and I’m not hurting for the money. You love that place, and I can respect that. Just pay any outstanding bills and we’re square. I’ll sell it to ya for one dollar. That way it legally converts as a deed transfer.”
“You… you’ll what? Are you serious?!” Her heart pumped so fast and hard, it burned.
“Yeah, I’m serious. You can rent out the space next door as you see fit… get some extra income that way. Or you can expand your store. It might be nice actually to move the eating area to a different spot altogether, then you could have even more tables and what not. When people come some place and eat, they spend more money.”
“I must be dreaming. I have to be dreaming.” She covered her mouth and shook her head.
“You’re not dreamin’. I’ve been thinking about it for a few days now. You deserve it. Now, about my stomach… that’s a serious matter. I don’t cook well. I just manage well enough to get by. When people can cook well, to me, that’s a real talent. For dinner, I want a lot of food, all right? I can eat enough for three folks and not blink an eye. You said you can cook, so I expect it to not only be a lot of food, but good food. If it’s not, I’m going to be sorely disappointed. I’ll still eat it as long as it’s not burnt, but I will definitely tell you if I don’t like it.”
“Wow. What a catch you are, Aries. Women must be chompin’ at the bit to get next to a guy who loves to eat his own foot, too. Foot in mouth casserole – your favorite dish.”
He grinned. “Can you cook soul food, baby?”
“Don’t you start with that shit, Aries.” He tossed up his hands, as if oblivious to what the problem could be. “Next you’ll be picking your lips up off the ground after I smack them off, because you’ll ask me about some fried chicken, watermelon, and if I like to play basketball and dance.”
“Nah, you don’t understand,” he said with that familiar smirk of his. “See, I love soul food. I don’t see shit wrong with asking. I can’t make it. My mama couldn’t make it. My grandmother was a good cook, but she never even tried to make it from what I recall. I really like it. I want some. Can you cook it or not?” She was silent, her mouth twitching, her excitement from his earlier announcement making her sail, fly high in the sky. “You can. You just don’t want to admit it. Cook me some soul food tonight, baby. Put your foot in it, as they say.”
She burst out laughing and rolled about in her seat, while he lit a cigarette. Still sporting a crooked grin, he cracked the window to let the smoke out.
“How do you know about that, Aries? Television?”
“No. My grandmother had a good friend from church, Hattie. Hattie would say things like that. Owen and I always thought it was funny. It stuck with me.” He reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers. The gesture felt totally natural, not out of place or awkward in the least.
When they arrived at her home, he helped her out the truck, his hand wrapped firmly around her waist. They walked to the house, and after she slid the key in the door, instead of giving him a hug goodbye, she stepped over the threshold and invited him inside. Aries didn’t hesitate for one second. In fact, he came right on in like he lived there and had the run of the place. She closed the door behind him and he stood there, taking it all in.
“You want something to drink before you head off? A hot coffee?”
“I’d love some. I can’t stay long though.”
He followed her into her kitchen, where he leaned against her counter and crossed his arms. He was a tall glass of something poisonous and good to the last damn drop. She started fixing the coffee as he studied the photos of her and her family, friends, and old work colleagues on the refrigerator, all set in little magnetic frames. As the coffee percolated, they faced one another. She on one side of the kitchen, he on the other.
“I still can’t believe you’re giving me Benjamin’s building. Thank you so much, Aries.”
He waved her off and looked away as if it were no big deal. In no time, she