Still the Best Woman for the Job

by Sharon C. Cooper

  “Actually I was planning on going back to work, but the doctor suggested I take a couple of days off. At first, I wasn’t planning to listen, but I feel like crap.” She released a ragged sigh. “So I’ll do as recommended.”

  “Good, because I’d hate to have to handcuff you to the bedpost. Then again, that might not be such a bad idea.”

  Chapter Ten

  Toni stared out the passenger window as Craig drove to her grandparents’ house for Sunday brunch. Like most African American families, they came together weekly to eat, laugh and for the occasional argument. Toni immediately thought of Martina. Despite the family’s closeness, her cousin was good at getting everyone riled up. It was always something with her. Whether the topics were social, family, or lately political issues, MJ found a way to turn every discussion into an argument. At times, it seemed she lived to argue, but when she wasn’t stirring up trouble, Martina was as loyal and devoted to the family as any of the Jenkins.

  “You’re awfully quiet,” Craig said breaking into her thoughts. He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Are you feeling okay?”

  Her heart flipped at the genuine concern in his voice and the love that glittered in his eyes when he glanced at her. She lifted their joined hands up to her mouth and kissed the back of his. From the day he carried her home from the hospital, he’d been watching her every move, making sure she wanted for nothing.

  “I’m fine. I was just thinking about the brunch.”

  “What about the brunch? Are you having second thoughts about me tagging along?”

  “Definitely not.” She turned in her seat to face him. “You know my family loves you. I was just thinking about MJ. I hope she doesn’t show her tail this afternoon.”

  Craig laughed. “Yeah, she is a trip. I’ve never known anyone to speak their mind quite the way she does.”

  “I know, right?” Toni shook her head. “I missed brunch last Sunday, but lately she has been on this political kick. She’s always been active with the carpenters union, and now that the governor is trying to strip union workers of their collective bargaining rights, oh my goodness, she has become downright evil. I mean I agree that we need to fight this, but she has taken her anger over the idea to an entirely different level.”

  Craig shuddered. “Whew, I would hate to be a politician and have to come face to face with her.”

  “I know I hope she never meets Senator Paul Kendrick face to face. He’s really pushing for change, and though she’s never met the guy, she can’t stand him. I’m wondering if I or another family member should warn his office. Let them know to stay clear of Martina MJ Jenkins.” They both laughed, but the more Toni thought about the idea, the more she thought that maybe she should reach out to the senator.

  They were both still laughing when Craig pulled into her grandparent’s driveway. Toni’s face heated when she thought about the last time she and Craig were both at her grandparent’s home, and that toe-curling kiss they shared near the back door.

  “Looks like everyone is already here.” Craig opened the car door for her. “You guys don’t have a tradition that who’s ever the last one to arrive has to wash the dishes afterwards do you?”

  “Ha! No and don’t give my grandmother any ideas.”

  They walked around to the back of the house and Toni was surprised to see everything set up in the back yard. It was a nice May afternoon, but as far as she was concerned, it was still a little chilly outside.

  “Well, look who decided to make an appearance.” Martina walked out of the house carrying two chafer pans. “Officer Logan, glad you decided to join us. It was starting to get a little boring around here for me. I’m running out of people to pick on.”

  “What’s up, MJ?” They hugged, and Craig stepped back. “Glad to see you’re still giving everyone a hard time. I wore my thick skin today, so bring your best game.”

  “Oh, please. Don’t get her started,” Christina, Toni’s cousin and Peyton’s younger sister said when she walked out of the house with a large pitcher of water for the chafer pans. “We’re already thinking about kicking her out of the family.”

  Before she headed back into the house, Martina’s middle finger shot up in an obscene gesture, leaving the three of them laughing.

  “It’s been a long time, Officer Logan.” Christina stuck her arm through his and then whispered in his ear. “I’m glad you and TJ are back together. I’m pulling for you guys.”

  Craig smiled down at her. “Thank you, I appreciate that. I’m giving it my best shot.”

