Mackayla was sitting on a chair reading her book, Brenda Mackayla's 15 month old daughter was dozing in her stroller. "Sorry I am late" said a deep voice behind her as a hand touched her shoulder. Mackayla stood up, turned around and smiled at her Uncle Leon.
"It’s okay" she said as she hugged him. "Who might be you be?" Mackayla smiled at the young girl holding Leon's hand."I'm your cousin Aerina silly" the girl replied with a giggle. They had spoken on the phone a few days before while Mackayla and Uncle Leon were finalizing things."And this is Brenda" Mackayla said as her daughter woke up with a small giggle.The two girls smiled at each other "hi" said Brenda."How was your trip down" Leon asked?"Long but pretty nice" replied Mackayla. "Sammy here yet" she asked?"Arrived this morning and your cousin is already enthralled with her" he replied.Aerina giggled and smiled "she's so cute." They loaded the bags into the back of the blue truck that Leon was driving."Would you like to stop to eat somewhere?" Leon asked as Mackayla buckled Brenda into her baby seat."No we had a nice dinner at the cafe a bit ago" Mackayla replied "just tired right now.""Straight home then and get you two settled so you can rest" Leon said with a soft chuckle.As they pulled away from the Toma Airport Mackayla sighed and said "it's good to see you again Uncle Leon.""Unca" came a coo from the back. Leon looked up and smiled at his great niece in the back seat.After unloading and getting everything into the three bedroom apartment that Leon currently rented Brenda crawled up on Leon's lap. She gently caressed his cheek and then curled into his torso and promptly fell asleep. "I think she loves you already" Mackayla looked at her uncle with a loving sigh. "Could be that I look so much like her grandpa" he replied with a deep chuckle.As Mackayla settled on the couch Aerina sat down beside her and Sammy jumped up on her lap and curled into a ball. "I have a feeling you have made a friend already too" Leon said and she smiled. "So what's really going on" Leon asked?"I just needed a break and a new start like I told you on the phone" Mackayla replied."Well I will accept that for right now but I know there is more." Mackayla just looked at him with a shake of her head. Maybe someday I will tell you everything thought Mackayla. "Hey little lady isn't time for bed?" Leon asked his daughter as helooked up at the clock."Oh do I have to Daddy" Aerina whined."Well seeing as how it is already past your bedtime I think so" he replied with a stern note to his voice."Don't worry we'll be here for a while" Mackayla said to her. Good nights were said and kisses and hugs were given freely then Aerina skipped off to bed.They talked for a little bit more about general things before Leon noticed that Mackayla's eyelids were dropping low and her speech was a little slow. "I cleaned out the other room" he said "let me show you the way." Mackayla stood up and followed her uncle down hall "I figured you would like the bigger room" he said as he opened thedoor at the end of the hall the baby still in his arms.Leon placed Brenda in the playpen "you didn't have to give up your room" Mackayla said. "Yes I did" he replied "well I'll let you do what you need, there's a bathroom through that door" he pointed to the door on the right. "That's the walk-in closet there" he pointed to the sliding doors next to the window. As he turned to leave Mackalya ranup and hugged him."Thanks I love you Uncle Leon" she kissed him on the cheek."Love you too Mousie" he replied closing the door.Mackayla looked at her daughter sleeping soundly in the playpen and bent down and caressed her red hair. She grabbed her blue carry all and pulled out her nightgown and book. She stripped out of her blouse and skirt and quickly washed up at the sink then slipped her silk nightgown on and then crawled into the king sized bed. She read for a few minutes before she fell asleep.Brenda woke up with a soft cry a few hours later a little uncertain of where she was and having been a little disoriented by the recent changes in her short life.Mackayla gently picked her up noticing that her daughter was lightly sweating she chided herself for not having thought about that before and stripped the baby down and changed her diaper. "Tirty" Brenda whimpered softly as she nuzzled her mom's chest. Mackayla smiled and slipped her arm free of her gown and offered her daughter herbreast."Everything okay" she heard a voice ask after a soft rap on the door."Yeah Brenda was just a little warm and thirsty" she answered back."Can I get you anything" her cousin asked?"No I am fine, are you okay?""Sometimes I get up in the middle of the night and I can't always get back to sleep.""Would you like to come lay with me, it's an awfully big bed and sometimes I get lonely?" Mackayla asked as the door opened and her cousin peeked around.Her cousin crept into the room and climbed up on the bed "do you think Daddy will be mad?""No I am sure he will understand.""What's she doing?" Aerina asked pointing at the baby."Drinking" replied Mackayla."Ohhhh yeah I forgot some mamas do that.""It’s okay" she replied with a smile."Does it hurt?"