Kenann came out to the church parking lot cum basketball court with coffee for her and Danny Mac – juice for Blade.
“Who’s winning?” They both were eager for a break and joined her at the picnic table on the church lawn. “Hope you like it black?” handing the coffee to Danny Mac.
“Just like he likes his women,” Blade interjected. They both turned to look at him.
“Well, isn’t that what you white folks always say?” Kenann and Danny Mac exchanged glances and burst out laughing. Danny Mac put the young boy in a headlock.
“What am I going to do with you?
“Give me lots of money?”
“Dream on, Alice.”
“You say the weirdest things, man.”
“Oh, come on. You know. Alice in Wonderland - the fairy tale? Dream on?”
“That’s a white folks fairy tale. If you’re gonna hang with me, you gotta learn my language.”
“Okay, tonight at 5:00. You can tutor me.”
“No way, man, that’s a trick.”
“You know what your principal said. If you can pass some basic skills tests before school starts this fall, he will promote you to your next grade. Otherwise you have to take fifth grade over again.”
“Come on, man, summer just started. I don’t want to study now.”
“No study no basketball, my friend.”
“That’s cool. I can hang with other guys and play ball.”
“Okay. See you around, Blade.” The boy sat for a few seconds undecided what to do. He looked to Kenann for help. She merely looked back with what she hoped was an expression of friendly neutrality.
“That’s blackmail.” Blade stuck out his chin.
“Yep.”
Blade heaved a great sigh. “Oh, alright. I’ll be back at 5:00. Does my mom know?”
“Yep.”
“It’s a conspiracy.”
Danny Mac chuckled. “Anyone who knows about conspiracies needs to pass the fifth grade. See you tonight.”
Blade left grinning. He was cool with the whole tutoring thing. It just meant more time with Danny Mac. Ever since his Dad died, Danny Mac had been there for him. Danny Mac was awesome. But he couldn’t make it look too easy.
“Sorry for the Medusa crack.” Danny Mac looked at her sideways when they were alone.
“Hey, never apologize for a getting in a good jab. I should come with a warning label in the mornings.” She grinned, and Danny Mac was enchanted once again by her openness and total lack of pretense. They sat in companionable silence enjoying the warmth of the sun on their backs.
Danny Mac broke the silence. “What’s on your agenda for the day?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Get some groceries, I guess. I promised to fix Judy dinner. You want to come over and eat with us?”
“I wasn’t really hinting for a good home cooked meal.”
“Good, because you won’t be getting one. My cooking has been known to defy the natural laws of science. But I can guarantee stimulating conversation and all the antacids you desire.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
Danny Mac’s eyes never left Kenann’s as he said, “Brace yourself.”
“Excuse me?” Her heart fluttered in her chest.
She was answered by squealing tires at her back. She whirled around in time to see a small red sports car slide to a stop a few feet from them. A short, well-built woman in a white flowing pant suit, leapt from behind the driver’s seat with amazing agility for someone wearing ridiculously high heels.
“What a glorious picture you make.” Her voice was deep and melodious, rich with an Eastern European accent. Danny Mac was always reminded of old black and white movies when she spoke.
“Good morning, Mrs. Gage. You’re out early.”
“I’ve got a home to refurbish into a honeymoon cottage. Jim and Karen are getting married you know. Isn’t it wonderful? Young lovers. They are the nectar of my life.” Kenann heard the sigh in the words if not in her voice. You had to love this woman.
“Of course, you will both attend the reception I am having a week from Saturday at my house.” It was not a question.
“I trust you are settling in Kenann, dear? Anything you need, you call me, yes? Must run.” She blew them a kiss trotting lightly back to her car and was off in a squeal of tires.
Kenann spoke first. “Whoa!”
“Yeah, she fills up her space and yours too.”
“But she was so quiet when I inquired about the apartment.”
“She was sizing you up for me.”
* * *
Kenann kept her promise to cook or arrange takeout meals that week for Judy who worked late almost every night. Sometimes Danny Mac joined them in between his church duties. He seemed to thrive on it though. When he wasn’t helping old ladies cross the street, he was studying. Granny would love this guy, Kenann thought.
Danny Mac could sense how guarded Judy was with him, so he never stayed long when she was there. But he did make an effort to eat lunch with Kenann most days that week. There developed between them a companionable easiness. No demands. No expectations. Their comfortable relationship spilled over to Judy and by the end of the week she had started to thaw in his presence. Blade also began dropping by for hot chocolate before he went over for his tutoring session with Danny Mac. Danny Mac lodged a complaint. He saw Kenann first. Blade actually giggled.
On Friday night, Kenann, Judy and Danny Mac had enjoyed a simple, if rather bland, meal of Kenann’s creation, before heading to the front porch for some coffee. Danny Mac had just put his feet up on the railing to enjoy the evening breeze, when he leapt to his feet. In two long strides he was down the steps and almost to the front gate to meet the man whom Danny Mac had obviously spotted getting out of his car at the curb.
“What do you want?” Danny Mac resembled a snarling dog going nose to nose with the lanky man in the dark tailored suit. The man merely responded with a benign smile.
“Is that any way to treat the man who saved your life?”
“Bull. If I had known I would have to pay for it the rest of my life I’d have taken the bloody bullet like a man and been done with it. Go away!” Judy and Kenann were staring in fascination at this exchange. The stranger made no move to leave.
“Did Carter send you?”
“Yes.”
Danny Mac emitted a low growl before the man could finish.
“It is not what you think. I need to talk to you.” He took Danny Mac by the arm in order to focus him completely. “It’s important.”
Danny Mac wavered and then sighed resignedly. “It had better be. Come on. You’ve got ten minutes,” and led him across the street to the church building and his private office. Danny Mac had obviously forgotten the women gaping at them from the porch, but Andrew O’Hanlon had been all too aware of them. He flashed them a dazzling smile over his shoulder and with a jaunty nod of his auburn head, was propelled by the upper arm into the building.
Kenann looked at Judy. “I’ve never seen him act like that.” She paused, “I think I like it.”