Love Finds A Way

by C. P. Watson

  “Grandpa, you were supposed to be different,” I complained resting the bottle on the counter, “this is so stupid,” I grumbled crossing my arms over my chest.

  “Come on, Kay, at least try, college isn’t too far away, so you won’t have to deal with my ill-treatment for too long,” he chuckled making me frown.

  “Fine,” I mumbled as I uncrossed my arms and grabbed the bottle off of the counter.

  “Splendid, now help us with the stuffed plantains, I know you are an expert at that,” I let out a low breath as I opened the cap of the bottle and took a sip, before resting it back on the counter, “by the way, stop leaving your bottles on the counter, it’s unsanitary.”

  I nodded as I walked over to the pantry and grabbed a few plantains, “how much do I need to make?” I asked as he began cutting vegetables, while Ava, I mean my teacher, was stirring something on the stove.

  “Six,” my eyes widened.

  “How many people are coming over?” I almost yelled as I looked at the three plantains in my hand.

  “Three people, don’t be such a drama queen,” he said as he got back to focusing on chopping vegetables.

  “There goes his boundaries,” I mumbled as I grabbed three more plantains from the pantry.

  * * *

  AFTER PREPARING EVERYTHING, I leaned against the counter as my teacher placed the dirty pots and pans into the dishwasher. “You know the housekeeper can do that, right?”

  “She’s not here now, is she?” She retorted as she finished placing the last one in and closed the dishwasher. She pressed a few buttons before turning and looking at me.

  “Your blouse has…” I pointed to her blouse which had sauce spilled on it. She let out a breath as she walked over to the sink and began trying to wipe it off. Grandpa then came back into the kitchen with a different shirt and jeans on.

  “Do I have to change as well?” I asked looking at his attire.

  “Unless you want eyes ogling you at the dinner table, I think it’s best for you to change into something more appropriate,” he said referring to my shorts that were just below my ass and my thin tank top that showed too much cleavage than necessary. I rolled my eyes as I looked over at my teacher.

  “Do you need something to borrow? It doesn’t seem like you’re getting anywhere with that,” I said making her turn. She let out a low breath and nodded.

  “Okay, you two ladies get dressed. I’m going to hold off the guests. They should be here soon.”

  I made my way out of the kitchen with her in tow. I walked up the stairs and into my room. I didn’t feel like having another shower, being that I had three for the day already and likely would take one before I went to bed. With that being so, I headed straight for my closet and began searching through the piles of clothing.

  “Damn,” she muttered as she leaned against the door frame of my closet.

  “Are you going to stand there or look for something to wear?” I asked as I picked up a navy blue chiffon dress that tightly fitted my upper torso and flared below, stopping above my knees.

  “I’d rather you pick something,” she said making me look away from the dress in my hand. I handed her the dress, though I intended to wear it, but it seemed like it would suit her.

  “There you go, get dressed,” I picked up a random crop top and a pair of denim, high waisted, skinny jeans. I walked out of the closet making her follow me.

  “Um... where is the bathroom?” She furrowed her brows as I dropped my shorts and pulled my tank top over my head, which made her eyes widen. I laughed as I grabbed my jeans and slipped my legs in, before pulling it above my waist, not forgetting to zip and button it.

  “Don’t be a prude,” I chuckled as I looked up at her while slipping the top over my head. She seemed a bit uncomfortable which made me remember that she was, in fact, my teacher, “it’s over there,” I pointed as I walked over to the mirror. I heard her footsteps, then the opening and closing of the bathroom door. I scoffed and picked up my hairbrush to comb through my hair.

  After getting rid of the tangles and then leaving it to flow off of my shoulders, she came back out wearing the dress that I gave her and I’m not lying when I say that my jaw almost dropped to the floor. She looked really good in it.

  “I think it’s a bit too much.”

  “Too much is when you tell my grandfather about the volunteer work,” I picked up my perfume and sprayed it all over my upper torso a few times.

  “It’s a small town, everyone knows everything,” she defended as I rested the perfume back down.

  “Chatterboxes, I tell ya,” I sighed and gave her a smile, “I’ll do both, but definitely not in the morning, okay?”

  “Not a morning person?” She questioned as she walked toward me, the clothes she’d changed out of hanging on her arm.

  “Definitely not and please no stupid people for the tutoring. I can’t handle stupid people.”

  “Why do you think they need tutoring?”

  I frowned at her joke, knowing she had a point. God, help me, “whatever, I just hope they won’t make my life a living hell. How many students anyway, because I can’t handle too many?”

  “Three, I will give you the schedule tomorrow. Most of it is during their free periods so you’ll have late afternoons off to do whatever it is you do,” I nodded thinking about having to spend more time in school.

  “And being your assistant?”

  “Yes, you just have to help me grade papers, and sometimes watch over the class. Nothing too difficult for someone as brilliant as you to manage.”

  I touched my chest, accepting her compliment, “well, thank you, it’s nice to know.”

  She chuckled before placing her hand on my shoulder, “by the way, I’m around here a lot, so you better get comfortable with me.”

