She watched as Danny drove away from his house going to work. Shortly after that she saw Petunia come out, let up an umbrella and cross the street. Kayla watched as she walked up the walkway and ring her bell. What on earth was she here for? Kayla got up and opened the door. Petunia was shaking the umbrella out. “Good morning.” She said to Kayla.
“Come in Mrs. Coleman.”
“I was wondering if we could talk for a bit.” Petunia said smiling as she smoothed her pants and top.
“Of course, have a seat. Can I get you something, coffee, cocoa, tea?” Kayla asked following Mrs. Coleman to the living room.
“Cocoa would be nice.” She said sitting down on the French styled sofa.
Kayla went to the kitchen and used the Keurig to make her a cup of cocoa. When she returned she handed her the cup and sat across from her in one of the matching chairs.
Petunia sipped the cocoa before putting the cup down on the coffee table. “I wanted to apologize for not coming over sooner, to get to know you better.” She said to Kayla.
“No need to apologize.” Kayla started to say, but Petunia stopped her.
“Oh yes there is. I'm not going to pretend that I've been busy or anything like that. I haven't come over,” she paused. “Well, honestly because I was determined not to like you. Especially after it appeared that Daniel had taken an interest in you personally.” She rubbed her hands together. “I don't know if you know this, but I am his god mother. As his god mother I've always tried to look out for his best interests and well I am a little suspicious of your motives.”
Kayla opened her mouth to speak, but Petunia raised her hand. “Please let me finish. I had lunch with Daniel the other day and He has made it clear to me that he is interested in you. I have always had a picture in my mind of him and a different type of woman, a woman who fit perfectly into his life. The type of woman his mother and I had talked about would be from the same type of background and upbringing. I never ever considered someone of a different culture or ethnicity, but I am from a different time. He accused me of being a racist and I would never have thought of myself that way, but I realized that my actions were discriminatory towards you without knowing you as a person. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'd like the opportunity to get to know you.” she finished.
Kayla sat for a minute processing what was just said. “Mrs. Coleman, I appreciate your honesty. I know it took a lot for you to come to me directly, but I assure you I have no nefarious intentions with Daniel. I would be happy for us to get to know one another.” Kayla said moving to the sofa beside her.
By the time Petunia crossed the street and disappeared into her house the rain had let up and Kayla felt better. With thoughts of her mother, Shirley in the back of her mind, Kayla checked the time and realized she needed to get ready for work. She changed quickly into her usual work outfit of overalls and a t-shirt with tennis shoes and went to the garage.
*****
Kayla
Kayla sat in the circular drive of Love Field Airport in her Range Rover waiting. Darren's flight was a little late due to the thunderstorms that had kicked up late in the evening. She had checked the flight information and it was delayed by about twenty minutes. She kept the wipers going and was watching the exits for him. A few minutes later her phone rang. “Hello.”
“Hey I'm heading out now.” Darren said.
“I'm by the entrance in the Rover.” She told him. A few seconds later, she saw him and flashed her lights at him.
“I see you.” He said disconnecting the call as he got to the car. He opened the back door and threw his backpack in before hopping in the front seat.
Kayla hugged him before putting her seat belt back on and maneuvering into traffic. “How was the flight?”
“I slept, so good.” He said putting his seat belt on.
“I was worried with all this lighting.” She told him.
“Me too, that's why I went to sleep. If something bad had happened I would have died in my sleep.” He said laughing.
They talked about their father and his girlfriend and Kayla tried to bring up D's girlfriend a few times. D insisted that Brandi was not his girlfriend and he kept changing the subject. Kayla would let it go for now, but she knew something was up.
“What's going on up here?” Darren asked as they turned on her street. There were fire trucks and an ambulance blocking most of the street. Her neighbors were out on their porches, some of them on the street. Then she saw it. A house was burning. She slowed to a stop as an officer approached her window.
The officer told her she couldn't precede any further. “What happened?” She asked.
“Lightening stuck a tree and started a fire.”
“My house is right there.” She said pointing just past him.
“Bob let her through she lives here.” He called to an officer standing near her drive way.
She let her window up and turned into her driveway. She didn't go all the way to the drive way. She and D got out and went back to the street. It was Vanna's house that was on fire. The tree had split in half and fallen on to the garage and through part of the second story.
She looked around and saw Stanley standing with Holly, Matt and Daniel. She started walking towards them with D following. “Are they okay?” she asked the group.
Daniel wrapped his arm around her. “Yes, they were downstairs when it happened. They're with Petunia in the house.
“Danny, this is my baby brother Darren.” She introduced them. They shook hands. “This is so horrible.”
Kayla's phone rang. She checked the caller ID. It was Lee. “Excuse me.” She said moving away from Danny and D. towards her house.
