devour. Hopefully, he lets her shower and lay down on that bed. It’s been a long and draining day. While she might not be able to sleep, she needs to rest her weary body.
About five minutes later, Akeem is back in the basement with the food. Everything looks and smells good as hell. The burgers are juicy and dressed with crisp veggies, real cheese, and grilled onions. The French fries aren’t frozen but fresh and hand-cut. Even the salad is legit, not the usual iceberg lettuce, carrots, andtomatoes typically offered at fast food joints. The food exceeds both of their unspoken expectations.
Before biting into his burger, to Sunjiya’s surprise, Akeem closes his eyes and says a silent prayer. She joins but says her own blessing, adding an extra plea that Akeem frees her before uttering amen aloud.
Akeem goes in on his burger first while she starts her fries and salad. They eat in silence, both enjoying the food. When her fries are half gone and she’s demolished the salad, Sunjiya takes a big bite of her burger. As soon as she swallows, she coughs. Her eyes water and she coughs again, this one more dry and louder than the first. Quickly, she takes a sip of her drink.
When she coughs a third time, Akeem looks up and the sight immediately concerns him. Her eyes are watering and her hand is around her neck, rubbing it frantically. The panicked look in her tear-filled eyes causes him to slightly panic as well.
“What’s wrong?”
“I…can’t…breathe,” she struggles out and he springs out of his seat. Thinking she’s choking, he prepares to administer the Heimlich maneuver to help her. But when he steps behind her she says, “My pen. My…pen.” Confused, he cranes his head toward her face. With her hand still around her neck, she points toward the bag he brought from the apartment. “My purse,” she says, barely getting the words out.
Thankfully, he picks up her meaning and stretches out his long arm to grab the bag and her purse. Tears fall down her cheeks now as she feverishly rubs her neck. He dumps the contents of her purse and spots the EpiPen. He’s definitely familiar with the pen because Quise has a peanut allergy. As fast as he can, he removes the pen from the tube, takes off the safety cap, then jabs it into her thigh until he hears the click. Almost instantaneously, she exhales loudly then sighs.
“Oh God! Thank you.”. After she catches her breath, she pleads, “Take this sling, off please. I need this off.”
Seeing the desperation on her face, he gives in, hoping he doesn’t regret this shit later. After loosening the towel, he even removes his knife from his back pocket and cuts her zip ties. As soon as she’s free from all restraints, she stretches her legs then slowly drops her arm onto her lap. Carefully, she shrugs as she inhales and exhales rapidly back-to-back.
“You’re okay?” he asks with more concern than he should have for a job, an assignment.
“Yeah. Now. I thought I was going to die,” she admits, then sighs. Her head drops and she continues to steady her shallow breathing.
“What are you allergic to?”
“Soy.”
“Soy?” he questions as he looks at their food containers.What has soy?
After exhaling, she looks at her food container. “It must be the burger. Some processed burger patties include soy as a filler. I should have known but I was hungry and only checked for mayo,” she says regrettably as she shakes her head. “Thank you again.”
“Yeah,” is all he says, then steps to his side of the table. “I’m done. I’m guessing you are too.”
“Good guess,” she says with a slight titter.
He closes both containers then drops them into the to-go bag. “I’m gonna throw this out. Want to take a shower?” he says to her surprise and delight.
“Can I?” she asks for confirmation.
“Yeah. I’ll bring your bag down and more of those pain pills.”
Seeing her reaction to the burger and having to get her pen did something to Akeem. Something he hates to admit. Ithonestly softens him and triggers a thought. While she showers and changes, he’ll make a quick call to his brother.
