White men are scoundrels.
No good can come from dating or, God forbid, falling in love with a white boy.
Chamony Wells never questioned or challenged this teaching as all the white men she'd been around managed to live up or down to that expectatio...
Chamony glances over at her daughter, smiling softly as the young child continues to 'help' her mother with her current project.
She knew not to ask the recently turned two year old what she needed because she didn't need anything.
It was common for the talkative child to say random words. Chamony had no objections. In fact, she looked forward to what would come out of her daughter's mouth. More often than not, the little girl said a new word, constantly building up her vocabulary.
And Chamony was all about early childhood education.
"Whatya' drawing mama?"
Ledicia's head snaps up and Chamony watches carefully how her big blue eyes blink three times and nose crinkles before her little arms raise to show her mother the pending masterpiece.
"Coco!"
Chamony's grin widens at the random and colorful lines drawn about the paper. "Coco?"
Hearing her name, the family dog, a beautiful purebred German Shepherd weighing in at a whopping 90lbs comes running into the living room.
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"Coco!" Ledicia claps and giggles. Coco, used to the little girl calling her name, calmly walks to the edge of the sofa, standing up and laying her head on the sofa next to her youngest owner. Leaning over, Ledicia proceeds to rub the top of Coco's head, eliciting the dog to put her ears down and close her eyes.
Chamony watches the two with loving eyes.
Initially, when Isaac even mentioned the word dog, she was dead set against it. However, her husband pled a good case. Not only would a dog be a good companion for him - he grew up with three dogs and adored them - but he believed it would be an even better companion for their daughter.
He believed getting the animal from a puppy would allow the two to grow up together, and even better, the dog would be protective not just of the whole family, but especially Ledicia.
He was right.
Coco and Ledicia took to each other from day one, and now, a year later, Coco is fiercely protective of the youngest Gardner.
When she was done petting the dog, Ledicia removed her hand and resumed her drawing. Sensing play time was over, Coco moved her head off the sofa and laid down on the plush carpet.
Directly in front of Ledicia.
Chamony looks down to see her daughter's tiny hands trying to push her arm out the way. She lifts it and watches Ledicia crane her neck to look at her mom's sketch.
"Me!" Ledicia giggles happily, realizing the image is of her.
"You!" Chamony matches her enthusiasm and lifts up the book, keeping one hand on the left side, with the other side held up by the little girl. "Do you like mommy's picture?" She laughs as the happy child shakes her head. "Yay!"
