”Wait. Is this the price?”
He looked back over his shoulder at the box she held up. "Yep."
Makayla's eyes bulged. "And you still have to put it together yourself?"
He laughed. "That's the whole point."
“That’s crazy.” She'd have to use an entire check to buy one of those things.
“If that makes you break out in hives, stay behind when I pay for the one I ordered. Otherwise, we may need an ambulance.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Maybe it’s the engineer in me. I like creating things. I love the planning, the precision, the completion, the—“ Trey caught the blank expression on Makayla’s face and smiled. “Robin got me started on them. One Sunday afternoon, I was at her house and she came into the kitchen to find I’d taken apart her microwave. I just knew she was going to tan my behind, instead, she said, ‘We need to get you a hobby.’”
Makayla laughed. "Okay, so what's up with that? Is it just me or is she the most chill person ever? Like, does she smoke weed on the side or something?"
Trey used his fist to cover his mouth and almost choked with laughter.
"Weed? Robin’s never even gotten a speeding ticket. I think she's incapable of criminal activity. Come to think of it, I've never even seen her lose her temper."
Makayla lowered her chin and gave him a look that said she found that hard to believe.
"I'm serious, not once. And I've been with her in all sorts of situations—rude cashiers, bad drivers, slow waiters. Nothing gets her worked up.”
"That's crazy."
“When one of my boys say all Christians are hypocrites or that no one can really live that life, I say, ‘You haven’t met my godmother.’”
Everything Trey said was true. At first, Makayla assumed it was all an act. But now?
With each passing day, a new theory began to solidify in Makayla’s mind. Maybe Robin didn’t abandon her. Maybe she had to leave her there. Was it possible she never wanted to walk away in the first place?
"Can I ask you something?"
Makayla had forgotten Trey was there. “Sure.”
"What's with the forks and tuna packets?” Trey narrowed his eyes. “You don't need to diet. You're perfect."
He was trying to flirt. Which wasn’t so bad, now that she no longer considered him her mortal enemy. She was starting to like Trey, despite her occasional bouts of jealousy over his relationship with Robin. But as much as she’d softened toward him, it wasn’t enough to talk about what she carried in her bag. It never would be.
Makayla made her way down the aisle, pretending to be interested in the helicopter kits. "Maybe I like to feed stray cats."
"With forks?"
Makayla shrugged.
"Maybe…" She playfully drew the word out. “I’m undercover law enforcement. That stuff is part of my stakeout kit."
He laughed out loud, enjoying the game. "Okay, okay. Better. But try again."
Makayla pretended to think about it. "Maybe I have an evil stepmother. You know, like the kind in fairytales. I use the tuna for food when she makes me spend the night outside the house."
Trey put his finger on his chin and nodded. "Okay. That one’s really sad. But the undercover cop thing was a little more believable."
Makayla groaned and made a show of being embarrassed.
"Fine. You got me. I'm on a diet."
Chapter 14
By the time Makayla got home, her headache had returned with a vengeance. A few hours later, she couldn't sit up without the room spinning around her. By that night, she could do little more than sleep. But it was a fitful and feverish slumber, plagued by one, repetitious nightmare.
Makayla is eight years old and at her grandmother’s funeral. Only, the small church is empty and she’s alone with her grandmother's casket. As she stands there, looking in at the only family she’d ever known, she shakes with fear. She wonders, what will happen to her now? Where will she go? How will she live?
Then she hears Robin's voice, calling her name. She turns to see her sitting in the back pew of the small church. Makayla is so relieved she’s not alone, she can’t help but cry. She doesn’t hesitate to run to the safety of her mother’s embrace, arms outstretched. But instead of meeting her halfway, Robin smiles, waves goodbye and walks out the church doors.
Makayla is left alone again.
Makayla woke from the dream sobbing. The pounding in her head was so intense, it was as if she could hear it. Then she realized she could hear it. Only, it wasn't her head, it was the apartment door. Someone was banging on it, nearly matching the rhythm of the throb in her skull. But she was so weak, she couldn't turn herself over, much less get up to answer it.
“Go away,” she said, but the words came out like a breath.
"Makayla?"
It had to be the dream again. Why in the world would Robin be knocking at her door on a Friday morning? How would she even know which door to come to?
I’m still sleeping.
"Makayla? It's Robin. Open the door."
By the time Makayla realized she was, in fact, awake and Robin was real and standing outside her door, she heard a key in the lock and saw the doorknob turning.
"Miss Dawson? It's Mr. Simms. I'm coming in."
The door opened and Makayla saw her landlord walk in, wide-eyed, followed by Rodney and Robin, who pushed Simms aside to enter the room. No sooner than she was in, she crouched next to Makayla’s air mattress.
Rodney rubbed his forehead and paced back and forth at the end of the bed. “Denice and me were only gone a couple of days. I should’ve checked in on her the second we got back.” His voice shook on the last word and Makayla wondered why he cared so much.
"Makayla?" Robin pushed Makayla’s hair back and touched her face and forehead with the back of her hand. "What happened? What's wrong with you?"
