“I’m going to change out of these work clothes. Momma, you okay in here with the enemy?”
I smirked. Tiberius smiled.
“Yes, we will be fine.”
TIBERIUS
Ms. Shima kept me company while Madalee changed.
Madalee was her mother’s twin. They shared the same big eyes that held a hint of mischief. Both ladies had big, energetic smiles. Ms. Shima’s fair complexion was several shades lighter than Madalee's. She was somewhat frail, but she was still beautiful.
“So, choir, huh?” Ms. Shima said.
“Yes, Ma’am. I’ve been around music all my life. I come from a musical family.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes, my great-grandfather could play any instrument, but his choice was the xylophone. My grandmother was a founding member of a gospel quartet, and my mother plays the saxophone. Music is sort of my birthright.”
“It certainly does sound like it. I don’t know where Madalee’s gift for music comes from. It must’ve skipped several generations, or maybe it came from her father’s side. Who knows.”
“She is extremely talented on the piano.”
“Yes, she is,” Ms. Shima beamed.
After twenty minutes or so, Madalee reappeared wearing a Bob Marley t-shirt and a pair of terry cloth shorts. Having never seen her legs or thighs, I paused to admire her thick thighs and shapely calves. She tended to wear loose-fitting clothes to work, and if she wore a skirt, it was usually a long one. Pulling my eyes away, I continued cooking while she joined her mother at the table.
Both ladies chatted with me while I prepared the pasta dish. I learned that Ms. Shima was a paralegal for a law firm before she became ill. She worked from home until the pain became too severe, causing her to take more meds and sleep more. She was a single parent to Madalee and her son, Terrance. She worked and paid for both of their college educations.
Mads attended two schools at the same time. One for her bachelor’s degree in music education and the other for her master’s degree in music performance. We talked about things we had in common and maintained lively dialogue until the food was done.
We sat at the small, round kitchen table. The pasta, salad, and bread were in the center.
“This really didn’t take long at all,” Ms. Shima remarked.
“It’s a quick go-to. Do you ladies mind if I bless the food?”
“Sure,” Madalee said.
“Go for it,” Ms. Shima said.
After a quick blessing, we all began to eat.
* * *
“I hate to say this,but this food was amazing,” Madalee quipped.
“It was so good!” Ms. Shima said. She rubbed her stomach and pushed back from the table. “I can help clean up.”
“No, Momma. I got it.”
“Mads, I’m feeling okay today.”
“I know, and I’m so happy to see you with so much energy, but let’s not overdo it. Can you do me a favor and read over that disability paperwork I haven’t gotten to?”
“Fine. I swear, sometimes I forget who’s the mom and the daughter.”
They both laughed.