  “Hey, don’t you know it’s impolite to whisper in front of someone?” Toni grabbed hold of Craig’s other arm and narrowed her eyes playfully at her cousin. “Anyway, I don’t know why you’re whispering, he’s just going to tell me what you said later.”

  “Ohh, Cuz, do you feel left out?” Christina threw her arm around Toni’s shoulder. “I only told him that he’s a very lucky man to have you in his life.”

  “Aw, that’s so sweet.” Toni wrapped her arms around Christina’s mid-section. “Feel free to whisper in his ear anytime if you’re going to say things like that.”

  Christina (CJ) Jenkins was one of Toni’s favorite cousins. They were only a year apart and grew up as sisters more so than cousins. As adults, they didn’t see each other as often as Toni would like, especially since lately Christina traveled a lot, but Toni knew she always could count on CJ if she needed to.

  “CJ, I forgot to ask you, how did the mural for the community center turn out?” Toni asked. “I heard you finished painting it yesterday.”

  Christina, the painter in the family, had been commissioned by Never too Old to Learn Community Center to paint a mural in the front entrance of their new building.

  “Not to sound conceited, but I think the project was some of my best work to date.”

  The three of them talked for a few minutes longer before Craig and Toni made their rounds to speak to everyone. As Toni expected, her family was glad to see her and Craig back together.

  “Toni, sweetheart, can you come in and give me a hand with something?” Her grandmother beckoned her from the doorway.

  “Are you going to be okay out here by yourself?” Toni asked Craig.

  “Of course.” He pulled her in his arms and kissed her, not caring who witnessed the intimate exchange. “But hurry back, I’m a little afraid. Your cousin MJ has been eyeing me and I’m sure she’s planning to make me her next victim.”

  Toni laughed and headed into the kitchen where her grandmother flitted about adding the finishing touches to a few dishes.

  “Hey, Gram, what can I help with?” Toni washed and dried her hands. “It looks like you outdid yourself today. Everything smells wonderful.”

  “You know this is what I live for, cooking for my family.” She patted Toni on the cheek and placed a kiss on her forehead. “How are you feeling? Are you still having those headaches?

  “A few here and there, but I’ll live.” She placed her hands palms down on the counter and eyed the chocolate cake her grandmother was frosting. “What can I do to help? Do you need me to taste the cake for you?” Toni asked, trying to maintain a straight face, but her grandmother didn’t miss the twitch at the corners of her lips.

  “Don’t even think about it,” she threatened, waving her white plastic spatula at Toni. “Instead of eyeing my cake, grab the two salads from the refrigerator.”

  Unlike many people of her grandparent’s wealth, her grandmother insisted on being the one to cook for her family. Years ago, before her grandfather retired, he wanted to hire a housekeeper to take care of the cooking and the household cleaning. Her grandmother nixed the idea claiming she cooked and cleaned when they were eating pork n beans and spam. Now that they were living up on the hill, things would be no different. The only time they hired help was when they had a huge event that included people outside of the family.

  “Should I grab this vegetable tray too?” She pointed at the round tray that took up most of the se
cond shelf in the doublewide refrigerator.

  “Oh, I forgot about that. I’ll need you to add a few more carrots and cucumbers first. I saw your dad and your uncle Marty eating from it earlier.”

  “It looks like they scarfed down most of the tomatoes too.”

  Her grandmother shook her head. “Those boys. They never can wait until we set everything out.”

  They worked together in companionable silence. After a few minutes her grandmother said, “I’m glad to see your young man here with you today.”

  Toni smiled to herself. “Me too.”

  “I can tell you’re happier than you’ve been in awhile. I can’t help but think that Craig has something to do with that glow brightening up your beautiful face.”

  Toni leaned against the counter. Her eyes gazed heavenward and she sighed wearing a goofy grin on her face. “He makes me feel … like, like … oh I don’t know, like I’m the most important person in the world. He’s always doing things for me, little things. He probably doesn’t even know how special those little things are to me.” She poured the bag of carrots into a strainer and rinsed them.