“Only when she decides she wants to bite. But she doesn’t do that too often because she knows Mommy will take it away.""I bet she don't like that I don't think I would" Aerina said with a giggle. She snuggled down into the covers closer to Mackayla and fell asleep.Mackayla awoke a little warm and confused but quickly remembered. She glanced down at her sleeping daughter and cousin and smiled, she heard her uncle call "Aerina Maire" a bit nervously.“She's in here with me Uncle Leon" she quickly called out "it’s okay for you to come in.""I should have figured that" he opened the door with a soft smile "sometimes she has trouble sleeping. She's crawled in with me a few times already this month. I was hoping that maybe with you here it might stop.""It’s okay I remember you saying something about that. It might take a little bit but I am sure she will settle down.". Mackayla had worked with children while volunteering at Mother Mable's for a year or more after she had completed high school.Aerina had moved in with Leon about a year and a half ago after living in an abusive home and foster homes for most of her life. "It’s common for kids in her situation. They feel a little insecure and unwanted" Mackayla said. It was part of the reason she had chosen to live with her uncle instead of looking for her own place. "I don't mind hercrawling in with me" she hugged her cousin close and smiled."How was your first night" Leon asked?"A little warm but actually pretty good" Mackayla replied as they heard a small giggle and snort form under the sheet."Where's your Punkie" he asked as a small mound moved.Mackayla laughed as Brenda pulled the sheet down with a squeal 'Unca"."So, what would you princesses like for breakfast" asked Leon."Pancakes and sausage" said Mack, and Aerina."Pankies" cried Brenda."Well then I guess we could go to Tonios for breakfast if you would like." Just then Leon's phone rang. He answered the phone. "Howdy buddy can you hang on for a sec.... Aerina why don't you go and put on that new dress and we will let your cousin's get ready to go. If you'd like to shower or anything go ahead no need to rush on anyaccount" he told Mack as he headed out the door.She rummaged through her bags for a few minutes to find the shampoo andbrushes and set them on the table. Then settling back in the chair she drew Brenda to her to nurse and started to hum a song, a few minutes later she heard a knock on her door. "Hey, Mackayla I need to head over to a friend's place to help him with something.Not really sure how long I will be so I am gonna take Aerina with me. Would you like to come with and we can go to lunch or something after?" "Actually I was thinking I could maybe rest up a little more if that's okay by you?""Whatever your little heart desires is fine by me. Make yourself right at home. Talk to you in a bit."After about twenty minutes Mackayla finished nursing Brenda who pulled her diaper off and started to run around the room laughing. Mackayla chased her for a few minutes saying "here comes the tickle monster." Then hoisting her daughter in her arms she grabbed her stuff and walked to the bathroom. She and Brenda took a nice longshower cause after 36 hours with only a quick wipe down or two it felt extremely great.Then she dried them off, dressed, brushed their teeth, and did their hair, and then she walked out to see what her uncle had to eat in his house.As they were sitting down to breakfast Siammy streaked out of Aerina's room being chased by Dustina they were hissing, which immediately started Brenda crying.Mackayla jumped up and grabbed Siammy and put her in the bed room then went to comfort her baby. A few tears falling from her own eyes even though she had known it was bound to happen it was still a bit startling to hear and watch. All the while she was doing this Dustina was staring at her and growling, so she decided to forgo the table inthe house and take it out on the sun deck. Brenda sat on her lap and pulled her mom's hair crying and trying to eat at the same time.After about 15 minutes she calmed down "why kitty" she asked her mommy?"Oh Punkie it's just gonna take them a little time to get used to each other. You and Maggie acted a little like that toward each other at first but now you are best friends."Brenda smiled and clapped her hands excitedly "day tat." Mackayla smiled and hugged her baby close."Yeah" they both finished their breakfast."Ma Ma I eepy" Brenda said and then yawned hugely to prove her point after an hour or so of sitting on the deck and watching the city go by. "Nap" so Mackayla carried her inside where it was a bit cooler."Want to lay out here or go in the room.""Want Am.""Okay then let's go in the room." So they went in to the room. Brenda pulled off her shoes and shorts and climbed into the bed, curled up next to Siammy and went to sleep. Mackayla sat down to read but soon feel asleep herself.Mackayla awoke after a couple hours of sleep to "Ma Ma's Song" playing on her phone and realized she'd forgotten to call her mom this morning. She answered her phone "sorry mom. We had a little bit of a rough morning....No nothing serious just the cats getting acquainted.....No he had to go help a friend this morning but he should be back very shortly.....Yeah's she sleeping I guess I was too.""Yeah she woke up around one sweating a bit because I forgot to change her out of her clothes.....Oh she's a beautiful little girl, long black hair, and hazel eyes. She's gonna give Uncle Leon fits of worry about her when she gets older....Of course I will send a pic....Yeah I know I am in for the same thing." They talked for a bit more untilMackayla heard a knock on the door. "Come in. Hey Uncle Leon.....Hey Mom wants to talk at you quick."Leon groaned but reached for the phone. "Hey Mari....yeah I was a little late picking her up I got lost....Hey I told her I don't drive around Toma too much....yeah(soft chuckle) I would never do that." A little more chatting than an "okay sweetie love youtoo. Here’s Mackayla back. Yeah actually she's outside waiting.....We were going to lunch and stopped to pick up the ladies but I see one is still snoozing (laughter)...