Tell her. Tell her now. Just say it!
“Robin—“
Makayla turned to face her and as she did, she caught sight of Robin’s arm and open hand, raised above her head.
In a split second, Makayla was slammed back to age fourteen, slumped on the floor of her grandmother’s living room. Kim stood over her, her face twisted with rage. A loud ringing in Makayla’s ears drowned out all other sound and her vision blurred. Instinctively, she cowered and raised her arm to protect her head from the oncoming blow.
Then, as quickly as it’d started, the ringing stopped and her vision cleared. Within moments, her grandmother’s wiry carpet was replaced by the warm leather of the Jaguar’s seats. The citrus tang of Kim’s body spray gave way to the amber and musk mix of Robin’s perfume. Instead of Kim’s disgust, Makayla was met with the confusion, and then pity, of Robin’s eyes.
That’s when she understood what had happened.
Above her, the passenger side sun visor was halfway down. Attached to it was a CD holder, just like the one on the driver’s side. Robin had been reaching for more CDs.
Makayla wanted to disappear.
Since that wasn’t an option, she sat up and tried to act as if she weren’t shaking.
“Makayla?”
She fumbled with her seat belt. “I haven’t buckled up yet.”
Makayla wouldn’t look directly at Robin. Instead, she messed around with the belt for the few moments it took Robin to nod and place the discs in the center console.
Robin took the car out of park and pulled away from the curb. Makayla stared out the window.
What in the world had just happened?
No doubt, Robin thought she was a head case. And after the way she’d just acted, Makayla wasn’t sure she’d disagree. She’d never lost it like that. Ever. And over something that happened five years ago?
Inwardly, she cringed.
If there were ever a worse time to go off the deep end, she sure couldn’t imagine it. How was she supposed to tell Robin the truth now?
The silence between them as they rode to church was heavy with discomfort. Makayla tried to focus on the sounds that surrounded her to relieve it. The purr of the engine. The hum of the heater. The soft click of the turn signal. Nothing helped.
She kept her hand on the door, ready to make her escape the moment the car came to a stop in the church parking lot. When they finally arrived at New Life Tabernacle, Makayla was never so happy to see a place. There were still people arriving and others milling about outside the building. With any luck, she’d be out of the car and lost among the congregants before Robin knew she was gone.
As Robin rounded into a parking space, Makayla grabbed her bag and perched herself on the edge of her seat. Robin turned off the car and Makayla held her breath, waiting for the sound of the doors unlocking her way to freedom.
And she continued to wait.
And wait.
Finally, she turned to see what the hold up was. Robin still had her hands on the steering wheel as she gazed out the windshield.
Makayla chewed at her bottom lip and motioned at her window. “We’re gonna be late.”
Robin sat back in her seat and looked at her watch. “We’re all right. It’s still early.”
Makayla glanced out the window again. She knew the sense of panic she felt was out of proportion to the situation. But given the chance, logic wouldn’t have been enough to keep her from shattering the passenger side window and crawling out.
“Makayla…”
Had Makayla believed in a listening God, she would have begged Him to send a hurricane or flash flood or lightening bolt—anything capable of convincing Robin to forget whatever she was about to say and unlock the doors. To survive a natural disaster would have been preferable to talking about her minor freakout. Especially with Robin.
Makayla already knew what she was going to say, anyway. She’d tell her why she couldn’t give her a ride anymore. She’d probably even offer to help her find another. Makayla knew it was coming from the moment she fastened her seat belt. She’d just hoped to get away from Robin before actually having to hear it.
“I can talk to Sister Ealy after the service, okay?”
Robin stared at her. “Okay… About?”
Now Makayla stared. “A ride home.”
“I thought we’d already agreed I’d take you home?”
Makayla blinked. She still wanted to take her home? Even after she’d gone into fetal position without any warning or explanation?
“Really?”
Robin tilted her head and squinted. “Yes, really. But back to what I wanted to ask you… Do you already have plans after church?”
“Uh, no…”
“Good!” Robin patted her on the knee. “Then you’re coming with me.”
With that, Robin reached behind Makayla’s seat and grabbed her handbag. Then she unlocked the doors and nudged Makayla’s arm.
“Get a move on, little girl. It’s time for church!”
Chapter 7
Once inside the sanctuary, Robin looped her arm in Makayla’s and insisted she sit with her during the service. And though the front pew would have normally been the last place Makayla would’ve chosen to sit, it turned out to be the best Sunday morning she could remember having in a long time.
After her grandmother died, Makayla hated Sundays and church services. The combination only reminded her of all she’d never have again. Tight hugs, greens and cornbread, a safe place where she belonged.
Those things had been no more than memory since she was eight and if anybody had told her she’d get to have something even better one day, she never would’ve believed it.
But that’s exactly what happened.
Sitting next to Robin made Makayla’s heart feel like it was floating up and around her chest like a joyful, chirping bird. They were so close, their arms touched and Makayla couldn’t stop staring down at the hands that looked so much like her own. Each time the choir sang, she got to hear Robin sing, too. And every time Pastor Thomas said something funny, Makayla savored the sound of her laugh.