  “I know what you mean,” her grandmother chuckled. “When your grandpa was courting me,” she paused, “or as you young people say today, trying to date me, he did a lot of little things too. Like when he used to drive across town to pick me up from high school during my junior year so that I wouldn’t have to walk. Mind you, I only lived two blocks from the school.”

  Her grandmother laughed and Toni couldn’t help but smile. She loved hearing stories about when her grandparents dated.

  “Is that when you knew he was the one?” Toni asked.

  Her grandmother propped her hip against the counter and took a moment to think. “No, I think it was when I was suspended from school.”

  Toni’s mouth dropped opened. “Whaaat, you were suspended from school? Gramma I can’t believe it.” Her grandmother was petite, almost prissy-like. Toni couldn’t imagine her doing anything wrong. “How? Why?”

  Her grandmother giggled like a schoolgirl at Toni’s shock. “I wasn’t always a goodie-two-shoe. Like you, I had those moments when I had to ask myself, ‘What were you thinking?’ Of course, I always asked after the fact.” She laughed good-naturedly.

  “Okay, so why’d you get suspended.”

  “Smoking in the girl’s bathroom. Twice!”

  “What? You used to smoke!” Toni set the vegetables down and dried her hands. “Oh, man, wait until I tell—”

  “And if you do,” she threatened with her spatula again, “you’ll never get another lick of my peach cobbler - ever.”

  Without hesitation Toni said, “My lips are sealed.

  “Well anyway, I knew your grandfather was the one when I called him at his job to tell him what happened, and he left work immediately to come and take me out to lunch.”

  That’s it? Toni thought to herself. She expected her grandmother to say something a lot grander than he took me out to lunch.

  “There was no condemnation, no judgment, nothing. I don’t even think he would have asked for details had I not brought up the subject. Once I told him what happened, he asked if I wanted him to go home with me to be there when I told my parents.” Her grandmother smiled and went back to frosting the cake. “I knew then that I would spend the rest of my life with that man.”

  Toni threw her arms around her grandmother’s shoulder. “You guys are the best. I’m so glad you chose each other. I can’t imagine my life without either of you.”

  “Actually, dear,” she bumped Toni with her hip, “you wouldn’t have a life without either of us. How do you think you would’ve gotten here if we hadn’t gotten together?”

  Toni laughed and shook her head at her grandmother. At seventy-two, she still had a wickedly funny sense of humor.

  “Now tell me what’s going on with you and that handsome police officer.”

  Toni filled her in on what they’d been up to for the past few weeks, less the sexcapades.

  “So do you think he’s the one?”

  Toni didn’t have to think twice. “Yes.”

  “Then what’s stopping you from marrying him?”

  Toni’s eyes bulged. “How did you know he asked me?”

  “I didn’t know until just now.” She smiled and winked.

  Toni’s mouth dropped opened. “Gramma, you scare me sometimes. I didn’t know you were so devious!”

  “I raised four sons, and three daughters. I had to be a step ahead in order to keep up with what was going on.” She set a second cake on the counter and began to spread frosting over the top. “So what are you waiting for? Why haven’t you accepted his proposal?”

  “He asked me before we broke up. He hasn’t asked since then. Besides, even if he did ask again, I don’t know if I can be what he wants, or needs me to be.”

  Silence filled the kitchen. Toni thought about her statement and knew that at some point soon, she was going to have a long talk with Craig.

  “I’ve seen the way he looks at you,” her grandmother spoke in her usual gentle tone. “He loves you for who you are good or bad. The person you decide to spend your life with should be a person who understands that you’re not perfect, but they love you anyway.”

  Toni placed plastic wrap over the vegetable trays and a clear cake cover over one of the cakes while her grandmother talked. It had been a long time since she and her grandmother had a one-on-one, something they use to have often before Toni went off to college. Something that Toni missed more than she realized.