“Leon hands the phone back as Brenda wakes up. “Yeah she just woke up but I think it's time to go eat.....Okay love you Mom....(Brenda reaches for the phone) “Nana Nana...Uv Nana ...Bye luv ya (blowsraspberries on the phone).... (gives phone back to Mackayla and reaches for Uncle Leon) Unca Eeo...?” “Yeah they got a great thing going already call you later Mom....Love you...Bye. Kay just let me freshen up a bit and change Punk then I will meet you out in the truck.""All right but don't be too long I am starving." Mackayla quickly leaned up and kissed him on the cheek as she took her daughter. "You know you really don't have to do that all the time" Leon said with a half-hearted scowl. She just smiled as she walked to the changing table with Brenda and quickly changed her diaper and then put hershorts and shoes back on. She set her down on her feet and Brenda quickly dropped her hands to the floor and crawled to her great-uncle.Mackayla laughed and shook her head as Brenda stood up and grabbed Leon’s shorts and he picked her up. She walked into the bathroom as the two turned and walked away. It still amazed her that even though Leon looked so much like her dadhow quickly Brenda had taken to him.He was a bit heavier than her father was, his voice was deeper and he had longer hair, but Mackayla suspected that was probably why Brenda was so taken with him. Heck if he wasn't related to her Mackayla probably would of been smitten. She quickly brushed her hair and applied just a hint of make-up and then grabbed her purse and head outside.As she arrived outside her uncle was chatting with the lady next door. "Ahhh here she is. Sasha this is my niece Mackayla Mackayla this is Sasha Peanning."“How do you do Sasha?""I am doing pretty good it's nice to finally put a face to the woman that Leon's been talking about for the past months" Sasha and Mackayla smiled at each other."I will catch you later Sasha" Leon said as he walked down the steps behind Mackayla.They walked the few blocks to Tonios Aerina pushing Brenda in her stroller. Leon walked next to Mackayla pointing out certain places. "You seem a little chummy with the lady next door Uncle." Makayla said to him with a sly smile.Leon blushed a little and said "we are just friends."As they walked into Tonio,s Mackayla sighed as the cooler air hit her, then smiled at the decor of the little restaurant. "I see why you like this place reminds me of Maxine's." Leon smiled and nodded at Mackayla, Maxine's had been the families favorite stomping ground for a while. "You still go there?” "Occasionally Mom, I and the girls will go but Dad won't." Leon frowned "I am sorry I never meant for any of that stuff to happen much less in such a public place." "It’s okay Uncle, Mom and I forgave you a long time ago." Leon smiled and hugged his niece as the waitress came up to seat them. As they sat at the booth in the corner the waitress introduced herself. "Hi I am Debborah. What may I get you to drink" she asked with a smile at the two little girls, winked at Leon, and gave Mackayla a grin. "Can I get a chocimi Shake Daddy?" Leon nodded "go ahead order whatever you would like. I'll take my usual Debbie." "What's a chocimi shake" asked Mackayla? "It's chocolate, cinnamo
They were sitting on chairs in the backyard chatting Mackayla watching as Brenda sat and pulled the grass out. She felt her body stir and caught a whiff of the same scent as earlier and saw a pair of black snake-skinned cowboy boots enter her line of view, slowly looked up sighing as her gaze took in the long lean legs and nice hips, encased in blue washed out denim shorts, a washboard stomach, broad chest and muscular arms and shoulders and a pair of green eyes with small silver specks. She felt a strange pull in her abdomen and a soft smile curved full lips as Blake offered her a bottle of soda. "I think we got off on the wrong foot this afternoon I apologize. My only excuse is I have been having a difficult weekend but that's really no excuse. May I join you?" She nodded and heard a few soft sighs one her own as Blake lowered his long frame into a folding chair next to Mackayla. After a little bit William came out to start the grill, he smiled at Mackayla as he passed her, the
Mackayla walked them to the door, Brenda whimpered a tiny bit and the others waved then they were gone. Mackayla sighed and walked back into the apartment she again pulled out her laptop and settled at the table where she started up her music program and checked her email. Almost immediately she began thinking about her life in the past few years and her mood darkened. Her body trembled with rage as she got up and threw her mouse across the room and cursed loudly in a few different languages. She went to her room and threw herself across the bed and screamed, punched and kicked till she started crying for everything she had lost. Her back began to spasm, and she slide off the bed and fell a few times before she reached the bathroom and fumbled for her meds. She shook out a handful and stood there debating a few seconds she barely heard the doorbell ring and her phone went off but she honestly didn't really care. Don't you dare she heard a voice in head say, so she put the meds back
