Gabrielle set the plate with the fajita and a can of Pepsi down in front of her aunt. “The last few times I’ve called, you haven’t taken or returned my calls,” Gabrielle said.
Aunt Cee-Cee eyed the can. “You got Coca-Cola instead of Pepsi? I prefer Coke.”
“All I have is Pepsi. But I can give you water if you’d prefer that. Water is wet.” Gabrielle smiled, knowing full well her aunt never drank water, not even with medicine.
“Oh, no. Pepsi is fine. I was just asking. I think somewhere in the Bible it says we don’t have because we don’t ask.” Aunt Cee-Cee picked up her fajita and took a cautious bite. “This is really good,” she said. “Handsome Chef, you’re a great cook. The meat is so tender and moist and has such a marvelous flavor.” She took a bigger bite.
“Actually, Gabrielle did all the work. The tender and taste is from the marinade. Lime juice breaks down the meat to make it tender and give it that flavor. She marinated it overnight. I merely stirred and added the vegetables when she went to open the door.”
“I’m sure you’re giving Gabrielle way too much credit. I’m willing to bet you did a lot more than you’re letting on. The peppers and onions are perfect.” She took another bite, then opened her can of soda. A hissing sound escaped when the cap popped. “Aren’t you two going to eat before it gets cold? It’s really delicious.” She smacked as she spoke.
Gabrielle was about to say something when Zachary moved over to her, put his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her in close. “We like ours cold,” he said.
“Suit yourself,” Aunt Cee-Cee said. When she finished that one, she asked for another. She chatted on about how terrible things were at their house financially and her not knowing what they were going to do as she woofed down a third fajita. She then asked for yet another one. “Oh, but could you wrap that one up for me as a to-go?” she said. “Those are so good.” She licked her fingers, then wiped her mouth with a napkin.
Both Gabrielle and Zachary looked at what remained in the skillet. Originally, there had been enough for them to have at least two full fajitas each. Aunt Cee-Cee had now eaten three and was asking for one more to take home with her. If they made her the one she was asking for now, there would only be enough left for one of them. Gabrielle made the last two fajitas and gave them both to her aunt.
“Oh, aren’t you the sweetest thing!” Aunt Cee-Cee said when Gabrielle handed her the wrapped fajitas. “Would you mind putting them in a bag for me? And if it’s not too much to ask, would you put two cans of sodas in the bag as well? Your uncle Bubba will need something to wash his fajita down with.” Aunt Cee-Cee stood up as she waited on Gabrielle to finish.
Gabrielle put the fajitas and drinks in a grocery bag and walked her to the door.
“I’ll call you later tonight,” Aunt Cee-Cee said. Then she whispered, “Is the doctor spending the night tonight?”
“No, Aunt Cee-Cee. We won’t be doing things like that. There’ll be none of that.”
“You mean he’s not spending the night right now. But you don’t mean you’re not planning on doing anything with that man until or unless you get married, now, do you?”
“You mean sex before marriage…fornicating?”
“Well, you don’t have to be so graphic with it. But yes, that’s exactly what I mean. Listen, honey, you don’t need to let a man like him get away. That’s a real catch you have in there.” She pointed her head in the direction of the kitchen.
“Aunt Cee-Cee, I’m a Christian now. I told you that. I gave my life to the Lord. God frowns on fornication. Zachary and I agreed we want to do things God’s way, and only His way. And that means keeping ourselves pure until we’re married to whomever.”
Aunt Cee-Cee started laughing. It sounded more like an animal in severe pain than human. “Yeah, well, trust me: I know plenty of Christians, and being a Christian doesn’t seem to be stopping most of them from fornicating or committing adultery. I’ll tell you this: You’d better take care of that man and his needs or he’ll find someone who will. Take it from Aunt Cee-Cee. I know how men can be. Sure, in the beginning they’ll tell you they’re in total agreement about something like being chaste. But men are wired totally different from women. Men don’t need as much emotional bonding as we do to move to the next level. That man is tall, light-skinned enough, handsome, can cook, or at least will pick up a spoon and help out, he has a job, and he’s a doctor to boot. Oh, you’d better at least let him sample the cake batter and not have to wait for the baked cake.”
“Good night, Aunt Cee-Cee.” Gabrielle opened the front door.
“I’m going to call you either later tonight or tomorrow. Better yet, why don’t you just call me when you’re free so I won’t interrupt anything. You’d best heed what I just said. Call me, now. I have something I desperately need to talk to you about. It’s important, so don’t take long in getting back with me. It can’t wait any longer than a day.”
Gabrielle mustered up one more smile. “Good night,” she said.
After Aunt Cee-Cee left, Gabrielle closed the door. She stood there for a few minutes, her forehead resting softly on the door as she quietly listened for her aunt’s car to crank. Hearing the car drive away, she exhaled slowly.
“Wow, what a character,” Zachary said.
Jarred slightly by Zachary’s presence, Gabrielle turned around and forced herself to smile yet again. “Oh, you don’t even know the half of it.”
“Just from those thirty-five minutes, I believe I received a pretty good introduction,” Zachary said. “So…where would you like to go eat?”
Gabrielle put her hands up to her face to compose herself, then took them down. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe she did that. Wait a minute; yes, I can. That’s classic Aunt Cee-Cee. And the funny part is, she has no idea that what she just did was totally wrong or completely selfish. No idea at all.”
“Oh, she knows,” Zachary said. “I get the distinct feeling Aunt Cee-Cee knows exactly what she’s doing. Exactly.”
DAFINA BOOKS are published by
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Compilation copyright © 2010 by Kensington Publishing Corp.
“Showers of Blessings” © 2010 by Angela Benson
“Second Chance Blessings” © 2010 by Marilynn Griffith
“A Knight in Pink Armor” © 2010 by Tia McCollors
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ISBN: 978-0-7582-5737-6
A Million Blessings Page 25