by D. Camille
The children ate happily while the adults sat across the table watching one another. Khalil looked down at his son and thought about Danielle’s question. Personally, since he’d become an adult, Khalil had never looked to anyone to feel safe and happy. That was his job to do, for both his sister and his son. He had no personal needs, outside of the obvious, that needed to be satisfied.
His job was to help the children and the community he served simply because he cared and he asked for little to nothing in return. Returning his gaze to the woman across from him, he began to feel something that he’d never felt before…
Danielle smiled at him. “You should eat your lunch before we have to clean up,” she told him softly.
Realizing that he hadn’t touched his food, Khalil began to slowly eat some of the food he’d packed for himself and Kyros.
“You want some crackers?” Kyros asked Kamryn and she nodded.
“Yes, thank you.” She took the crackers and nibbled on them.
“Would you like some Judge Baxter?” he offered Danielle.
Khalil smiled at his son’s courtesy as Danielle accepted his offering. “Thank you Kyros.”
Finishing lunch, they cleaned up together with the little ones running the garbage to the trash then returning to the table laughing. Gathering up their things, they began the second half of the day. Holding coats and bags, Khalil and Danielle continued their journey through the halls.
“You have a very good attorney. I have no doubt that Christian will be well prepared in a couple of weeks,” Danielle told Khalil.
“I won’t rest until it’s over.”
She smiled. “You have a lot of good people on your side. Judge Williams sang your praises.”
Khalil smiled as well. “Brandon’s father is a good man. He’s been a part of the system for a long time and he’s always taken care of business.”
“He’s been my mentor and I admire him so much,” Danielle explained. “I’m so happy for him finding his love and getting engaged.”
“Yeah, Judge Williams brought Victoria Patterson home and everybody seems to be working it out.” Khalil agreed.
Danielle looked at him. “There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned love story.”
“They are old.”
She looked at him with a grin. “Stop, you’re never too old for love.”
“You’re a romantic?” he surmised watching her.
“Black love is a beautiful thing,” she told him and looked around. “It’s survived the most horrific tragedies.”
“I agree.” Khalil said quietly looking at the remnants of their history.
They walked along in silence for a while, watching over the children. Kyros was still impressing little Kamryn with his knowledge of history and Khalil smiled.
“She’s going to tell him to shut up in a minute,” Khalil said still watching his son.
Danielle shook her head. “No, she won’t. A girl loves to hear a boy talk when he has something worth listening to.”
“So you want me to shut up?”
“You haven’t been talking.”
Khalil agreed. “I’ve been thinking.”
She lifted a brow. “You’re entitled.”
“I’m wondering how I’ve been around you for…” He checked his watch. “Four hours or so…and I feel comfortable discussing things that I don’t discuss…with anybody.”
Danielle smiled softly. “Maybe I’m learning how to navigate.”
The kids called and the pair went to engage them through the rest of the tour. Afterwards, Khalil and Danielle dressed the children in their coats and hats to brave the elements outside which had turned for the worse.
The bus was quickly loaded and headed back to the school. Khalil and Danielle sat next to one another again watching the swirling snow fall.
“It’s getting nasty,” Danielle commented.
Khalil glanced out of the window alongside her. “Yeah, it looks bad. Kyros and I can take you and Kamryn home to make sure you make it safely.”
She turned to him. “You don’t have to do that Khalil.”
“Do you have four-wheel drive?” he asked glancing out at the steadily climbing snow pile.
Danielle also looked at the white hills. “No, I don’t.”
“It’s not a problem, Danielle. We don’t live too far from the school and I drive an SUV.”
“That’s very nice of you.”
He looked at her. “I’m happy to do it. I’m not going to send two Queens out into weather like this alone.”
Forty minutes later, they arrived at the school and the sky darkened even more while dumping cold whiteness to the ground.
Khalil grabbed Kyros’ hand and Danielle took Kamryn’s on their way to his car. As they neared the vehicle, Khalil saw the patch of ice before Danielle and shouted a warning, but it was too late. She hit the ground hard with a scream before he could get to her.
He and Kyros reached her side to find Kamryn staring down at her aunt.
“Auntie Danielle!”
Danielle felt fire shoot up her back and tears come to her eyes. “Are you okay?” Khalil asked concerned.
“I think I’m broken again,” she whispered.
“Don’t try to move yet,” Khalil instructed.
She closed her eyes and tried to breathe. “Just get the kids to the car. I’ll be fine.”
Khalil looked at Kyros. “You and Kamryn go get inside the car and buckle up.”
Kyros nodded quickly and reached for her hand. “Come on Kamryn.”
Khalil bent down and removed his glove before touching Danielle’s face. “Can you move yet?”
“It hurts so bad,” she moaned. “I want to cry.”
“Don’t cry,” he said as he touched her face again, stroking the cold skin “Let me get you to the car before you freeze.”
The next thing she knew, Danielle was lifted off the ground and being carried in the air. She held on tightly as Khalil maneuvered around ice and snow. Reaching out, he opened the door and placed her on the passenger seat.