In the short span of one church service, Makayla was able to experience almost every single thing she’d ever dreamed about as a child. And with each moment that passed, she became even more convinced she’d made the right decision to tell the truth. While she was still nervous about the conversation she and Robin were soon to have, she was also more excited than she’d ever been in her life.
Once the service was over and Robin quickly became surrounded by other church members, Makayla took the opportunity to steal away to the restroom. While she was looking forward to how her life was about to change, it didn’t prevent her from being apprehensive about it.
She just needed a few moments alone to take a breath. Gather her thoughts. Make a plan. She still wasn’t sure how to actually start the conversation. She certainly didn’t want to just blurt it out. After that morning, she’d already shocked Robin enough.
No sooner than Makayla rounded the corner into the ladies’ lounge, her bright mood was dampened. That was due to the flawlessly dressed, perfectly shaped, not-a-hair-out-of-place, twentysomething, appreciating herself in the full-length mirror.
How was it, out of the hundreds and hundreds of people who attended New Life Tabernacle, Makayla kept crossing paths with her?
She didn't know the girl’s name. The last time she'd seen her, was the Sunday before, when she'd run up to Robin to hug her. But that wasn't the first time. Before meeting Sister Turner, Makayla had intended on befriending someone her own age. When she saw the bubbly girl with the cropped hair talking to some friends, she approached them and introduced herself. Bad idea. The girl looked Makayla up and down and walked away, her friends close behind.
Smarting from the memory, Makayla walked past her and in to one of the stalls, without a word. Hopefully, the girl had been too wrapped up in conversation to notice her. And if she did, so what? There were much more important things
to be concerned with.
After locking the door, Makayla rubbed her hands over her face and took a deep breath. She didn't know if she was more nervous or excited. The anticipation made her feel as if every muscle fiber in her body was twitching. She'd come to Dallas to hurt her mother, not reunite with her. That was a dream she'd given up long ago. But maybe her grandmother was right. Maybe there was a God and maybe He did listen. Even to people like her.
Makayla took another deep breath and stood up straight. She was ready. Well, as ready as she'd ever be. She put her hand on the stall lock, but just before she slid it to the open position, she stopped.
"… maybe she's her niece.”
Makayla wasn’t an eavesdropper. Her grandmother had cured her of that little habit by age six. But people whispering, especially in her presence, made her antenna go up. She’d had enough experience with mean girls in school to know that whispers were never a good thing.
"She can't be. Robin doesn't have any brothers or sisters."
Makayla put her ear to the gap in the door. Were they talking about her?
"They gotta be related somehow. She kinda favors her."
The first girl scoffed. "Um, no. You need to get your eyes checked, boo.”
Makayla looked at the ceiling. Although the girls were whispering, she could hear what they said loud and clear. She couldn't figure out whether they were being ratchet and doing it on purpose or if they were really too simple to realize even whispers carried in a room covered in tile.
"I don't know. Sister Jones seems to know her pretty well. Did you see them when they came in?"
"Girl, please. You know how Robin is. She's always doing some kind of charity work. She's probably trying to help her out or something. I’d bet she picked her up through that homeless program her and Miss Tink run at the outreach center."
Makayla's mouth dropped open. No, the skirt and blouse she wore weren’t designer label. And yes, she lived off a steady diet of Ramen noodles. But homeless? No.
Hood? Oh, yes.
And if she didn't already have Robin waiting on her, Makayla would've come out of the stall and taught Little Miss Suburb the difference in an up-close and personal way.
"I don't know. Vonda told me that last Sunday she—“
Whatever was said got lost amongst the squeals and giggles of two little girls coming into the bathroom with their mother. The three of them squeezed into the stall next to Makayla's, making any further eavesdropping impossible.
Makayla came out of the stall to find the two, whispering young women still standing at the upholstered bench at the end of the room.
Instead of avoiding their eyes like before, she looked right at them. When they gave her saccharine sweet smiles as they approached, she didn't smile back.
Makayla turned on the faucet and lathered up the soap in her hands. She glanced up at the mirror’s reflection to see one girl standing just behind her, while the other came next to her.
"You're new here, right?"
Makayla couldn't help but notice Miss Suburb’s voice was at least one octave higher when she was being bougie versus when she was talking trash behind someone's back.
"We’ve met before."
Suburb raised her eyebrows. "We have?" She waved her hand through the air. "I'm sorry. I’m just so active here at the church and meet so many people—“ She lowered her eyes, bashfully. “Well, you know how it is."
Makayla turned off the water and shook her hands out over the sink.
"I'm Shauna. And you are?"
Makayla glanced at Shauna’s extended hand, but reached past it to take a paper towel from the dispenser. She smiled as she dried her hands with it.
"Charity."
"Charity?"
"Yeah, you know. The kind Robin Jones likes picking up."
The girl’s face blanched. Her friend suddenly became very interested in her own shoes.
Makayla put the damp paper towel in Shauna’s still outstretched hand.
"Could you do me a favor and toss this? Thanks, boo."
Shauna visibly recoiled at the used paper towel in her hand.
Makayla walked out of the bathroom, pleased with herself. Interactions like that used to make her feel bad for days. During her school years, she’d endured name-calling and taunts, all because she didn’t have parents or anybody else who wanted her.