A few minutes later Blake heard the excited and welcoming barks of Maggies and puppies smiling as he heard Mackayla say in awe "ohh they are so beautiful and sweet. Why are they penned up?" "Debbie and Chuck are both allergic to dogs." "Mama com to" Brenda cried a few tears running down her cheeks as she ran to her. She knelt to sweep her daughter up and smiled as she looked to see Carson had followed after her daughter her breath caught as she took in his semi-undressed state. He had long lean legs encased in black swim shorts that ended just below his knees. His calves were well shaped, he was shirtless and he had a long tapered chest and a six-pack and some unique tattoos. He was smiling and wearing sunglasses "com to Car?" "No I was just bringing you to mama. "K, Aggs comin" as Sasha walked her out of the pen. "Mackayla met Maggies" Carson lowered his glasses, his eyes almost complete changing watching with raised eyebrows and a low wolf-whistle as she turned and bent to str
Carson got up from the chair and took the stuff and stretched the pad out on the couch beside Blake as he picked up the little girl up and laid her down. She laid perfectly and lifted her bottom while Carson cleaned her up she laughed when Blake tickled the bottom of her feet. Then Carson deftly slid the new diaper under her and secured the tapes. "Traitor you never lay that still for me" both men chuckled and Brenda broke out in giggles. "It's all about distraction" Leon said walking out a few seconds later. "Sorry didn't mean to wake you up Uncle." "No its okay wasn't really sleeping." They all laughed. They all talked for a bit more before Carson and Blake said that they really ought to be getting back, and got up and Leon walked them to their bikes. A few minutes later Mackayla heard the roar of the engines then Leon came back in, she was sitting on the couch with her laptop open and Brenda was beside her watching cartoons on the television. He sat down in the armchair and
They said good night just as she hung up Carson walked in. "Ladies did you want some warm milk?" "Sure." "Blake says you are gonna need a new faucet (a deep chuckle and Mackayla shuttered a bit)...at some point in time. The inside is rusted which causes it to stick, he and I took care of the kitchen. Sasha will you stay or did ya want Blake or me to?" Mackayla sat kind of stunned this was the first time she had seen Carson like this. "I can't I was just home for a quick cat nap, then a nice hot shower cause I have to be back at mid-night." Blake walked in at that point with two coffee cups Mackayla studied him through lowered lashes her body still a quiver. "I recall you mentioning that but it must of slipped my mind in all the excitement (a bold faced lie). Plus don't you think Mackayla should have some say in this." "Of course." Blake set the coffee cups down on the table having a feeling they were in for a bit of a fuss. If she was anything like Leon he knew she would be stu
Sasha sat on the couch knitting Leon sat in the armchair reading his eBook,Mackayla worked on her laptop and Brenda sat on the floor playing with her toys. Mackayla was thinking about the charity event that Blake had asked her about the other day wondering if the invitation was still open. She was also still debating on all the things she'd heard about him where good mostly and that was drastically different from what she had heard before she started with her ex. The only thing that was the same was the temper part. She was mostly decided but she would have to ask Blake about a few things before she made her final decision that was if she was still able to go. Leon got up "can I get anybody anything to drink or eat?" "Appie." "Yeah that sounds good." "Three apple juices and some apple slices coming up." Brenda toddled to the corner where Leon's guitar sat she brought it over to her mama "pay me peas." "Let's wait till Uncle comes back and see what he says.” Sasha said "I didn't
Saturday at 9 am Carson came to pick up Brenda per Mackayla's call. Leon and she had talk for a bit after he had come back and agreed that it would be good for her to spend today at the ranch. So when Leon had gone home this morning to take a shower and shave and grab some things for Mackayla he had repacked Brenda's diaper bag with her bathing suit. He handed her some pictures "these are the pictures from the first swim and horse ride. Blake wanted me to tell you again how sorry he is about what happened. And I add my apology to" he squeezed her hand before he brought it to his lips and kissed it. She smiled "it's all right. Okay Brenda you be a good girl love you." "Uve ou Mama" she blew a raspberry as Carson put her on his shoulders and they waved goodbye. Debbie and her sister Katherine showed up at about 10 just as the new nurse was finishing up. They stayed to talk for a bit at one the doctor came in to check her ankle, "looks like we can cast it and send you home a bit lat