“You okay? I just saw on the news a house on your street was struck by lightening.”
“I'm fine. It was one of my neighbors.” She said looking on as the fire was put out. Lee you got a pen? This is what I want you to do.” She gave him very specific directions and he promised to get it done asap.
*****
They were still standing outside after the firemen and EMT's had left. The neighbors were discussing boarding up the damage and doing whatever they could to help, when a plain white truck followed by a larger box truck pulled up in front of Vanna's house. “Isn't that...,” Darren started to say and Kayla elbowed him in the ribs and shook her head silently telling him to keep his mouth shut.
“Be right back Daniel said to her as he, Stanley and Matt crossed the street.
Once he was out of ear shot, Darren, still rubbing his side. “What the hell Kay?”
“I'll tell you later. For now, we don't know him. Got it?” She said giving him the do what I say look she had perfected as a kid. He nodded.
They watched as Stanley took the man into his house and Daniel and Matt returned. “He's a contractor who saw the story on the news and wants to help. He's going to cover the hole to prevent further damage from the rain and then he said he would send a crew back to repair all the damage at no cost to Vanna.” Matt said.
“Wow. That's such a blessing.” Holly said.
“Yeah, you never know where you're blessings will come from.” Darren said looking at Kayla.
Vanna and the contractor were standing on the street in front of her house with Stanley when a car stopped near them.
“I wonder who that is.” Matt said watching as a woman got. She was wearing a bright blue t-shirt with a tuxedo printed on the front in white. They watched as the woman opened her trunk and took out several target shopping bags and approached Vanna.
They couldn't hear what was being said, but Vanna started crying and hugging the woman. Stanley took the bags in the house and the woman returned to her car and left. Holly went across the street with Matt.
Darren grabbed Kayla's hand and squeezed it. She couldn't help herself as tears slid down her cheeks. She tried to hold it in, but the damn burst and she started sobbing. “Babe.” Danny said as he realized she was crying. “You, okay?”
She couldn't an
swer. She pulled away from him and D. She ran to the house trying to unlock the door. Daniel was right behind her. He took the keys from her hands and unlocked the door for her. Before she could get away from him, he pulled her against his chest holding her tight. “It's okay babe, let it out.” He rubbed her back and held her until she stopped crying.
She pulled back looking at him. “You must think I'm nuts.” She sniffed.
“No I don't.” He said tugging at the bottom of his shirt to wipe her face. “Come with me.” He said leading her to the kitchen. He made her sit at the bar and found a bottle of wine and poured her a glass. She heard the front door. A few seconds later, Darren popped his head in the kitchen.
“You okay Kay Kay?” He asked coming closer and wrapping his arms around her. He kissed the top of her head.
“I will be.” She said to him. “Will you move the truck? You can pick any room upstairs.” She handed him her keys.
“Cool. I'll leave you two alone.” He said as he left the kitchen.
She picked up the glass and drained it. “You asked me about my mother.” She watched him as he came around the island and sat on a stool facing her. He held her hand. “ I had two mothers. My,” She paused to correct herself. “Our biological mother left us at home alone when I was about four or five and she never came home. Eventually someone called Child Protective Services and we went into the foster care system. Then God blessed us with a new family. Shirley and Sam Barns were our foster parents. She was a very loving woman who couldn't have children of her own. She and her husband Sam adopted four boys and one girl and gave them a loving home and family.
I had never really known what a mother's love was until the day she came into my life. I got to experience that love for just over a year before our house caught fire from a lightening strike to the roof. Our father was at work at the garage and my older brothers were with him. D and I were at home because we were to young to be in the garage. When it happened she and D were in the kitchen. She got him out first and came back for me. We were nearly out of the house when the roof collapsed.
A support beam landed on her I fell a few feat away and someone pulled me out of the house.” Kayla had tears running down her face again. “They couldn't save her. By the time our help came the house was nearly burned to the ground. I guess that seeing Vanna's house and knowing that those kids still have their mom just opened a damn that I've been holding closed for a long time.”
*****
Daniel
Daniel pulled her to him. He kissed her slowly with all the love inside him. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he scooped her up and carried her to her bedroom. He laid her on the bed covering her body with his. Her salty lips never tasted sweeter than they did at this moment. He unhooked the top of her overalls caressing her soft full breast. She reached between them rubbing her hands along the length of him. He pulled his lips from her standing. He removed her shoes and tugged off her overalls. Then bending he kissed the flesh exposed between the bottom of her shirt and her underwear. He removed the lacy material kissing her thighs as he went. She sat up and pulled her shirt over her head and he watched her as she undid her bra tossing it aside. She stood and pulled his polo over his head before undoing his pants. She slid her hand inside his boxer briefs and stroked him slowly before pushing his pants to the floor.
