41

Elaine

After dinner, Jessy took the kids upstairs, then returned to sit with us at the table. I sipped cautiously from my glass, still marveled by the tasty meal we just had. “You're a really good cook, Jessy,” I beamed at her. “Thanks for the meal. It was fantastic.”

She rested her elbows on the table, leaning her jaw heavily on the heel of her palm and smiled back. “Thanks for coming to see us, too. We really love having you around.”

I nodded, warmed by how kind she was. Her simplicity and hospitality was too endearing from someone who lived in money. I was glad that she knew her roots, and her kindness was all thanks to her parents' upbringing. “So you clean and sweep as well?”

She nodded. “Of course. The house is my station,” she glanced at her husband who was watching us converse intently. “But Samson is so paranoid about me losing the baby even though I'm in my eighth month. He got me a cleaner and gardener, but I dismissed her earlier today because she wasn't feeling so well