Navia And Destiny

Jacobs

"Dad! Grub's ready!"

Navia bit her lower lip as she poured syrup onto a stack of pancakes. She then placed hash browns, stir fry and finely chopped fresh fruit around.

"Okay, let's do this," she heard a voice say followed by footsteps rushing downstairs.

Navia smiled at her father as he came into view, straightening his tie on his way down. "What's cookin'?"

Navia slid the plate to the other side of the counter, watching as her dad sat placed a finger on the plate before it could make its way to the floor.

"Looks promising right?"

"I wouldn't say so."

Navia rolled her eyes at the remark before tilting her head to look at grandmother in the living area who sat in a wheelchair, squinting her eyes at the television set as she fumbled with the remote. "Save yourself Joshua."

"Mum, be nice," he looked up from his plate and faced Navia with a smile. "Navia's an amazing cook."
"I thought so too. Now I'm in a wheelchair with stomach cancer."

That, despite being a bit heavy, was a joke.

Grandma Lauren had been battling cancer for the past two years.

Something that had nothing to do with Navia's culinary history.

"Mm."

Navia's eyes shot up with her smile as she watched her dad cut out a piece from one of the pancakes and stuff it into his mouth.

"Mm good?"

Joshua chewed slowly as he kept his eyes focused on his fork, looking at it with a look of some kind of betrayal.

Nodding his head, he put his fork down and reached for a hash brown.

Resting her head on her chin, Navia watched with excitement as her father chewed, her fingers anxiously tapping on the marble of the kitchen island.

"You gotta-you gotta savour it," he said through a full mouth, prying on a smile.

"Great," Navia said as she stood straight up, turning around," now you can try this packed lunch I made you. Kinda like the same recipe as-"

"Ha! Would ya look at that."

Turning around, Navia saw as her father tucked a folded napkin in his pocket. A bit too much in a hurry.

"Uh, what're you doing?"

"Lemme save you the drama and tell you what he was doing,' Grandma Lauren wheezed.

"Mum."

"Dad?"

"He was spittin' that suicide meal out. That's what."

Navia watched as her father pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"Really mum?"

Grandma Lauren did nothing but cackle.

"Joshua?!"

Standing up, Joshua mouthed a 'sorry' before shouting,"yes?!"
And leaving.

Navia stood to glare at Grandma Lauren who took a break from her cackling to look at her.

"Those stink eyes ain't gon' make me stop teasin' ya. Let alone make you a better cook. Ha!"

...

Joshua rushed upstairs and into his bedroom where his wife Jennifer was pacing around, muttering.

"I could've sworn it was"-
"Jen?"

Stopping her seemingly unsuccessful search, Jennifer poked her head out of the closet she walked into.

"Good, you're here".

"I'm pretty sure you called me up h-"

"I need your help. It's about the graduation."

"Great. What came up this time?"

Jennifer looked her husband up and down.
"A late notice shift. And don't say it like I don't wanna go for her graduation. I mean, it's bad enough that I have to drive your mum to live with your sister."

Exhausted, Jennifer sat down on her bed. Joshua did the same and wrap his arms around her.

"The promotion I got seemed so amazing. I mean, I'm the only woman- black woman-on the board and this is how it is? Choosing between having my schedule hacked so I can let them have a Charlie and the chocolate factory themed game night and losing my job?"

Joshua sighed. "Wish I could fill in. It's just...these job interviews are..."

"I get it. I mean, having you off my couch? Splitting the water bills? Talk about a dream come true."

Joshua gave a chuckle as he rested his chin on her head.

"I'm proud of you," she said into his chest.

Joshua looked down at her and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
"Thanks for being patient with me."

After enjoying the warm embrace, Jennifer pulled away and sighed.

"I'm sorry," Josh laughed. "Charlie and the chocolate factory?"

"Yes. There's grown men dressed in denim overalls as oompa loompas but that's besides the point Josh."

Joshua looked to his side and noticed a fluffy light blue material with pearls around it.

"Is this Destiny's dress?"

"Yeah," Jennifer responded, holding it out. "She designed every bit of it. She'd have my head if it was any different."

"Then what were you looking for?"

"Right! Her necklace. I can't find it. I could've sworn I brought it home but I guess we'll have to get her a new one."

"No problem. Bertrand can stop over at the jewellery store."

"I feel really horrible for blowing her off. She needs her family more than anything today."

"Well," Joshua said with a smile, " who said she won't have family?"

Jennifer raised a brow. "Don't tell me you're thinking of"-

"Navia! She just got her license"-
"After multiple fails."
"She's her sister Jen. She wouldn't let her down."
"What happened last time Josh?"
"We don't wanna dwell on that right?"
"What happened?"

Joshua sighed.

"Jen, we have to give the girls a chance to learn to grow as sisters. We're not gonna be here forever. One day, they're gonna be all they'll have. What then?"

Jennifer sighed. "Okay."

With an elated clap of the hands, Joshua smiled. "Would you look at that? The women in my life are getting along today. Navia and Destiny, my wife and my mother,"-

"Slow down soldier, okay? As much as I want her off of my couch, this is a favour. One nasty peep out of her about what music I put on the stereo and I'm throwing her out of the car. Got it?"

Joshua chuckled.
"Got it."