"I wish my dad could cook like this. You should teach him." The ten year old smiled as he mushed the cornbread dressing in-between his hands as she added the ingredients.
"I'm sure your dad can cook just fine." She laughed adding the onions into the bowl as his hands moved quickly.
"White people food." He mumbled earning a gasp and screech mixture from his babysitter. She shook her head at the comment, praying he wouldn't start saying these phrases in front of his dad.
"I need to keep you out the old folks home." She noted out loud but mostly to herself. She had only been watching him for seven months but it seemed like he had grown at least ten years wiser. She picked him up from school on her lunch break and finished out her shift with him. He didn't mind because he got to gamble during bingo and was given access to the unlimited supply of apple juice and Graham Crackers. Today's efforts were fruitful and he giddily left the nursing home with a handful of candy and five dollars.
The two cooked together as the sun went down and she helped him arrange all the gifts he had picked out for his dads birthday. "What if he comes home late again?" He asks, watching her place candles in the lopsided cake he had frosted a few hours prior.
"He won't it's his birthday." She shrugged, she hadn't seen her boss since last Friday and she was nervous. Admittedly, she was tipsy when she decided to clean up around the house and found a unopened package, in an unopened box, under the bed. Her cheeks grew rosy as she thought about him watching her. How long was he watching? Did he notice her immediately or the last few minutes? Regardless of what transpired she felt idiotic to potentially risk the job she so desperately needed.
"Well what if he does?" He persisted.
She shoved her hands in her sweatpants pockets, pouting at the child in front of her. "That means we can eat cake for dinner, and watch a scary movie." She grinned, watching his eyes light up. It was hard to further find the man attractive when she constantly had moments like this with his son. A boy just yearning for attention and a man focusing purely on financials.
"Cake for dinner?" Her eyes widened as she stood up straight.
"Dad!" The little boy rushed past her jumping into his fathers arms. "Happy Birthday!" He ushered him to the kitchen island to show him all his presents.
"How did you buy all of this stuff?" The man laughed, his laughter kicking into high gear when seeing the cake.
"My allowance for cleaning my room." The boy furrowed his brows, grabbing one of the presents to hand his dad.
"Allowance?" He glanced past his son, a satisfied grin pulling on to his face as he took in the woman behind him. Her brown skin glossy and glowing. Her sweatpants hung long on her hips, leaving an inch or two between her white t-shirt. He made a mental note to check on this allowance situation because he had no idea how much she'd been paying his son.
"Happy Birthday Sir." She smiled. "Bug cooked all of this for you. And he picked out the gifts himself too." She gestured them both to sit down and fix their plates.
"I hope you guys enjoy your night." She said sheepishly, internally begging to immediately evaporate.
"Sug please stay. So we can watch a movie after cake." Bug whined.
"Sug like sugar? Those elderly people are doing a number on you." His dad laughed.
"No like Suge Knight." The child corrected her. "That's what her boyfriend calls her every time."
Unsure whether or not to be embarrassed or laugh she forced out a chuckle. "Oh I don't have a b-"
"You should stay Ms. Knight, settle in." He interrupted, pulling her coat from her shoulders and politely guiding her to sit down with his hand on her lower back. He pours her a generous glass of wine before settling back into his seat across the table.
