“Really?”
“If you vouch for her, I sure will. Now, enough about other people. How was your day?”
“It was good. The best part was having a place to come home to. Gramps coming down was an added bonus.”
“I’m sure. Did you eat dinner?”
“No. I haven’t thought about dinner. Do you want to order?—”
“Kenny, are you home?” my mother asked over the intercom.
I tapped Malyah’s leg, and she stood. Before I made it to the intercom, my mother’s voice filled the room again.
“Kenny?”
“Yeah, Ma.”
“I made a plate for you and Malyah if you’re hungry.”
“You must have read our minds. We’ll be up in a minute. Thanks, Ma.”
“Dinner with your mother?” Malyah questioned.
“I’m sure she’s already eaten, but she’s harmless.”
“The jury is still deliberating on that one.” She rolled her eyes.
We went upstairs and to the kitchen. My mother was taking a plate out of the microwave and placing it next to the one already on the counter.
“Kenny, Malyah, I hope you both had a nice day,” she said.
“I worked a little later than usual, but it was cool,” I told her before kissing her cheek.
“Good. What about you, Malyah?” she asked as she retrieved two forks from the drawer.
I took our plates to the table, got two bottles of water from the refrigerator, and returned to the table.
“It was fine. Thanks for asking, and thank you for dinner.”
My mother had made smothered chicken breast, green beans, and mashed potatoes.
“Where’s Pops?”
“Out getting a few miles on the treadmill. He should be in soon.”
“What did you do today, Ma?”
“A few errands and a meeting with one of the charities. I’ve been thinking about your birthday.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t be alarmed by that last statement. Do I need to remind you that I’m already married?”
She leaned against the counter, which was several feet away from the table.
“I don’t need a reminder, Son, and I think since I was robbed of the chance to witness you get married, we should have a grand reception birthday celebration.”
I was sipping my water and almost choked.
“A what?” I questioned.
