Chapter Twenty Six
When they reached the bathroom, Jonas stood in the doorway.
“Did I scare you,” he asked.
She swallowed visibly. “I just took it as a joke. You and my mother seem to be on a roll tonight. Did you guys conspire on this plan of attack,” Samiyah asked playfully.
The desire that burned in his eyes was making her body stir.
“It’s no attack I assure you. Would it be funny if I meant it?”
Jonas spoke each word carefully leaning in to place a kiss on her lips. Truth be told, he couldn’t get enough of her, and the more he spent time with her, the more he never wanted to leave.
There was a round of laughter coming from the dining hall. “I better hurry or Claudia will swear I left her hanging,” Samiyah said avoiding his question.
Jonas grinned taking a step back, and she scurried into the bathroom. At the counter, she held her chest. Her breathing, unstable. Could Jonas have been serious, Samiyah wondered. It was absurd to think she could actually get married when she had only been divorced a couple of months. Samiyah shook her head vehemently. No, it was impossible. It was ridiculous. She would be crazy to even consider such a thing, right? Samiyah stared at her reflection in the mirror. Seconds later the door flung open, and Claudia walked in.
“So, that’s how it is, huh? You just leave me with those drop dead gorgeous men?” Claudia placed her hands on her hips. Before Samiyah could respond, she fell out with laughter. “I’m just kidding honey. I loved every second of it.”
Samiyah smiled sweetly still trying to clear her thoughts.
“I know one thing, I better be the first to know about a wedding.”
Samiyah turned back to her. “What are you talking about? I just celebrated a divorce! Does it look like I’m in the spirit to be talking about a wedding?”
“Oh, honey please, you can’t fool me. You’ve got love written all over you. The both of you do. Why do you think his dad asked?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh yeah, well while you were in the bathroom, Jonas came back to the table, and he is by far the finest of them all. If you don’t want him, I wouldn’t mind taking him off your hands.”
“Be my guest,” Samiyah said calling her bluff.
Claudia rubbed her hands together. “Oooh, really?” Claudia turned to leave the bathroom licking her lips. Samiyah reached out and grabbed her pulling her back by her collar. Claudia yelped coming face to face with her.
“That’s what I thought,” Claudia said. “I was just teasing you anyway. I only have eyes for Jaden.” She wiggled her brows.
“You’ve proven your point,” Samiyah said through clenched teeth.
“Girl, you’re so cute when you’re feisty. Did anyone ever tell you that? And are you sure you’re not pregnant?”
Samiyah rolled her eyes. “Seriously?”
“It doesn’t hurt to ask. At least I didn’t do it in front everybody.”
“I’m not pregnant; I think I know my own body!”
“Okay if you say so.”
“I do say so.” Samiyah huffed. They left the bathroom. Back in the dining room, the men were discussing the NBA finals.
“Lebron is the better player, and you know it. If not, he wouldn’t have gotten the MVP title,” Jordan said.
“You have lost your mind if you think Kyrie Irving wasn’t deserving of the MVP award. He dominated in every sense of the game,” Jonathon said.
“He may have for the finals, but where was he all year? The MVP award goes to the man who has continuously dominated during the season, not just the finals, and we all know that was Lebron.” Jaden said. A round of disagreements and mixed feelings on the subject crowded the space.
“Since we’re all keeping it real,” Samiyah interjected, curious eyes turned to her, interested in what she had to say. “Steph Curry was the real MVP.”
“Awe, nah!” they all said going around the table like a band of fanatics at a live game.
“He doesn’t even deserve mentioning since they failed at taking the championship home,” Julian stated.
Samiyah and Claudia chimed in on why Steph Curry should’ve been mentioned and how he is better than Lebron. The conversation lasted another hour and a half before the men decided to let Samiyah win her argument.
“You make an excellent point,” Jonas said with a grin on his face.
“There’s no use arguing with the women, they always win in the end,” their father pointed out. The men shook their heads in agreement, and the ladies laughed.
“Now here’s a man with some sense,” Martha exclaimed.
One by one the men rose from their seats and cleared the table. Samiyah cruised through the swinging door of the kitchen.
“Please Norma, allow me to help you.”
Norma stood at the sink filling it with soapy suds. “Oh no dear, I am perfectly fine doing this myself.”
“I’m sure you are, but I can’t leave without giving a helping hand. I wasn’t raised that way. In my home, if you ate, you washed dishes.” The ladies chuckled.
“Ain’t that the truth,” Martha said making her entrance. Norma turned to her placing one hand on her hip.
“Now, just what do you think you’re doing?”
“I just finished clearing off the table. Those men were obviously raised right because they tried to take it off my hands but I’m not having it.”
Norma looked from mother to daughter. “Well, they don’t make ‘em like you ladies anymore.”
“Don’t get it twisted, Norma. We do this because we want to, not because we should,” Martha said.
Samiyah chuckled. “If you’ll excuse me, Norma, you can take a load off. I’ll be finished with these dishes in no time.”
“I’m not used to anyone taking over my kitchen, but I’ll make a deal with you.”
They looked on expectantly. “I’ll load the dishwasher. Ms. Manhattan, you can wash the pots and Ms. Martha Jean, you can dry them and put them in the cabinet.”
Jonas, Jonathon, and Julian walked through the door. “So, this is where all the women went. You know this is what we do after meals, what’s going on Norma?”
She swatted them, “Not today it seems,” she smirked.
“Where’s Claudia?” Martha asked.
“Probably wherever Jaden is,” Samiyah quipped.
“You would be right,” Jonas said. He went to Samiyah drawing her in his arms. She flung soap suds at him and laughed. “Oh, you got jokes, huh? You know you don’t have to do this.”
“That’s what I told her,” Norma said.
“Again,” Samiyah said, “I know that, but I want to do it. And you’ll need to get used to it. Both of you.”
“You won’t hear me complaining again,” Jonas said, his voice so close to her ear she could turn around and bite him.
The women finished their tasks in record time. “Now, that’s what I call teamwork,” Norma said, impressed.
“Yes!” Samiyah checked her time it was after ten. They left the kitchen. Christopher was speaking to the men.
“Before you leave, I wanted to speak with you all about a hunting trip.”
Jonas looked to Samiyah. “Do you mind waiting?”
She grabbed her purse. “It’s okay, I’ll ride back with Claudia.”
“What if I want you to ride with me?” he asked.
She chuckled. “Call me when you’re done sweetheart, and if it’s not too late, you can come over.”
He wiggled his eyebrows, and she laughed. “Promise?” Jonas asked.
“I pinky swear it,” Samiyah giggled again.
He walked her to the door with Claudia and Jaden following closely behind them.
“Mom, are you riding with us?”
“If it’s alright with Jonas, I’ll catch a ride with him. Norma is giving me a tour of the garden.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to wait,” Jonas asked.
She smiled. “Spend some time with your father and your brothers. It’s obvious he misses you guys.”
He bent and kissed her on the lips. “You’re right.”
“I’ll be waiting for your call.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” Jonas winked, watching her walk to their car.