He picked her up as he stepped out of his pants and shoes. She wrapped her around his neck and her legs around his waist. He held her close as he laid her on the bed. He kissed her jaw trailing kissing down her neck before she pushed him onto his back. She brought her mouth to his and teased him with her tongue. Flicking it across his lips. He grabbed her head and kissed her with abandon. She took one hand and positioned him at her opening. She lowered herself onto him slowly before sitting up resting her hands on his chest. She rose slowly and he reached up squeezing her brown globes. She moved down as he moved up to meet her.
She looked amazing with her wild riot of red curls bouncing, her eyes closed and mouth slightly open as her breath became shallow and rocked her hips against him faster and faster.
He sat up wrapping his arms around her waist. She held his face between her palms. She looked him in the eyes rocking faster and faster. “Yes, Danny.” She groaned as her body tightened around him. She kept eye contact with him as he joined her in an explosive orgasm.
He fell back taking her with him. His heart was hammering in his chest. They were both breathing hard and covered in sweat.
Chapter 11
Daniel
Daniel smiled as he thought of Kayla and how hard it was to leave her this morning. She was sleep when he kissed her and told her he was going home and to come lock the door. She grunted at him before getting up. She threw on a large t-shirt and followed him to the door. He kissed her again and told her to have a great day. She grunted again.
He went home changed his clothes and was running his usual route as he thought about her and all she had shared with him the night before. Kayla told him what she remembered about Shirley. She had memories of the way she had smelled like cake batter and how she would wash Kayla's hair in the kitchen sink. She said Darren didn't remember her at all.
It made him treasure the moment of his childhood with his mother even more. He'd had it easy compared to her. His mother had been a stay at home mom. She was entirely devoted to him. He's always had a hot breakfast every morning. His mother attended every school PTA and event. Kayla was raised by her single father who ran a business. Often her older brothers looked after her and Darren until they left home. She said she didn't feel like she had missed out on anything in her life. She felt she was lucky to have the life she'd had. They talked until they fell asleep talking about their childhoods.
Daniel had gotten a late start on his run this morning. He stopped by to check on Vanna and her kids. Stanley told him that the lady that had brought the bags to the house last night worked for a delivery service called Favor and someone had ordered a favor to be delivered to Vanna and the kids of clothes and toys. He said they also had an envelope with the word IT written on it that contained several hundred dollars of gift cards as well. The only thing him a Petunia could think was that since the news story someone or several people got together to send the gift.
Vanna was still sleeping. Petunia was entertaining the kids and the contractor and his crew had come back and Stanley had let them in the house to get started on what needed to be done. Daniel told him to keep him in the loop and that if he could help he would. As he ran instead of turning around at his normal spot he turned and ran along the shops until one caught his eye. He stopped and went in.
He browsed the thrift store looking through the men's clothing section. He found a couple pairs of jeans and a red and black hoodie that he decided to buy. He headed back home taking a different route than usual enjoying the scenery.
*****
Kayla
Kayla rolled over and grunted. She didn't want to get up, but she could smell bacon and no one could resist that smell. She pushed her hair out of her eyes and glanced at the clock. It was after nine, which meant she had only been asleep for a few hours. She got out of bed and wandered to the kitchen where she found her brother engrossed in conversation with Danny. It appeared that they were fast becoming friends. “Morning sleepyhead.” He greeted her as he turned to get an oven mitt.
“Morning.” she said strolling past her brother, pushing his head as she went. “Why didn't you wake me? I have to go to work and you are coming with me” she said to him.
“I'm on vacation.” He replied laughing at her surliness.
Kayla opened the cabinet and found a mug. She needed caffeine and she needed it quick. Danny had turned to place a pan he'd pulled from the over onto a cooling rack, but he was looking at her. She could feel his eyes on her. She moved to walk past him to the Keurig, but before she could pass him, his arm snaked out and he pulled her close and kissed her on the lips. Then he let her go just as quick.
She
looked sheepishly at her brother, who sat with a big grin from ear to ear. By the time she fixed her coffee and sat down, Danny had served up a delicious concoction of some sort for the thee of them. “What is this? It smells so good.”
“Chorizo frittata.” He said sitting between her and her brother.
Darren had a mouthful when he said, “This is amazing. I'll be here all weekend; you can come over and cook every meal. Kayla can't cook for shit.”
“That's okay.” Danny said before adding with a wink at Kayla. “She's got other skills.”
Kayla didn't say a word. She ate and tapped her foot to the imaginary beat in her head. When she was finished she slid off the stool and headed to her room to get dressed. “D., since he cooked, you do the dishes.”
Love Thy Neighbor Page 10