“Yes, definitely.”
I listened to Mom and Elijah chatting, and they had become oblivious to me sitting beside them. They had not even noticed I had blushed on a few occasions at their comments. I could see something between them had clicked and they started to get on like the proverbial house on fire.
“So, Kendall, I can see you sat there wondering why we have ignored you, but you should know me better than that, for one I would never ignore you and two Elijah and I were just getting to know each other,” said Mom.
She was an observant woman for her age, and she definitely showed no signs of slowing down. Elijah had lost all sense of his nerves and had not just answered Mom’s questions, he had provided her with quite a bit of insight into his background without her quizzing him.
“So, Elijah, tell me about this company of yours. Is it stable?” Mom said as she winked at me. I could see she was now playing with Elijah and her questions.
“Well, my old self would brag about the size of the company, but I no longer find any solace in doing that anymore. Now if anyone talks about it, I actually get a little embarrassed. It’s valued at around a billion dollars, or it was, before we took a major online store as their preferred carrier,” he said.
“So, you can provide for my Kendall in the years to come?” she asked.
“I do have a little nest egg tucked away for a rainy day and yes, she will be looked after just fine.”
“Well, as I can see it, Kendall has no father figure, so the duty is down to me. I take it you wish to have my blessing so you can date my daughter,” Mom said.
“Geez, Mom, that is a bit old-fashioned, isn’t it?” I commented.
“Quiet, Dear. This is between Elijah and me. I have to do it properly,” she replied.
“Yes, I do seek your blessing, for me to continue dating your daughter if you can accept,” Elijah said.
“Of course, you can. I may have been right in what I said, but I may also have misjudged you slightly as well.”
***
We headed back to Elijah’s house and relaxed for a while, we cuddled together on the couch and reflected how well the meeting with my mom had gone.
“She’s not as bad as you made out. I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous,” Elijah said.
“She was being gentle with you,” I replied. I huddled close to Elijah and looked into his eyes. “I’m very happy the way things are going, and I want to just say-“
“Go on. Spit it out, but before you do, I just want to say that I love you,” Elijah said as he held me.
“I love you too,” I answered.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Elijah
“Wakey, Wakey sleepy head, breakfast is ready,” I said to Kendall. “It’s already downstairs.”
“I’ll be down in a few minutes,” she replied.
I looked at her as she rolled over in bed, even first thing in a morning with her hair all twisted and knotted she looked beautiful. I always smiled when I saw her like this. It made my day start on a good note. I sat at the table and poured the coffee and juice and waited for her to come down the stairs. After a couple of minutes, I could hear her slippers shuffle across the floor.
“God damn, that is a breakfast and a half, why is there so much?” she asked.
“Ah, it’s payback time,” I said with a chuckle.
“Payback for what?” she said as she rubbed her eyes as munched on her toast.
“Well, you remember the day we went to visit your mom?” I said.
“Yes, so what, she isn’t coming, is she?” she asked with a giggle.
“No, today we are off to visit mine,” I replied.