“Virus or flu or something," said Mr. Simms, as he backed out of the room, the crook of his elbow covering his face. "If you've got this, I'll be back in the office."
Barely acknowledging him, Robin frowned and nodded.
"Honey, the sheets are soaked through. I'll need to change them. Can you get up?"
She helped her sit up. Being upright only caused the throbbing in Makayla's head to intensify. She moaned and leaned forward to rest her forehead on her knees.
"Maybe I should take you to the emergency—“
Makayla panicked. She didn't have any insurance and she needed to hold on to the little cash she had. "No. I'm better than I was. I just need a couple days."
Rodney crouched down to get a better look at her. ”What have you been taking for it?”
Makayla shook her head.
"Nothing? At all?" He looked at Robin, then back at Makayla. "Why not?”
Makayla shrugged. "I hadn’t gotten up yet.”
"When was the last time you ate?" Makayla heard the frustration in Robin’s voice.
“Yesterday. With Trey. We went to lunch.”
She exhaled sharply. “You were with Trey on Thursday, baby. It’s Sunday morning.”
That couldn’t be right. Sunday? That would mean she’d already missed two days of work. What was she going to do? She needed that job.
Makayla struggled to stand as hot tears welled up. “I gotta talk to Amir. He’s probably fired me already.”
Before she could make any real progress in standing, Robin and Rodney pushed her back down.
“Uh, uh. You aren’t going anywhere.”
Makayla shoved Robin’s hand away. “I need my job!”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Rodney said, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Let me take care of it. I’ll go and talk to Amir right now, okay? Don’t you worry about a thing. Just get better. I’ll come and look in on you later.”
He nodded at Robin and left.
Robin touched Makayla’s face again and sucked her teeth. “I understand your neighbor was out of town, baby, but don’t you have anyone else you could have called?”
Mak
ayla shook her head.
"What about your parents?"
For reasons Makayla couldn't have explained, the question made her angry. The last thing she wanted to discuss with "America's Therapist" was her lack of parents. So she just said, "I don't have a phone."
It was true. Robin didn’t need to know Makayla had no one to call even if she did.
Robin took a deep breath, exhaled and gently rubbed the side of Makayla's arm. "Don't you worry about none of that. I'm here now, all right?"
Makayla only nodded. She could feel a lump in her throat and was afraid if she opened her mouth to speak, she'd start crying.
Robin grabbed the blanket Makayla used as a comforter and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“We’re gonna get some food in you, then medicine. That's going to make you feel a whole lot better, okay? But first, I need to change the sheets, so let's put you—“
For the first time since she’d arrived, Robin took a moment to look at the room she was standing in.
There wasn't much to see. A small kitchenette. A door that led to an even smaller bathroom. An air mattress. A rusted, metal folding chair Makayla had picked up from the side of the dumpster on the corner. A suitcase that held everything she owned and doubled as a dresser.
When Robin turned back to face Makayla, her eyes glistened. "Here, let me help you to the chair."
Makayla’s insides burned with embarrassment and she did her best to avoid looking Robin in the face.
"Do you have more sheets in here?"
Robin reached to open Makayla's suitcase. Still groggy, Makayla took a second longer than usual to register what was about to happen. But when she did, she gasped.
"No!”
Robin jerked away from the suitcase as if it contained a pile of snakes.
“I mean… I don't have any others."
"Oh," Robin said.
Had she opened the suitcase, a photo of Makayla's grandmother and the gold, engraved heart necklace would've been the first things she saw.
"You know what? That's not a problem," Robin said, picking up her handbag where she'd left it by the mattress. "I'll just get you some."
She looked around the room again, then back at Makayla. "Actually… I don't want to overstep, but… Why don't I get you a few more things? The other day, I saw this cute little twin bed and—“
Makayla had a flashback to overhearing Shauna and her friend in the bathroom. Charity work. Makayla didn’t want to be anyone’s good deed. Especially Robin’s.
"I don't need anything."
Robin cleared her throat and ran her fingers over the gold buttons that lined the front of her coat. "It wouldn't be a problem. If it's about the money, don't worry. I have plenty—“
Makayla got up, holding the back of the folding chair to steady herself and made her way to the suitcase. Turning it so Robin couldn't see inside, she took a twenty dollar bill from her money envelope. She handed it and her room key to Robin.
“Just medicine and a can of soup, please. Thanks.”
A moment passed like that, with Makayla holding out the twenty and Robin looking as if she'd been punched in the gut. Then Robin took the money and the key.
"I won't be long."
Chapter 15
Makayla managed to wash up and change into an old, but clean T-shirt and a worn pair of sweats. Rodney was nice enough to lend her some sheets for the air bed and even helped her put them on, while his wife silently watched from behind the door frame.
When Robin got back, she seemed pleased. "Good! I see you found another set of sheets."
She went to the kitchenette and began unpacking her purchases. Paper towels, aloe-infused tissue, orange juice, flu medicine and bottled water. By the time Makayla saw the six cans of soup, she was beside herself.
Robin put her hand up. "Before you say anything, one can isn’t enough. You need to eat. Trust me, you'll feel better.” Robin took off her coat and draped it over the folding chair. “Now go lay down while I heat this up.”
