A holiday for redemption 2

Family

James regarded the man who now stood at the stove cooking. He'd introduced himself as Evin Montgomery.
  He was silent as he cooked. Whatever it was smelled delicious.
He'd offered his services but Evin had declined.

Evin put down the big spoon and turned to survey the white man who sat at the island. He had questions and he needed answers.

"What are you doing here?" James had anticipated this. And he was amused. He tried to hold in the smirk.

"I came to see your sister." He replied.
"For what?"
"I came to make sure she was okay."
"Are you her boyfriend?"
"Did she say I was?"
When he was met with silence he answered, "No I'm not her boyfriend. I'm a friend. "
"Are you having sex with my sister?"
He waited a few moments before answering. He wanted to laugh but he figured it was inappropriate.
"No, Jan isn't ready for that."
"Do you love her?"
"Yes."
Evin seemed a little taken aback by that answer.
"Does she know?"
James launched into another bout of silence. She did know ,but he figured enough of this boy's questions.
Evin mistook his silence for affirmation.
"Don't tell her. " He ordered. "My sister has suffered enough. My mother's death wasn't good for her.
The last thing she needs is more stress."
James felt the anger well up but he kept it at bay. He was tempted to tell this man to watch his business but he figured that he was protective of her. He kind of liked that.

Evin went back to his kitchen duties. He had said what he meant to say and  the food was almost done. He took up his bag and proceeded to leave.
"You're leaving?" James questioned.
"Yes. Tell Janet I'll be back later this week."
He nodded at James one last time and left.

She opened her eyes. Had it all been a dream? She sat up on the bed. She perused her hand and everything came rushing back .
  Maybe it had been a bad dream.
She could smell food. Evin was here. She got up and left the room.

He sat at the dining room table chewing on a chicken leg. Jan frowned. The headache she'd had intensified. She was still groggy from her nap and she hoped she was hallucinating him.

She yawned. He was almost done with his plate. She went into the kitchen and prepared herself a plate.
"Where's my brother?"
James put up his head and looked in her direction, she hadn't turned but he assumed the question was directed at him.
"He left. He said he'd see you later this week."
She ruminated on that as she moved towards the table. Her brother  was extremely protective of her, yet this man who was currently licking his fingers had gotten through his defenses.
  She briefly wondered what they'd discussed while she'd been asleep and then realized she didn't care.
Her brother had made her rice with lentils,yams and chicken legs.
  She sat down at the table opposite him. She chewed slowly. He was already halfway through with his plate.

He put his plate away and came back to sit in front of her. She was struggling to finish what she'd taken. He frowned as he watched her.
  There was nothing she hated more than being watched or scrutinized. She refused to meet his gaze yet she knew he watched her. With that sky blue eyed gaze.
  She picked up her unfinished plate and brought it to the  kitchen. She could feel his eyes on her, watching his every move.
  She turned towards him. "Why are you still here?"
  He smirked and she felt a pang of guilt at the redness on his face. She wondered if Evin had noticed. He was  one to ask some hard questions.
"I came to see you." He answered.
"Well you've seen me, so you can leave now."
"I'm not leaving yet. I'm sleeping here tonight."
Jan frowned at that piece of news and countered.
"No you're not."
"Yes I am."
"No you're not."
"Yes."
Jan sighed, she had no desire to play these games.
"I know a nice hotel, I can set up a reservation for you easily."
"I'm not leaving." He set him self harder into the chair.
She felt tired suddenly. This man was frustrating. She could do nothing to convince him to leave.
  She sighed and resigned herself to an unwanted guest. She only had herself to blame. She'd shown weakness.
  What would Stella do? Jan shook her head. Her mother would have given up her bed and scolded Jan for being so unwelcoming.
She missed her so much. She stared at the man who had made himself comfortable on her chair.
  "Do whatever you want." She finally said. "I don't care anymore. " She walked away.