“Oh god!” Danielle groaned as he settled her inside.
Khalil hurried around to the driver’s side and jumped in before starting the car and turning on the heat. He looked over at the woman on the seat with her eyes closed and her breathing shallow.
“Danielle?” he called her name.
“Please, I don’t know what’s worse…the pain or the embarrassment,” she whispered.
Khalil smiled softly. “I’m sorry. I tried to warn you.”
“I should’ve been more careful. Now I’m dying.”
“You want me to take you to the hospital?” he asked.
She shook her head slowly. “No, just home please. It’s already too bad out here.”
Danielle gave him the address and Khalil made his way through the storm to her home. Taking her keys, he opened the door and let the children inside before coming back out to get her. Danielle was trying to slowly exit the vehicle when he got to her side.
“I can carry you,” he offered.
“Please, let me have some dignity,” she told him. “Falling on your ass is not how you want to impress somebody.”
Danielle stepped away from the truck and closed the door before Khalil swept her up into his arms again. “I was already impressed.”
“And I’m not about to let either of us freeze to death while you try to walk to the damn door,” he finished.
Carrying her inside, Khalil stomped the snow off of his feet, after closing the door, then walked over to the sofa and laid her down gently. He took a seat on the solid, wood coffee table and looked down at her.
“What can I get you?”
Danielle covered her face with her gloves. “Nothing.” The word was muffled.
Khalil removed her hands. “Don’t do that. It’s not a big deal.”
“You didn’t hit the ground and cry,” she told him pointedly.
“You didn’t cry.”
She looked at
him. “I wanted to, I swear I did.”
Khalil laughed. “Are you alright woman?”
“I’m the big bad judge. I’m not supposed to want to cry like a baby because I slipped on some ice.”
“You did go down pretty hard.” He told her. “I was worried that you’d really hurt yourself.”
Danielle looked at his handsome face. “I think I’ll be fine. Thank you so much.”
Khalil glanced around. “This is a nice home. Can you tell me where my son disappeared to?”
Danielle tried to sit up and Khalil assisted her. “Thank you. Kamryn probably dragged him to the den where the games are set up. That’s where she lives when she visits me.”
She stood slowly and Khalil got to his feet as well. “Let me help you.”
With a hand on her back, Danielle showed him the way and they found the two with their coats and boots off, playing video games.
“Kyros!”
The boy looked up. “Yes, Daddy?”
“What are you doing? This isn’t your house.”
Kyros got to his feet. “Kamryn said we could play.”
Danielle touched Khalil’s arm. “It’s fine.”
All eyes were on Khalil as they waited for his response. “Really, it’s fine.” Danielle told him again.
“Okay, finish the game and then we’re going.” Kyros smiled. “And next time, ask before you get comfortable.”
Kyros nodded. “Okay Daddy.” He hurried back to the game and Danielle led Khalil slowly into her kitchen where she found the aspirin and downed two of them quickly.
“I’m sorry. He knows better than that,” Khalil apologized.
Danielle smiled. “You don’t have to apologize Khalil. Kyros is a little boy and he wanted to play with Kam. I don’t mind at all.”
She looked at him. “In fact, why don’t you take off your boots and coat until the game is over. Maybe the storm will die down some.”
Danielle shrugged out of her own coat and hung it on a chair then placed her hat and mittens on the table. Khalil looked her over in the fitted turtleneck sweater then turned away to remove his own coat, gloves and hat. Taking a seat gingerly, Danielle reached for her boots then winced. Khalil was in front of her immediately.
He shook his head. “Stubborn Queens. Let me help you.”
Danielle watched as he removed her boots and placed them aside. “Do you need anything else?”
She smiled. “There are kids in this house.”
Sitting, Khalil removed his own boots, placing them next to hers. “I was going to make some hot chocolate,” Danielle said quietly watching him in the thermal shirt that stretched across his chest and hung outside of his jeans.
“Just tell me where to find everything,” Khalil instructed and walked over to the cabinets in his socks.
Danielle guided him through her kitchen and watched as he moved with a fluid ease. Khalil Lewis was one beautiful black man indeed. When the beverage was done, he filled four cups and carried them back into the den where the kids were still playing.
Danielle took a seat on the sofa and stretched out her legs while Khalil sat on the other end of the sectional. Over the rims of their cups, their eyes connected.
“This is very good hot chocolate,” she told him after a few minutes.
“I just added water.”
She smiled. “But the exact amount needed.”
He laughed, something he didn’t do often, but seemed to do around her. “Thank you Queen. You are so kind.”
“That college degree comes in handy,” he teased.
“Where did you go?” she asked.
“Hampton University.”
Danielle nodded impressed. “A very good establishment.”
“And you?”
“I was born and raised in Florida then came here to attend college at the University of Michigan,” she explained.
“So you’re not used to walking on snow and ice?”
“Apparently not. I hate it.”
