Page 28 of The Perfect Verse
“Give me a second.” She took a deep breath. Heck, a few of them as she mentally gained her bearings. She was more than the boss, she was the owner but the people that really made it happen were inside, the ones who showed up every day.
“I’m good.” Scooter then opened the door, ushering her in with his hand. He gave her an encouraging nod as she entered. Once he was inside, he closed the door and like she had since the day she took him to her home, she’d impressed him yet again.
“Damn, you weren’t playing, huh?”
The lobby area alone was equipped with several leather sofas and chairs with wall paintings that practically reached the ceiling. He was into fine art, as well. It was a silent guilty pleasure anytime he spent time with his father’s mother. She’d take him to museums and art shows until he was banned from seeing her. He had to be around ten. He tried rekindling his interest with Serita, but she’d usually check out after the first few paintings, complaining she was tired or her feet hurt. If Kaleela wasn’t damn near perfect, she was perfect then.
“The art?” He pointed to the large mural in front of him. “You had a hand in getting it?”
“Mostly from the local high schools. As a part of the opening ceremony, I worked with a few high schools and their art programs and did a contest. No winners since I had plans to use all of the art. When I was little, I loved to color. I’d get lost in all the blending of colors, creating more colors. For Christmas one year, our foster mother bought us coloring books. Most of the others were pissed, but not me. When they tossed theirs in the trash, I grabbed them when no one was looking.”
“That’s what’s up. This was a genius move,” he whispered and stood before one that took his breath away.
It was a pregnant mother, cupping her womb. She was surrounded by three children, a boy and two girls. Words of affirmation surrounded her that elicited an emotion he could relate to. Words like “confidence”, “perseverance”, and “strength” that were all indicative of his own mother, despite their struggle during his childhood. It further moved him as he imagined the child in her womb was Mango while the others were him and their two other sisters.
“Now that one I can’t take credit for. It was Mrs. Otto’s idea.”
“Great idea, but out of all of them, which one is your favorite?”
“Probably this one.” She pointed to one that had a family sitting around the dinner table. “I definitely had one I had to have. Gave them five thousand dollars for that.”
“Worth it, for sho’. You pouring into their shit comes back tenfold every time.”
“It does. We apply for grants too, but my goal was really to give these kids a place to land after school, even on Saturdays in the summertime. We also help with college applications, offer scholarships for book vouchers, laptops, even tuition for their first year. I found out early on that the streets will eat your ass up if you don’t know how to survive, play by the rules.”
He looked down at her, feeling some strange kind of flutter in his stomach. Who was she? The woman before him was nothing like the one he’d heard about from pistol whipping to balling out with a gang of strippers at the strip clubs, even the stories about her and Chaney fighting over the years. She was nothing like that woman, but she was her, just a better version of her she must have kept hidden. Why, he had no clue.
“Definitely some great shit happening here. Kee, you should be proud.”
“Yeah.” She nodded. She didn’t feel proud though. She felt ashamed from staying away for so long. “Follow me.
They made their way down the hall entering into an open space where a large aquarium ran the length of the wall came into view. It was filled to capacity with fish that ranged in all colors, shapes and sizes. Benches were around the perimeter along with racks filled with brochures about their services. In nearby rooms, the chatter of children’s voices were heard.
“Let me let them know we’re here. This way.” He followed her when they turned into the first office filled with easily five, maybe six staff. At the sight of her, they gasped, a few almost in tears as she greeted them.
“Oh, the boss lady is here,” a young girl called out, clapping her hands. She quickly jetted around the desk and made her way to them.
“Miss Kaleela, to what do we owe your beautiful presence? Oh my God, we miss you.”
“I miss you too, Kaneka, and nothing. Just decided to stop by. It’s been a while. How are your babies?” Scooter assessed she couldn’t be much older than Mango, maybe nineteen or twenty.
“Reynold is six months today and Reniyah is two going on twenty. I’m throwing her a party in a few weeks. You must come. They’re growing up so fast. My mama said I’m doing too much but children are a blessing. It doesn’t matter since she’s the one planning with Rennie. Imagine a two year old being a party planner.” Before Rell and Travis, Kaleela would have disagreed with the part about children being a blessing.
“Ms. Pam doesn’t play about her grandchildren, huh?
“Nope but she’s come a long way. Hopefully, she can quit that second job when I finally graduate with my CNA license. I’ll be able to work at this nursing home on the weekends.” She then looked at Scooter who stood there smiling.
“I’m so rude, girl. Just speaking but ain’t speaking to everyone. Who do we have here?”
She laughed, her eyes landing on Scooter which didn’t go unnoticed. He didn’t want any problems. Kaleela was already hot and cold, cold most times, but he felt he brought a little sunshine her way and he wanted to keep it that way. He slid his hand out of his pocket and eased it around Kaleela’s hand. She grunted. It was a soft grunt but one he still heard.
“What’s up? I’m Scooter,” he answered. “It’s cool though. Just decided to come through with my girl. Appreciate her for bringing me along.”
Kaleela tucked her lips, suppressing a smile as butterflies danced around in her belly. The smallest gestures, even theglances he cast her way whenever he didn’t think she was looking, softened her in ways she’d never know were possible for her.
“Your girl?” Her eyes skated between the two of them with a playful smirk on her face. “Well nice to meet you.”
She gave her eyes to Kaleela, then lightly nudged her. “Mrs. Otto knows you’re here?”
