No Ordinary Romance (6 page)

Johana poured the cornbread batter into a
cast iron skillet and set it on top of the stove. She sat down at
the table and regarded her cousin with solemn eyes. “I seriously
hate it when you sell yourself short. I know that a lot of people
who were supposed to love you let you down. I got a feeling that
this year is going to bring about a momentous change in your life.
I want you to promise me one thing.”

Johana was a couple of years younger than
Connie was, but she’s suffered many losses in her life. She lost
both her parents during her first year of college, and her husband
James who was also Tatiana’s father, died in a car crash. She still
had a positive outlook on life, and she’d never let Connie wallow
in self-pity.

She sat down at the table and clasped
Johana’s hand, “what do you want me to promise you little
cousin.”

“I want you to find a good man, have a large
church wedding, have a house full of babies, and be happy. There
are only four of us left in this family. It’s up to you to build up
the family and provide Tatiana with some playmates.”

“I tell you what, I’ll promise to keep an
open mind about men if you do the same.” Connie cut Johana off
before she could interrupt. “I know how much you loved James, but
you’re a young woman with a whole lot to share with some lucky man.
So why don’t both of us agree to leave the past in the past and
focus on the future. Now give me your pinky and swear to it.”

“You have yourself a deal cousin if Nana can
snag a man, we certainly can. I pinky swear!”

***

Aunt
Mabel
’s man friend Edward wasn’t exactly what
Connie expected. He was a robust man with a ruddy complexion, blue
eyes, and a head of wavy black hair men half his age would kill. Of
course, he didn’t come alone; his grandson Tyler who is tall, dark,
and handsome with devilish silver eyes accompanied him. He’s a
doctor at Lincoln General who just happened to be at loose ends
today and decided to visit his grandfather.

Dinner was filled with
lively conversation and Aunt
Mabel
’s never
ending meddling. She praised both Connie and Johana giving Tyler
the opportunity to select between two lovely women though decidedly
different. To Connie’s delight Tyler seemed bowled over by Johana’s
loveliness and Tatiana’s charm. Johana also seemed to be interested
in Tyler.

Edward practically hummed
as he ate his dinner. “Connie,
Mabel
has
told me so many good things about you. I didn’t believe her when
she told me that your black-eyed peas, and macaroni and cheese was
better than my momma’s. Gal I haven’t had good cooking like this
since I left Tupelo, Mississippi, you’re gonna make some man a
mighty fine wife.”

Connie gave her Aunt
Mabel
a sly glance. “I’m surprised Aunt
Mabel
hasn’t whipped you up a home cooked meal.
She’s by far a better cook than me.

“I don’t date
Mabel
for her cooking; we have other things in common
that keeps the wood burning in the fireplace.”

Connie almost choked at the
euphemism and had to laugh as her aunt sat there giggling like a
little high schoolgirl. “Now that everyone’s finishing up who would
like a piece of cake. It’s Red Velvet, Aunt
Mabel
’s favorite.

They sung happy birthday to
Aunt
Mabel,
and Connie made sure everyone
got an ample slice of Red Velvet cake. After dessert, Connie and
Johana cleaned up the kitchen while everyone else got comfortable
in the living room. “What do you think of Edward?”

“Did you see the way Nana was behaving? She
was practically purring when he started talking about wood burning
in the fireplace. Those two are into each other in more ways than
one; I haven’t seen her glow like that since Poppa died.”

“I think before long you and Tyler will have
something going on too.”

Johana’s face flamed with embarrassment; she
hadn’t been attracted to a man for a long time. She hadn’t dated
anyone since high school. James was her first and only love.
“That’s not possible Connie, although Tati and I plan to relocate
back to Omaha.

“It’s about damn time.”

“I’ve been thinking about
moving home for months. I put in applications at Mutual and
Fidelity, and I had interviews at both places. Even if, we moved
back, I don’t see Tyler and
me
getting
together again. He’s a doctor working and living in
Lincoln.

“Johana, Lincoln is only an hour drive away.
Samantha and Allen had a real long distance romance, and they made
it happen.”