“Umm, thanks for going to the store, but you don’t have to stay. Really.”
“I know.”
Robin smiled and began opening cabinets, in search of a pot.
Makayla exhaled loudly. “Upper right cabinet.”
Robin retrieved the pot and kept looking until she came across the cabinet that held the one bowl, plate and cup Makayla owned. She sang to herself as she peeled back the lid on the can of soup and poured it in the pot.
It was a scene out of Makayla’s childhood daydreams. Mom in the kitchen making her something to eat. She should have enjoyed it. Robin certainly was. But it only made Makayla sad. Was it because of the awful dream she’d had over and over about Robin walking away? She wasn’t sure. All she knew was, she wanted Robin to leave.
“If you don’t go soon, you won’t make church.”
Robin turned on the pilot and stopped singing just long enough to say, “I’m not going today.”
Great.
Makayla dragged herself back to bed and tried to be covert about watching Robin from where she lay. She kept waiting for her to sneer at the peeling paint on the cabinets, or the questionable, but permanent stains on the counter, but she never did.
While Makayla ate the chicken and rice, Robin sat in the folding chair, occupied with her iPad. When she was finished with whatever she’d been doing, she took a bag out of her purse. It was the same kind of white plastic bag she’d brought the soup and medicine in.
Robin put the bag on the counter and took things out, but with her back to her, Makayla had no idea what.
“I’ll be out of town for a while. I have a conference to attend, a speaking engagement, then a friend’s wedding in New York.”
Robin turned and held up a black and white box with red accents.
"I know you like to be independent, but I just don't feel right, you living alone and without a phone. Especially with me being gone for so long. Now, I’ve already set up the account and you don’t have to worry about anything. Whatever apps or anything else you want will be charged to the card I’ve put on file.“
Makayla felt heat flash through her body, and not from the fever. She couldn't believe this. Had she not specifically said she didn't want anything from her? Robin barely knew her and yet every time she turned around, she was trying to buy her something or take her somewhere.
What kind of person went all out for a stranger but never went back for the kid they dumped?
Makayla wanted to ask her that. She wanted to scream at her and tell her what she really thought about being the object of her good christian charity. But she was tired and shaky and felt like every cell in her body burned with fever. So instead of ranting and raving like she wanted to, she kept her voice low and even.
"I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I'm good."
Robin folded her arms and tilted her head to the side. "That's just it, Makayla. I don't think you are."
Wow.
“Baby, when was the last time you spoke to your parents?"
Makayla clenched her jaw so hard, she thought her teeth would break.
"Did you all have an argument? Are you not speaking to them?"
Makayla snorted, not even trying to hide her sarcasm. "Yeah, something like that."
Robin took a deep breath and studied Makayla. "I'm just trying to help."
"I told you I don't need your help.”
Despite the medicine’s claim to relieve aches and pains, the pounding in her head increased.
"I know what you said.” Robin took note of the irritation directed at her, but remained calm.
That only made Makayla angrier.
"That's not what it looks like to me."
"Makayla, I don't know what's going on with you and your family, but if you were my daughter, I’d want to hear from you. Especially at a time like this.”
Makayla chalked it up to being sick as a dog and doped up on medicine. It was the only explanation for what happened next.
Without any warning, she completely broke down.
Since that one night with Kim and Damien five years ago, she'd never cried in front of anybody. Not ever. But now, not only was she crying, she was full out weeping. Worse, she couldn't stop.
Humiliated, she covered her head with her blanket and turned toward the wall, trying, but failing to quiet her sobs.
She heard Robin move toward her and sit on the floor near the mattress. When she put her hand on Makayla’s back, Makayla moved from under it. For a while, Robin stayed there, saying nothing. The only sound in the room was Makayla's muffled cries. When Robin finally did speak, she sounded as though she'd been crying, too.
"I'm sorry. I never meant to upset or embarrass you."
“Could you please go?”
Robin didn't answer. A few moments passed. Just before Makayla was about to ask again, she heard Robin get up. Makayla listened to her walk over to the wall opposite her and when she stole a peek she saw Robin plugging in the charger and connecting it to the phone. Then she gathered her things and went to the door.
"I leave tonight for the conference in Chicago. I'll call and check on you between sessions. I expect you to answer the phone."
Makayla spent the rest of the afternoon and evening doing her very best to ignore the phone and the white shopping bag next to it. She argued with herself about having principles and not taking charity and standing by her word, but when it came down to it, she wanted that phone.
And she wanted it bad.
She’d never had her own phone. All the people she’d ever worked with had one, her aunt had one, even her knuckle-headed cousin had one, but she never did. As much as she may have wanted one, she hadn't done anything but save her money since she started working.
No trinkets, no magazines, no mp3 players, no fast food—nothing. She hadn't even bought new clothes until she arrived in town and needed something she could wear to church.
She looked at it like this: if she had no one else to depend on but herself, she’d be an idiot to spend food, electric bill and bus fare money on something like a cell phone. Stuff like that was pure luxury.
Nobody’s Child (New Life Tabernacle Series Book 1) Page 8
