Nobody’s Child (New Life Tabernacle Series Book 1) (8 page)

M
akayla managed
to wash up and change into an old, but clean T-shirt and a worn pair of sweats. Rodney was nice enough to lend her some sheets for the air bed and even helped her put them on, while his wife silently watched from behind the door frame.

When Robin got back, she seemed pleased. "Good! I see you found another set of sheets."

She went to the kitchenette and began unpacking her purchases. Paper towels, aloe-infused tissue, orange juice, flu medicine and bottled water. By the time Makayla saw the six cans of soup, she was beside herself.

Robin put her hand up. "Before you say anything, one can isn’t enough. You need to eat. Trust me, you'll feel better.” Robin took off her coat and draped it over the folding chair. “Now go lay down while I heat this up.”

“Umm, thanks for going to the store, but you don’t have to stay. Really.”

“I know.”

Robin smiled and began opening cabinets, in search of a pot.

Makayla exhaled loudly. “Upper right cabinet.”

Robin retrieved the pot and kept looking until she came across the cabinet that held the one bowl, plate and cup Makayla owned. She sang to herself as she peeled back the lid on the can of soup and poured it in the pot.

It was a scene out of Makayla’s childhood daydreams. Mom in the kitchen making her something to eat. She should have enjoyed it. Robin certainly was. But it only made Makayla sad. Was it because of the awful dream she’d had over and over about Robin walking away? She wasn’t sure. All she knew was, she wanted Robin to leave.

“If you don’t go soon, you won’t make church.”

Robin turned on the pilot and stopped singing just long enough to say, “I’m not going today.”

Great.

Makayla dragged herself back to bed and tried to be covert about watching Robin from where she lay. She kept waiting for her to sneer at the peeling paint on the cabinets, or the questionable, but permanent stains on the counter, but she never did.

While Makayla ate the chicken and rice, Robin sat in the folding chair, occupied with her iPad. When she was finished with whatever she’d been doing, she took a bag out of her purse. It was the same kind of white plastic bag she’d brought the soup and medicine in.

Robin put the bag on the counter and took things out, but with her back to her, Makayla had no idea what.

“I’ll be out of town for a while. I have a conference to attend, a speaking engagement, then a friend’s wedding in New York.”

Robin turned and held up a black and white box with red accents.

"I know you like to be independent, but I just don't feel right, you living alone and without a phone. Especially with me being gone for so long. Now, I’ve already set up the account and you don’t have to worry about anything. Whatever apps or anything else you want will be charged to the card I’ve put on file.“

Makayla felt heat flash through her body, and not from the fever. She couldn't believe this. Had she not specifically said she didn't want anything from her? Robin barely knew her and yet every time she turned around, she was trying to buy her something or take her somewhere.

What kind of person went all out for a stranger but never went back for the kid they dumped?

Makayla wanted to ask her that. She wanted to scream at her and tell her what she really thought about being the object of her good christian charity. But she was tired and shaky and felt like every cell in her body burned with fever. So instead of ranting and raving like she wanted to, she kept her voice low and even.

"I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I'm good."

Robin folded her arms and tilted her head to the side. "That's just it, Makayla. I don't think you are."

Wow.

“Baby, when was the last time you spoke to your parents?"

Makayla clenched her jaw so hard, she thought her teeth would break.

"Did you all have an argument? Are you not speaking to them?"

Makayla snorted, not even trying to hide her sarcasm. "Yeah, something like that."

Robin took a deep breath and studied Makayla. "I'm just trying to help."

"I told you I don't need your help.”

Despite the medicine’s claim to relieve aches and pains, the pounding in her head increased.

"I know what you said.” Robin took note of the irritation directed at her, but remained calm.

That only made Makayla angrier.

"That's not what it looks like to me."

"Makayla, I don't know what's going on with you and your family, but if you were my daughter, I’d want to hear from you. Especially at a time like this.”

Makayla chalked it up to being sick as a dog and doped up on medicine. It was the only explanation for what happened next.

Without any warning, she completely broke down.

Since that one night with Kim and Damien five years ago, she'd never cried in front of anybody. Not ever. But now, not only was she crying, she was full out weeping. Worse, she couldn't stop.