Not anymore.
To Suburb Shauna and people like her, Makayla was a nobody. But that was this Sunday. Next Sunday, she'd be returning as the daughter of Robin Caroline Jones.
Or so she thought.
By the time Makayla found her way back to Robin, most of the church folks had gone and she was alone with a young man. As Makayla approached, Robin put her hand on his back and nudged him forward.
“Trey, this is Makayla."
He offered his hand, a huge grin on his face. He had well-kept, shoulder length dreads and was cute, in a preppy sort of way, but he was also taking up precious seconds of her time with Robin.
“Makayla," Robin continued. "This is my godson, Trey."
Godson?
That bit of information made him a tad more interesting. Especially since he looked to be around Makayla's age. That fact brought up a whole new set of questions. But even they weren’t interesting enough to distract her from her impending conversation with Robin.
“Nice to meet you.”
Robin picked her handbag up off the pew. "All right, then. Are you two ready?"
Makayla looked at Robin like she’d just spoken Japanese.
You two? As in Makayla and the godkid?
Exactly.
Chapter 8
Turned out, the day before was godson Trey’s birthday and Robin was taking him out for dinner. She thought since he and Makayla were both college students, it would be a good idea for them to meet.
Makayla disagreed. Of course, she didn’t say so. As much as having to spend her afternoon with Trey annoyed her, she was willing to endure it until the meal was over and Robin dropped him off.
Makayla sat in the front seat of the car, her arms folded, occasionally eyeing Trey through the rearview, silently despising him.
"Makayla is new to the city, so I want you to keep an eye on her for me." Robin looked at Makayla and smiled. "Introduce her to some new people and make sure she doesn't spend all her time studying."
Trey grinned. “I can definitely do that.”
"In fact," Robin said, “maybe you two could study together.” Robin turned her head slightly in Makayla’s direction, while keeping her eyes on the road. “I would brag about his impressive academic achievements if he didn’t embarrass so easy.”
Robin angled her neck to look in her rearview and wink at Trey. Makayla turned her face to the window and rolled her eyes. From what she could tell, he wasn't all that quick. No matter how many times she tried to make it clear she didn’t want to speak to him, he kept trying.
Is this your first semester? What classes are you taking? Are you staying on campus?
Her curt and cold, one word answers did nothing to dissuade him. If she hadn't been in the front seat and too far to reach him, she wouldn’t have been able to keep herself from punching him in the face.
By the time they arrived at the restaurant parking lot, Makayla was wound so tight, she couldn't get out of the car fast enough. And no surprise, Trey was right behind her, asking about her class schedule.
As it was, she'd been making stuff up the whole ride over. If she kept answering his stupid questions about things she knew nothing about, she was sure to slip up and get caught in her lie.
Makayla pretended she didn’t hear him as she cut around another car and darted ahead to avoid any more small talk. But when she tried to skip up on the curb, the toe of her shoe caught on the edge of the sidewalk and she tripped, lunging forward and slamming her knees and palms in to the concrete.
Before she could stop them, Robin and Trey were on the ground and at her side. Robin fussed over her scraped hands an
d knees, asking if she were all right.
"I'm fine. I'm fine."
Makayla couldn't care less about the scrapes and scratches on her hands. What she did care about, what made her body cringe and her cheeks burn, was seeing the contents of her bag spilled across the pavement. She leaned forward to use her body as a shield, hoping to stash her things into her bag before anyone noticed.
But it was too late. She knew that the moment Trey and Robin became quiet and exchanged looks.
Makayla wasn't surprised. That was the usual reaction when people saw what she carried in her messenger bag. It wasn't the regular stuff like car keys, a cell phone or makeup. She didn’t own any of that. But what she did have, always and wherever she went, were three things: packaged tuna, plastic forks, and bottled water.
She hoped Robin or Trey didn't laugh or make a joke, but even if one of them did, she'd be all right. What she couldn’t stand, what she silently begged them not to do, was ask about it.
Robin had already looked at her with pity once that day. Makayla didn't know whether she could stand to have her do it twice. She hated when people felt sorry for her. And as far as Trey, she’d known him for all of a half hour and he was already one of her least favorite people.
Makayla shoved the items into her bag, dusted off the front of her skirt and walked to the front doors of the restaurant as if nothing had happened. Robin and Trey followed, thankfully, without saying a word.
Once inside, Robin confirmed their reservation with the hostess and they sat in an alcove at the entrance to wait for an available table. Makayla would've been fine with the awkward silence, but apparently, Trey wasn't.
"So what classes are you taking?"
He and Robin looked at her, waiting. She really, really didn’t like the godson.
"Oh, you know, the usual,” she replied, not looking at him.
Trey laughed as if she’d told a joke. She cut her eyes at him.
“And what’s your major?”
With every moment that passed, Makayla more and more regretted her decision to come. She should’ve made some excuse the moment she realized the whole afternoon was about Trey. She wasn't sure how much longer she’d be able to maintain an air of civility. It was getting harder and harder to be polite.
Nobody’s Child (New Life Tabernacle Series Book 1) Page 4