Page 12 of Serving my Dragon
“I wonder if she’d mind if I brought over a dessert. I make a mean pie.”
Bring food to Mama’s as if she couldn’t provide? Mama would hate it. Would hate Kayleigh. “That sounds like a great idea.” Because such a crime would ensure Mama’s matchmaking gleam fizzled.
We finished our meal, with Pollita getting a second sandwich because she made big, liquid, begging eyes at Kayleigh who exclaimed, “Oh you’re such a cutie. Are you still hungry?”
After our meal, we crafted an email to her friend, using my account to send it since Kayleigh knew her email but couldn’t recall the password.
We kept the message simple.
Hey, Sally. It’s me, Kayleigh. Do you know why I’m Peru? I’ve had an accident and can’t remember anything since August. I seem to have misplaced my passport, wallet, and phone as well. I am fine, although wondering how I ended up here. I’m currently staying with a friend while I try to figure out how to get back to Ohio. I might need you to hit my apartment to dig out my birth certificate and anything else the embassy needs to get me on a flight home. No need to worry about me. I’m great. Matias has been so kind. Can’t wait to hear from you.
BFFs forever,
Kayleigh
The moment I hit send, I groaned. “We should have probably added my phone number.”
“Not to worry. We’ll just include it when Sally replies.”
“Sounds good. Now since you’ll be here at least for the night, let me show you where you’ll be sleeping. I have a second bedroom. Nothing fancy, but the sheets on the bed are clean. There is also a dresser for clothing. We can go shopping for some stuff, if you like.”
Before Kayleigh could reply, a knock at the door turned out to be my cousins Sophia and Emilia walking in, the latter holding baby Tito on her hip.
“What’s this? Tía Lola says you have a lady guest,” Sophia exclaimed in Spanish.
“English, please. And yes, it’s true.”
It didn’t take long to do the introductions and for Kayleigh to end up holding the baby, cooing. Mama had sent them over with clothing because apparently my t-shirt and shorts weren’t acceptable. Had to give Mama credit for working so fast.
Kayleigh exclaimed in delight and gushed over their generosity. When my cousins heard she wanted to make a pie, they waited for Kayleigh to change before taking her to the bodega to do a second grocery shop.
The house felt strangely empty once she left. I turned on the television and sat with Pollita in my lap. My many glances out the window had nothing to do with watching for Kayleigh’s return.
When she did appear, I popped quickly to my feet to help her carry in the bags. My cousins didn’t stay long and indicated they’d see us at dinner. Kayleigh began to work on the pie. Two of them, as it turned out. Each was baked with different fruits and made my mouth water as the scent of them filled my home.
I found it odd my cousins hadn’t warned Kayleigh that Mama hated anyone encroaching on what she considered her domain. Perhaps they didn’t like her and their smiles and laugher had been faked. That would be more subtle than usual. Most times, when I introduced them to someone new, they refused to speak at all. My family had very distinct ideas on who I should spend time with.
By the time the pies had cooled, the time had come to head over for dinner. We ensured Pollita had a big snack, which I placed on the living room table in front of the television I’d left playing. This time my lizard didn’t protest when she saw me leaving.
I’d showered and changed, as had Kayleigh who wore a colorful frock and sandals. She looked quite lovely.
Too lovely. I did my best to ignore it.
My uncles didn’t. The moment we walked in, I smelled trouble. No surprise, the whole family had gathered and filled Mama’s walled garden. While the inside of her house might be tight, the yard could comfortably fit the almost twenty people present and had a long wooden table lined with benches for dining.
Kayleigh handed over a pie, while I held the other. “I hope you don’t mind. I brought some dessert. My mom always used to say never show up empty-handed.”
I waited for Mama to blast her and dump them in the trash.
Instead, Mama smiled. “That is very kind of you. The crust on these looks wonderful.”
I blinked. Had someone drugged Mama? That had to be the explanation, for my mother tucked her arm around Kayleigh’s and dragged her around the garden to introduce her to everyone.
My aunts exclaimed over her blonde hair, especially once they realized it came naturally. My uncles ogled her and nudged me. My cousins chatted with her while the children decided Kayleigh had the perfect lap for climbing in. It discomfited because only rarely had someone new been introduced to the family and then been accepted so quickly. My family were good people, but they didn’t usually tend to show so much openness and compassion for strangers in need.
No one hinted that I should think about dating my new friend, and everyone loved the pies. Even Mama.
It might have helped that Kayleigh gushed over Mama’s cooking and asked if Mama could teach her how to make those “ridiculously delicious” tamales. To my shock, Mama didn’t trot out her usual excuse of secret family recipe and she hugged Kayleigh as we were leaving.