  “Chile, there are things that I’ve said and done that I know pushed your grandfather’s love for me to his limits.” Her gentle laugh rippled through the air, “but I know he loves me anyway. He accepts my imperfections and at times, my poor judgment. So don’t think that you can’t give Craig what he wants or what he needs. By the sparkle in his eyes whenever he looks at you, he knows you’re the one to fulfill his every desire.”

  Toni hoped her grandmother was right. Now that she and Craig had found their way back to each other, she didn’t want to go back to living life without him. This made the conversation she knew she had to have with him, that much harder to consider.

  ***

  Craig watched from his position near the pool as the Jenkins women cleared the serving dishes and carried them inside the house. He tuned out the conversations around him, finding himself too distracted by Toni. Her laugh, the way she interacted with her family, and her killer body. He knew oh too well what lie beneath that soft, yellow T-shirt she wore, full voluptuous breasts that made his mouth water and his hands itch in anticipation whenever they were disrobed. But it wasn’t just her sexiness, it was the total package. She was perfectly flawed. Her penchant for finding trouble, quick temper, and her rodent phobia were a few of her imperfections, yet, as far as he was concerned, she was perfect for him.

  “You haven’t taken your eyes off her since you arrived,” the deep baritone voice said from behind him.

  Craig glanced over his shoulder to find Steven Jenkins pulling up a chair next to his, under the large red and blue table umbrella. Craig stood to move his chair over, but Mr. Jenkins stopped him.

  “Oh you’re fine. I figured I’d just come over and sit a spell since I haven’t had a chance to talk with you. Did you enjoy the brunch?”

  “Definitely. Your wife’s cooking is as good as I remember.” He rubbed his stomach recalling the peach cobbler he’d just scarfed down.

  “If that’s the case, why is this my first time seeing you in months?”

  Craig knew Toni’s grandfather was aware of their separation so he could only assume he was talking about the last few weeks since he and Toni had reunited.

  “Well, sir, I usually have to work on Sundays. This is the first Sunday I’ve had off in months.”

  Steven Jenkins shook his head. “It’s a shame folks have to work on Sundays. Back in my day, Sundays were the one day where you attended church and then rested. But I guess worki
ng for the police department makes that kind of impossible.”

  “Yes sir. Unfortunately, we don’t always have the luxury of weekends and holidays off.”

  “Well, you definitely have an honorable job, and I have the utmost respect for what you and your colleagues do.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  They sat in a comfortable silence, despite the chattering all around them. Craig looked up in time to see Toni walking toward him until her mother stopped her. He wasn’t sure what was said, but they both walked into the house along with a couple of other women.

  “I’m glad to see you two back together,” Toni’s grandfather interrupted his thoughts. “My granddaughter was a different person when you weren’t around. I saw changes in her I didn’t like, but as a grandparent, sometimes you have to sit back and let your children find their own way.”

  Craig glanced toward the door that Toni had entered. “There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think about her,” he said more to himself than to her grandfather.

  “I can tell you’re in love with her. I see a special tenderness in the way you look at her and the way you treat her as if she’s a precious piece of fine china.”

  Craig turned to her grandfather. “She’s very important to me. And you’re right. I’m very much in love with her.”

  “Well, I’m sure the reason you haven’t married her then is because she’s too damn stubborn.”

  Craig laughed but didn’t confirm the comment.

  “You don’t have to agree with me. I know. We practically raised that girl when her parents were going through a rough patch a year or two after she was born. As she grew older, she spent more time with Katherine and me than she did at home. From day one TJ had me wrapped around her finger, and as she grew older, the wrap became tighter.” He laughed a hearty laugh. “Once she became a teen, I finally realized why my relationship with her has always been a little different than the relationships I have with my other granddaughters.”

  “And what was that?” Craig had noticed early on that there was a special relationship between Toni and her grandfather. Even her cousins teased her about being their grandfather’s favorite, despite the fact that he clearly adored all of his granddaughters.