“Yeah he moved to Omaha to be with her, it
didn’t stay long distance for very long.” They were interrupted by
Tyler’s presence in the Kitchen.

“I didn’t mean to startle you ladies; it’s
getting late and it’s time for me to head back home. It was a
pleasure meeting both of you.” He nodded in Connie’s direction and
shook Johana’s hand his eyes remained glued to her face.

“Hey Johana, why don’t you walk Tyler to his
car; I bet you two have a lot to talk about.” If looks could kill,
Connie would be pushing up daisies.

“Tyler is a grown man I’m sure he doesn’t
want me to tag along…” Her brows furrowed when Tyler cut her
off.

“Thank you Connie I think that’s a terrific
idea. Grab you coat Johana it’s rather cold outside.” Tyler
appreciated Connie’s intervention he’d been racking his brain
trying to find a reason to get Johana alone.

Johana made a face at Connie as she went to
retrieve her coat, Connie couldn’t help laughing at Johana’s
predicament. She turned around to face Tyler, and he was still
watching Johana’s retreating backside. “You and your grandfather
have it bad for women in this family.”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

His eyebrow rose, and his silvery gaze
squinted at her with inquiry. “Don’t get testy I happen to think
that you and Edward have very good taste.” Johana came back into
the kitchen with uncertainly plainly written on her face. “Enjoy
your walk Johana, take all the time you need. I’ll take care of
Tati.”

Tyler grabbed Johana’s arm and ushered her
out the door before she changed her mind. “Thanks Connie!”

“My pleasure.”

The food was put away, and
the kitchen was clean, so Connie joined her Aunt
Mabel
and Edward. They were wrapped up in each other on
the love seat as Tati lay there sleeping on the sofa. “I hope I’m
not interrupting anything.”

“Not at all baby. Edward and I were just
waiting for you to finish up in the kitchen before we turned in for
the evening. I figured that Johana and Tati could take my bed, and
you could sleep on the sofa bed. Edward promised me something
remarkable tonight so I’ll see you in the morning.”

Aunt
Mabel
gave her a hug as she and Edward left for
Edwards’s apartment. “Have a good night.”

“Don’t you worry Connie
I’ll take good care of
Mabel
.” He whispered
something in
Mabel
’s ear that made her
blush and giggled.

“Well I’ll be a monkey’s
uncle, who would have thought that Aunt
Mabel
still had it in her.” Connie picked Tatiana off the sofa and
carried her into Aunt
Mabel
’s bedroom. She
undressed Tati and put on her butterfly pajamas before placing her
on Aunt
Mabel
’s bed. She felt a longing
that was unknown to her as she covered the precious child and
kissing her goodnight.

She remembered reading somewhere that as
women approached thirty the longing to be a mother became an
obsession. God must have planted the need for procreation in the
minds of females to ensure the survival of the human race. “Sleep
well baby.”

“Night Condi.” Tatiana whispered as Connie
left the room.

Connie came back into the
living room to find a flustered Johana pretending to watch
television. “Tati’s sleeping in Aunt
Mabel
’s bed. You’ve been gone 45 minutes that was some
walk.”

“What can I say Tyler is a great
conversationalist.”

“Is he a good kisser too?”

“How did you know he kissed me?”

“I didn’t know he kissed you until you told
me, but you seemed kind of rattled as if you wanted more than a
kiss. I don’t think Tyler is the kind of man to be put off by long
distances. Quite frankly I’m surprised you two aren’t in the back
seat of his car making it rock.”

“Connie I’m not that kind of woman! I would
never abandon myself to a man’s arms leaving my daughter
unattended.”

“Calm down Johana, I’m just teasing you. I
know good and damn well that you’re a terrific mother; you would
never leave Tati to run off with a man. I’m just saying that a
woman needs more in her life than her children. Tyler looks like
the kind of man who wouldn’t be afraid to take on a readymade
family.”

“You got all of that just over dinner.”

“No I got that when he saw your face. Tyler
spent most of dinner trying to find out everything about you. I
also noticed that he took a particular shine to Tati. He’s what 35
years old, well past the age when a man starts looking for a
wife.”

