Page 14 of Zimyra

“I am now that my family is here. I love y’all.”

“We love you, too, Ma,” Zavier says. “Y’all got it smelling good up in here.”

“You know that’s one thing we know how to do is cook,” Mom says. “What y’all been up to today?” Mother asks Zavier and Nykendy.

“We had to run some errands,” Nykendy responds. “We ended up taking Kaden by the park for a little while. Zavier is making sure he masters the big wheel. Then it’s a bike with training wheels.”

“That’s right,” Zavier says. “I’ma have him rolling through the house like an expert driver.”

I laugh and say, “We know you will, Zavier. I’m surprised you haven’t already purchased him a little doctor’s lab coat and toy stethoscope.”

“Oh, he has!” Nykendy says, amused. “And it’s a real stethoscope—not a toy one. He comes to listen to my heartbeat all the time.”

Kaden snickers and buries his face in my mother’s neck. His shyness is adorable.

“Just think…in a year, he’ll be a kindergartener,” I say.

“Yeah, just in time for us to start working on some siblings,” Zavier says.

“Yes!” Mom exclaims. “I can’t wait.”

“Neither can I,” I say. “The more y’all have, the less I’ll have to.”

“Oh, that’s how it works?” Nykendy asks.

“That’s cool because she’s not allowed to date, and so, therefore, she won’t be able to get married and have kids,” Zavier says.

“Wait a minute—who says I’m not allowed to date?” I ask.

“Me and Zander,” Zavier says. “Should I get him on the phone?”

“You can do whatever you want. At the end of the day, I’m a grown woman.”

Zavier chuckles.

“I heard that lil’ chuckle. Iama grown woman.”

“I’m not disputing that. The chuckle was for something I don’t think you will ever understand.”

“And what might that be?”

“Uh…let’s change the subject before y’all get into it again,” Mom says.

“Good idea, Ms. Zayda,” Nykendy says.

I return to the stove to sear more lamb chops, then place the macaroni and cheese in the oven.

CHAPTER 4

“Ay, man. You could’ve toldme you were skipping town,” my best friend Murphy says as soon as I answer his call. His dream was to own a sports bar, and he accomplished that. In fact, he owns the hottest sports bar in Bridgeport. His establishment is called The Huddle. It’s known for its frequent famous visitors, including football and basketball players as well as movie stars. But the thing that really put it on the map is the selection of chicken wing flavors. One is so hot, it’s calleddeath. Then there are the parmesan, salt and vinegar, General Tso’s and enchilada wings. I’ve tried them all except death. I’m not eating anything that’s going to make me feel like I’ve ingested battery acid.

“How’d you find out?” I inquire.

“Peter came into the bar last night. I asked him where you were and he gave me the scoop. Said you were down there being a maintenance man. I called him a liar to his face.”

“Nah, he ain’t lying. I’ll do whatever it takes to climb that ladder, brother. You know that.”

“So, you’re really doing this?”

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