“I’m sure she’ll hook you up,” she assured him.
“I hope so.”
“So what’s going on with you? Any more blind dates?”
“No, smarty,” he laughed. “My sister-in-law is upset with herself because her last attempt didn’t work. What about you?”
“Me? I know you’re not talking about dating.”
“Why not? It’s been a few months. You need to get back out there.”
“Look who’s talking.”
“What? I’m out there.”
“Who? And cancelled dates don’t count.” She joked.
“I’m not talking about a relationship, I’m talking about dating. You know dinner, dancing, bowling, the movies, coffee.”
“You’re the only person I have coffee with,” she confessed.
“Oh.”
The phone rang and Kyla ran to pick it up. “Hello.”
“It’s about time,” it was Jerome calling from the lobby. “Your parents are on the way up. If I weren’t married, I’d be all over that.”
“Jerome, would you stop.”
“What? Your mother is a good looking woman and I think…”
“Hang up Jerome.” She opened the door. She and Winnie stood in the doorway waiting on the elevator to open. When the elevator dinged, Winnie barked. “I know girl, grandma and grandpa are here.”
Nadine and Percy stepped out of the elevator and Winnie ran toward them. “Hey there Miss Winnie,” Nadine smiled.
“How’s my pretty girl doing?” Percy asked as he bent down to pick her up. She barked and smiled. “Come on, let’s go see what your mama is up to.”
“Mommy,” Kyla leaned in and hugged and kissed her parents. “Hi Daddy.” He placed Winnie on the floor.
Nadine looked at Percy and they both looked perplexed. Kyla hadn’t called them by those names in several years. Percy whispered to Nadine, “Who is this and where is our daughter?”
Nadine jabbed him in the side. “Be quiet honey. Just be glad she invited us.” They closed the door and followed Kyla and Winnie into the living room. “Baby, is everything all right?” Nadine asked.
“Yes, everything is fine. Why?”
“Because you never ask us to visit,” Nadine confessed. “We usually have to invite ourselves.”
“Are you hungry?” Kyla asked.
“No, we’re fine,” Nadine replied.
“Okay, I’ll put the bags in the guest room,” Percy said.
“Let me.” Kyla disappeared down the hall with the bags.
Percy waited until she’d gone before saying anything. “I know she said there was nothing wrong, but she’s clearly not acting like herself.”