“If Tati’s in the bedroom with Nana I guess
I’m sharing the sofa sleeper with you.”

“Actually Aunt
Mabel
left after you. She said something about her man
giving her something unusual surprise. I don't expect to see her
until morning.”

“Nana and Edward! Why both of them are over
80!”

“You heard what Edward said
about wood in the fireplace, he must have a real unique birthday
gift for Aunt
Mabel
. It looks like romance
is in the air for women in this family; I can’t wait to see my
knight in shining armor.”

“You will Connie; I really believe there’s
someone out there for you.”

***

Connie got up early and
made waffles for Tati and Johana. Aunt
Mabel
was a no show; she was probably recovering from her night with
Edward. She planned to stay a few hours, then she had to head back
to Omaha. She thought about her cousin’s predicament and came to a
decision. “Johana you know that you’re always welcome to stay with
me until you find a job.”

Johana laughed, shaking her head, “Connie
that is extremely magnanimous of you. The problem with relatives
that move in is that it takes forever for them to move out. I don’t
want to move back to Omaha until I know for sure that I have a
job.”

“You’re too independent to be a moocher. I
just wanted you to know that you have another alternative. Tax
season’s here and I could use another personal assistant until you
find that dream job you’re looking for.”

“Thanks cousin it’s good to have
options.”

Aunt
Mabel
chose that moment to come waltzing in the
apartment. She sat down at the kitchen table waiting patiently for
her waffles and coffee. “Good morning and how are my girls doing
today?”

Connie sat waffles and coffee in front of her
and waited expectantly. “Well aren’t you going to tell us about
last night?”

Mabel
cackled, “I can’t
there’s a child present, besides if I tell you my business it
becomes our business. Let’s just say that Edward will probably stay
in bed until this afternoon.”

Tatiana refused to be left out of the
conversation. “Nana is Mr. Edward going to be my poppa.”

“No baby, Edward is my friend like Boo Bear
is your friend.”

Connie gave her aunt a
knowing look and refused to be sidetracked. Tati may only be four,
but she understood the behavior of adults exceptionally well. She
wasn’t going to fall for the Edward is like Boo Bear crap. “So
Aunt
Mabel
when’s the wedding.”

“Edward did ask me to marry him a couple of
months ago, but I told him that I had to think about it. I mean
seriously, I’m too old to be getting married again.”

“Nana if you get married I could be your
flower girl and my mommy and Condi can be maid de honors.”

Connie, Johana, and
Aunt
Mabel
laughed at Tati’s pronunciation,
“Johana where does she get this stuff?”

“A little girl in her preschool class was a
flower girl in a wedding before the holidays. Ever since then she’s
been asking people when they’re getting married so she can be a
flower girl.”

“Tell you what pumpkin, if your Nana doesn’t
get married, I’ll let you be a flower girl at my wedding.”

Tatiana frowned at Connie, sticking out her
bottom lip. “Mommie says that you don’t even have a boyfriend. How
long will I have to wait?”

Tati was too quick for a child her age. “I
don’t know baby, but when I say my prayers tonight I’ll ask God to
send me a boyfriend soon. Okay?

“Okay Condi. Mommie can I go color now?”

“Drink the rest of your milk and then you may
color.”

The three adults didn’t speak until she left
the room, “My goodness Johana what kind of school do you have my
great-grandchild enrolled in where she’s learning about boyfriends
and marriage?”

“Believe me Nana there are worse things out
there.”

“Uhmm, you better keep on top of that child
or she’ll be running you. I have something for the both of you,
Connie would you get the red shopping bag out of my closet; it’s
sitting right up front.”

“Sure Auntie.” Connie quickly retrieved the
shopping back from the closet it was heavier than she expected. She
carried it to the kitchen and sat it next to her aunt.

“Thanks baby! Now I just
want to tell both of you how much I love you and I wanted to take
this opportunity to give you some things before I go home to
glory.”
Mabel
kept talking when she heard
the words of protest from Connie and Johana. “I’ve lived a great
life, and I want my two best girls to have some of the things I
treasure.”