  I furrowed my brows, “are you and my grandfather dating?” I asked scrunching up my nose. Her eyes widened.

  “God no, he is my godfather, so we are close,” she explained placing her hand against her chest.

  “He never talks about you,” I said stuffing my hands into my back pockets.

  “You must have never listened, do you even know my name?” She questioned as though I was oblivious to everything around me.

  “Ava, right?” She nodded.

  “What about my last name? You should know this since you were in my class earlier today,” I thought for a moment, not remembering any moment when her name was brought up, “it’s Reese,” she said after a few minutes of me not speaking. I mouthed an o since I certainly didn’t remember that being brought up at all, “you’re a quiet girl, that is a good thing. Just be more aware of what is going on around you.”

  She said making me roll my eyes, “you can leave your clothes over there in the hamper. The housekeeper will wash it and you’re coming back soon anyway, right? So you can pick them up whenever you want,” she nodded and did as I told her, “do you need anything else?” I asked. She shook her head and gave me a smile.

  “I think I heard the doorbell ring, the guests must have arrived, let’s go downstairs,” she said walking out of the room, making me follow behind her. We walked down the stairs to see two people and a little girl with them, “mom, what are you guys doing here?” Ava asked stopping in her tracks at the last step of the stairs.

  “I invited them, of course,” my grandfather said walking out of the dining room, “I already set everything on the table.”

  He looked at me then at Ava. I slipped past her and headed over to my grandfather. I was feeling a bit uncomfortable with the weird looks they were giving me, “I didn’t know the guests would be them,” she shook her head as though she should have known better.

  “And who else am I going to invite other than my family?” The old man grinned. Ava walked over to her family and picked up the little girl into her arms.

  “Don’t you look pretty,” Ava smiled and kissed her cheek.

  “Where did you get that dress?” The little girl pointed out, makin
g everyone look at the dress as well.

  “Oh Kylie lent it to me, I spilled sauce on my blouse,” she said referring her gaze to me. I nodded before looking down at my feet.

  “I have heard so much about you,” the mother said to me, making my eyes lift off of the ground to look at her, “you are very beautiful,” she complimented walking over.

  “Where are my manners? Diane and Phillip, this is my granddaughter that I have told you so much about. Kay, these are some close friends of mine. I am both of their children’s godfather,” he said proudly.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” I said giving them a small smile.

  “She is as shy as you said, Donald,” the woman said as she pulled me into a hug. I just stood there like a statue, mentally pleading for her to let go. She finally let go and I could breathe again.

  “Come on, let’s go into the living room and have some wine, well except for you two young girls.”

  “Whatever,” I mumbled as we walked into the living room. I took a seat on the love seat and waited for the rest of them to sit as well. I just wanted the night to be over so that I could go to bed and forget about socializing with anyone.

  Ava and the little girl sat beside me. The girl seemed to be about five years old, “hi,” she said to me as she extended her hand. I shook it and smiled weakly, “I’m Natalie.”

  “Kylie,” I released her hand.

  “You have pretty eyes,” she scooted closer to me.

  “Natalie, let the girl be,” Ava scolded, but Natalie ignored her and sat on my lap.

  “I’ve seen you in pictures before, my sister thinks that you’re extremely pretty.”

  I looked up to see that Ava’s cheeks had consequently stained a shade of light pink, “Natalie, don’t,” my teacher pleaded.

  “I think you’re pretty too, do you have a boyfriend?” She asked sweetly, and I felt as though her eyes were staring into my soul.

  “I’m not in a relationship at the moment,” I answered, excluding the fact that I would never in my life have a boyfriend. She was too little to understand sexual orientation or maybe I just didn’t feel like explaining it to her.

  “Have you ever had a boyfriend?” She questioned again, her voice full of curiosity. I shook my head and she pouted, “why? You’re so pretty.”

  “I just don’t like boys,” I gave her a smile before my grandfather spoke.

  “You’ve said that since preschool,” he chuckled while sitting down on his armchair.

  “But boys are so cute, do you know Archer Jennings?” I shook my head, making her frown, “he is the cutest boy in my school, he has brown hair and light green eyes,” she cooed making her sister chuckle.

  “Natalie, stop drooling over a boy that is more than thrice your age,” Ava scolded and pinched her cheek, “no boys now, focus on school,” the little girl rolled her eyes, got off of my lap and walked over to her mother. She seemed to be angry with Ava, “now she’s angry with me,” Ava sighed.

  “So Kylie, I heard that you’re aiming for Harvard after high school.”

  My grandfather said which he likely heard from my mother. I nodded, “yes, I hope to get in grandpa,” I said with much optimism that I would.

  “So what do you plan on doing?” Ava’s father asked. He hadn’t said anything since he arrived.

  “A Bachelor’s in English, and then I will be off to Law School.”

  “I see you’re following in your family’s footsteps,” he said, “Ava can help you out with English,” he continued.

  “Yeah, Literature is my only downfall so far and yet I want to pursue it,” I said and bit down on my bottom lip.

  “Make your weakness your strong suit, I like that.”

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