He smiled. “I don’t really like it much myself. When we moved back a few years ago, I wondered if I could handle it again after living in Virginia for so long.”
“Why did you come back?” Danielle asked.
“To be with family,” he answered. “My twin sister had sacrificed a lot to stay with me and help with Kyros. Her plans all along were to come back to Detroit because the man she loved was here.”
“You’re just surrounded by true love, huh?” she questioned.
Khalil thought about it. “I guess so. My parents have been together for a long time and three of my friends just got married recently.”
“Wow, how did your friends meet their wives?”
He paused. “Well, Rion came to Detroit looking for his goddess. Lance has loved my sister since they were kids and Brandon was waiting on Rion to get married so he could marry Mac because he thought Mac and Rion were in some type of secret love situation.”
She frowned. “What?”
“I know. It doesn’t make any sense, but they all found the happiness they were searching for,” he told her.
“Are you searching?”
Khalil looked down in his cup at the chocolate liquid. “I might have to start.” He looked at her as Kamryn asked for a snack to go with their hot chocolate.
“I have some cookies,” Danielle offered.
“Auntie, Kyros doesn’t eat cookies.”
Danielle looked at Khalil. “Not often…” he said slowly.
“Well can he have some today?” Danielle asked.
Kyros looked at his father. “I do like cookies.”
“Sure, he can have a couple,” Khalil conceded.
Danielle looked at him as the kids ran to the kitchen. “Look, I’m not trying to change your rules.”
“It’s okay. We just don’t keep cookies at home.”
“I just keep them as a little snack for Kam when she visits. I don’t give her a lot of sugar, but I do bake cookies for her.”
Khalil looked surprised. “You baked them?”
“Yes, that’s normally how cookies are made,” she answered slowly.
“Like from scratch?”
She nodded. “Yes, with flour and butter and all types of old fashioned ingredients.”
He gave her a look.
“I’m sorry, you’re just so intense about everything. Although that’s really attractive, I can’t help but tease you, especially when you give me that sexy smile afterward,” she told him softly.
“My intensity usually scares most people away,” he told her.
“I’m not most people,”
The kids returned with cookies on saucers and offered Khalil a few. He had to taste them just to see if she could really bake or if she was just fronting. Taking a bite of the buttery dessert made him give a soft moan of pleasure.
Danielle clenched her thighs at the sound and determined in her mind to hear it again, in a different setting, of course.
“Good?” she asked.
He nodded as he chewed the delicious confection. She watched as he licked his lips of the crumbs. “Delicious.”
“I promise they won’t hurt him,” Danielle told him. “I’m very conscious about what Kam eats as well.”
Khalil agreed. “My sister is a Naturopathic Doctor, so she’s always watching his diet.”
Danielle looked impressed. “That’s a very different occupation.”
“She runs a practice near downtown and also the food co-op on the east side,” Khalil explained.
“Oohhh, I’ve heard about that. That’s incredible, and so needed in our community.”
Khalil reached for another cookie. “It’s her baby, until she starts having her own.”
Danielle nodded very slowly. “I’ll have to visit there and check it out while I’m on vacation.”
“You should do that.” He looked at her. “And you should also come by the Pride Center. There are classes that Kamryn can take.”
Danielle returned his look. “Y
ou’re the Director there.”
“I founded it and I run it.”
“What programs do you offer?” Danielle asked.
He sat back. “We have programs for the kids, then the teens and the elderly. I’ve just started a program with the Mayor and the Police Chief to help reduce recidivism in parolees. I’m looking to connect with programs that offer more services to them.”
“You’re a busy man,” she commented.
“Most of the time.”
She smiled. “It sounds like you’re doing a great job. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Pride Center…and you.”
Their eyes connected and held. “I’ve also heard nothing but good things about you, Judge Baxter.”
Danielle finished her beverage then moved to set her mug aside. She winced in pain and Khalil was on his feet to assist.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Hopefully those aspirin will kick in soon.”
He looked down at her. “We should go, so that you can get some rest.”
“I’m enjoying your company,” she told him.
“I can say the same.” He looked at his watch. “But it’s getting late and Kyros takes forever to get ready for bed.”
Danielle laughed. “I know. Kam does the same when she stays over. Requests for water, bathroom trips, a million questions…”
He agreed. “Yes, exactly.”
She moved to sit up and Khalil offered a hand. Taking it, she got to her feet and looked up at him. “Please let me know that you and Kyros got home safely.”
Khalil pulled out his phone and entered the number she provided. “I can do that.”
“Thank you, and thank you for bringing us home.”
He instructed Kyros to get dressed then turned back to Danielle. “If you give me your keys, I can bring your car from the parking lot.”
“Really, I can manage that.” Danielle deferred. “My sister can take me tomorrow.”
Khalil nodded. “Okay, but if you need me…just let me know.” He walked to retrieve his coat and boots.
When he returned, Kyros had added his hat to complete his preparation then looked at Kamryn. “Bye Kamryn. Thanks for playing with me.”
“See you later Kyros,” Kamryn said sadly.
