“You should ask her what she puts in her oatmeal cookies. I left a few on the counter last week,” I added.
“You made those?” he asked Malyah.
“I did.”
“She makes this icing to go with them, and it takes the cookies to the next level,” I said.
Gramps looked at Malyah with a broad smile, and the pride in his eyes almost made me jealous. He’d told me many times how proud he was of me, but he’d never looked at me the way he looked at Malyah.
“Young lady, where have you been all my life?” Gramps asked flirtatiously.
“Old man, are you trying to push up on my woman? I think it’s time for you to go.”
I helped him to his feet, put my arm over his shoulders, and walked him to the stairs.
“It’s okay, namesake. I’ve been kicked out of better places. Granddaughter, I’ll see you tomorrow. Think about what I said.”
“I promise, I’ll think about it.”
I watched my grandfather go up the stairs, and once he was on the other side of the door, I returned to the kitchen and sat in the seat he no longer occupied.
“I didn’t expect to come home and find my grandfather down here.”
“His visit was unexpected for me too. I hope it was okay that he was here.”
“My family has always been welcome to come down, but I can count on one hand how many times each of them has visited altogether. That’s why I was so surprised when I heard Gramps’ voice coming from the kitchen.”
“His voice came over the intercom as I was about to make the truffles and scared the mess out of me. He asked if he could come down and talk for a bit, and who am I to deny the original Kenzo Goode? We ended up making the truffles together, and it was the best cooking experience I’ve ever had.”
“Even better than when I helped you with the oatmeal cookies?”
“Umm, you didn’t help, so it was much better. I learned so much from him. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think something like that was possible.”
“Destiny.”
“Destiny?” she repeated.
“Destiny has a way of working itself out.”
“Kenzo, what are you talking about?”
“You were meant to do and be something great, and now that the stars have aligned, I’m excited to be a witness.”
“You’re the first person who’s ever said something like that to me. I used to think my future was bright, even after I moved out, and had to figure out how to support myself, which I’m still doing. I never gave up hope until this last time.”
“You’d given up hope?”
She looked down at her hands on the table as she fidgeted with them.
“For a few minutes. After I caught Cole and Janie together and packed my car with as many of my things as I could, I drove around the block, pulled over, and had a mini meltdown. I’m a good person, and I do right by people, but so many negative things have happened to me, I thought I’d be better dead.”
“Baby.”
I leaned forward and took her hands in mine.
“The thought only lingered for a minute, then I put my bad bitch hat back on and got it together.”
“Damn. I’m so sorry you ever felt that way, even if it was for only a minute. I haven’t known you for two full weeks, and I already can’t imagine my life without you. Thank you for not succumbing to that thought.”
