All That Matters

10 | Good Friends

"Sorry about that!" Mila apologized behind a laugh as her faux wing smacked one of the baker boys in the face. Her festival was in full swing and she'd been flying around in circles, ensuring that everything was going smoothly.

"You good, Tinkerbell." Tommy surveyed her with a long stare and a lick of the lips. Her look was only meant to be festive and complement Dylan's but her ethereal look seemed to draw in more admiring eyes than she could ever anticipate. "You look good with wings." Tommy was also the biggest flirt in the bakery, and though he and Mila were the same age, she was too mature for his games.

"Next time you come out of the kitchen, Tommy, don't forget your clown nose." She smiled briefly and quickly turned to attend to more important business.

She saw Yasmine and Jilly wrangling the kids to get on the teacup ride, having to guide them since their hands were over their eyes to hide from the skeleton that operated it. To the left of her were the interactive games, apple bobbing and pumpkin carving, and to her right were the magician and a myriad of local artists and business owners advertising themselves. The community showed out with support. Angelou and neighboring families brought their children and even college kids came to get light scares and free treats.

She was beaming with pride and fairy dust at the success of her first event. Witnessing the payoff of her hard work was heartwarming and the sound of her guests enjoying themselves was satiating. She found herself discovering a new passion and it fueled her drive for the next thing that she had yet to decide on. She only knew that she would always make the extravagant choice.

"Hey, Mila!" Saija yelled over Thriller to catch her attention and waved her over when she'd caught it. As soon as she'd noticed them, Mila complimented her and her baby's costumes. Saija was suited up in a cupcake dress while her daughter was a baker in her arms. "Everything came out so perfectly. I really have no words to express how much I love it. A dream come true." She nodded her head sincerely with a smile.

"Let me get a picture of the boss ladies!" An older woman who still radiated youthfulness and favored Lisa Raye approached them with her phone, snapping pictures. There was a herd of children following behind her. They were moths and she was the light in their eyes. Mila noticed Saija's twin boys in the ensemble in their cartoon inspired costumes so she knew this woman had to be family.

After they'd gotten close for the camera, she neared, hugging Saija and kissing Karina first. "I'm Angela, honey. I've been waiting to meet the girl who my Saija has taken under her wing." Her smile was one Mila imagined the most loving grandmother would have.

"Girl, she flew from under my wing a long time ago. She put this whole thing together herself." Saija gushed about Mila as she pulled her closer. "Angie's like everyone's second mom."

"Yup, so bring it in baby girl. We're family, we do hugs over here!" Angela caught her by surprise with her warm embrace but welcomed it, hit with the citrus notes of her perfume when she inhaled. "You did amazing with this festival! It's very impressive."

"Thank you. It's nice to meet you." Mila smiled, fully engulfed by their automatic familial energy.

Angela turned to find her niece who she'd come with. "Britney!" Their eyesight traveled to a tall brown skinned beauty who was dressed so stylishly with a huge baby sushi roll in her arms. She looked like she'd gotten caught as she grabbed a handful of sour gummies from one of the hundred blue pumpkin trick-or-treat buckets posted out there.

"This is B, one of my girls." Saija gestured to her, both of their arms full with their chubby baby girls and B munching on a pack of Sour Patch Kids. "B, this is Mila." Saija then followed with all of her best traits and accolades and informed Mila that B's father-in-law was Senator Anthony Brown.