Page 55 of Standing In The Sun

She smiled, wiping her hands on a towel. “You want a plate when it’s done?”

“Hell yea.” Pimp rubbed his stomach like he was starving. “Lunar, come chop it up with me, so I can run down what Elle told me.”

“Who is Elle?” Ahvi rested her weight to one side, asking Pimp, but looking at Lunar who had a goofy grin on his face.

Pimp looked between the two of them not knowing if he should tell her or not. It wasn’t top secret, but Lunar told him he needed to be the one to tell Ahvi about his plans for her. Elle was the family attorney that was going to make it all happen. Still, it wasn’t his place.

“You ain’t got nothing to worry about except not burning the food.” Lunar blew her a kiss she desperately wanted to feel against her lips.

“Don’t piss me off, Lunar,” she rolled her eyes going back to the food.

Pimp smirked. “There goes the real Ahvi…you had me scared that thirty days in made you soft. The way you used to be on the phone talking that big girl shit…sheesh.” He ran off when she tried to slap him with a towel.

thirteen

The food was doneand they all crowded around to fix their plates like they hadn’t eaten in days. Ahvi beamed with pride as everyone complimented her on the smell alone. Her appetite was gone, like most cooks, after tasting and testing everything while cooking. She also made sure to clean up as she went with Lunar’s help, of course. Even though he didn’t really help her cook, he had sampled so much that he was full too.

Ahvi loved cooking because it was something she found herself good at. In school she did just enough to pass but never pushed herself harder to gain recognition. Ish wasn’t hard on her like that. Ish was a blue-collar worker so just graduating from high school was good enough for him. That and as long as she didn’t have the school calling him for nonsense ’cause his daughter couldn’t act like she was raised right.

Now, she wished she would’ve thought about the future more. Having a culinary degree would have taken her a long way. At least then, she would’ve been able to find a job that brought her some kind of joy. Ahvi felt right now she’d be lucky if she got hired at a call center since most of her previous work experience had been in fast food.

She looked around the room a little taken aback when she didn’t see Mav and Tiny.

They stayed at the house too but maybe they decided to sleep in. Ahvi wasn’t too sad about not having to run into Tiny even though she was nice for the most part. There was just something so intimidating about black mothers and their sons. Especially, when their son was a famous rapper and came from a wealthy family. Yea, Ahvi was more than intimidated by Tiny.

Finally, Mav and Tiny strolled in like they still owned the place. They were dressed down and Tiny looked well sexed. Her already bright skin had an extra sheen to it, making Lunar scoff.

Her walk was always graceful. Her hair was wrapped under a satin scarf, gold bangles stacked like armor on both wrists, and her perfume smelled like somebody’s expensive auntie with old secrets. She didn’t say much at first, just floated through the kitchen taking inventory.

“Good morning. Where y’all get all this food from?” Tiny asked, waving at everyone before going over to Kamari. That little boy melted her heart even though he didn’t fool with her.

Luna chewed her food before responding. “Ahvi cooked…it’s real good too.”

Even with the small streaks of gray coiled in her naturally curly hair, Luna didn’t look a day over twenty-five. Ahvi figured Lunar’s family had to be some of God’s favorites ‘cause they were young, healthy and gifted enough to turn their talents into wealth.

Mav stepped into the kitchen wearing an old school button-up, the grey in his beard catching the sunlight from the open concept kitchen and living room. He looked around the room like he was checking the temperature. “This you, Ahvi?” he asked, low but full of respect.

She nodded, feeling small but warm. “Yes, sir.”

“Move around with that sir shit.” He rubbed his hands together and nodded. “Smells like Sunday in here.”

“She made everything, too,” Solar said added, digging into her plate with zero shame. “Red velvet waffles, shrimp and grits, roasted potatoes. Little Lunar better choose wisely.”

“Nigga already choosing…been chose. Ahvi know what she doing… cooking thislovelyspread,” Qamar teased, gaining him a glint from Tiny.

Ahvi rolled her eyes. She couldn’t even defend herself because she was trying show out a little. Even if she didn’t want to admit it. Instead, she washed her hands to fix herself a mimosa.

“I got it,” Lunar stepped up, his other hand resting protectively on the small of her back.

Passing Ahvi her drink, Lunar handed Mav a plate and pointed him to the head of the table.

“This your house, son,” Mav said.

“And you gave it to me,” Lunar answered, all pride in his voice.

Mav chuckled,“Still.”

That was the thing about this house. Yea, Lunar had it in his name, but the spirit of Mav and Tiny lingered in the walls. From the picture of the family reunion in the hallway to the mismatched mugs in the cabinet that Tiny swore were hers ‘from back when’. You couldn’t move around here without bumping into legacy.

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