Humiliated, she covered her head with her blanket and turned toward the wall, trying, but failing to quiet her sobs.

She heard Robin move toward her and sit on the floor near the mattress. When she put her hand on Makayla’s back, Makayla moved from under it. For a while, Robin stayed there, saying nothing. The only sound in the room was Makayla's muffled cries. When Robin finally did speak, she sounded as though she'd been crying, too.

"I'm sorry. I never meant to upset or embarrass you."

“Could you please go?”

Robin didn't answer. A few moments passed. Just before Makayla was about to ask again, she heard Robin get up. Makayla listened to her walk over to the wall opposite her and when she stole a peek she saw Robin plugging in the charger and connecting it to the phone. Then she gathered her things and went to the door.

"I leave tonight for the conference in Chicago. I'll call and check on you between sessions. I expect you to answer the phone."

M
akayla spent
the rest of the afternoon and evening doing her very best to ignore the phone and the white shopping bag next to it. She argued with herself about having principles and not taking charity and standing by her word, but when it came down to it, she wanted that phone.

And she wanted it bad.

She’d never had her own phone. All the people she’d ever worked with had one, her aunt had one, even her knuckle-headed cousin had one, but she never did. As much as she may have wanted one, she hadn't done anything but save her money since she started working.

No trinkets, no magazines, no mp3 players, no fast food—nothing. She hadn't even bought new clothes until she arrived in town and needed something she could wear to church.

She looked at it like this: if she had no one else to depend on but herself, she’d be an idiot to spend food, electric bill and bus fare money on something like a cell phone. Stuff like that was pure luxury.

For all she knew, Kim could’ve decided to up and move or kick Makayla out before she turned eighteen. She wasn't about to become a ward of the state. Not if she could help it. Every dollar she earned was about food on the table and a roof over her head, should the need arise. She was fortunate it never did.

That was the one thing she was grateful for. As much as she couldn't stand Kim, she owed her at least that. She could've left her on the street, but she didn't. Even if it was mostly because of her grandmother’s will, it still had to mean something.

But at the moment, Makayla wasn't interested in contemplating what that was. She was too distracted by the black and white box.

At first, all she was going to do was look at the product picture on the box. Just to see what the phone looked like. After that, she’d put it by the door to give to Robin the next time she saw her.

Then she thought,
well, I'll just look at the back of the box, maybe scan the user's manual…

Next thing she knew, she’d turned it on and was trying to figure out how to insert the 32 GB sd card Robin had bought to go with it.

The phone was no joke. She couldn't believe all the stuff it could do. Take pictures, record her voice, capture video—and that was just out of the box. After she figured out how, she was downloading all kinds of free apps and games.

She couldn't stop grinning.

Whenever she had to make a call, which, fortunately, wasn't often, she had to walk to the gas station and use the pay phone. And every time she did, the people walking in and out of the store looked at her like she was a sideshow act.

One time, some pregnant girl, hauling around at least four additional kids, had the nerve to say as she walked by, “Damn, girl, do people still use payphones?" She laughed as she dialed a number on her iPhone. Makayla would've jumped her, except the girl had two friends with her, and while Makayla might’ve been offended, she wasn't
that
offended.

But now here she was with her very own phone. Her own
smart
phone. As silly as it sounded, it made her feel like somebody. And it was all because of Robin.

No one had ever bought her anything. Not since her grandmother. She couldn't imagine what it had all cost Robin, but it sure made her feel like a million bucks.

And after the way she’d acted…

When Makayla was a kid all she ever wanted was her mother, even though she knew her mother never wanted her. She thought she'd gotten past all that. She had hated her from a distance for so long, she figured hating her in person would be easy.

Why wasn't it easy?

This back and forth business was wearing her out. Sometimes she wanted to give in and just hug her. Tell her how much she’d missed her for her whole life. Sometimes she wanted to forget that every bad thing that had happened to her, happened because Robin walked out.

At the same time, she wanted to make her hurt. She wanted to see her cry. She wanted her to feel as worthless and unwanted as she had. And why shouldn't she? Why should she let Robin off the hook just because she had bought her a phone? How in the world could a phone ever make up for abandoning someone?

It didn't.

She wouldn't let it.

No, if she was going to completely forget about all the bad stuff that happened to her because of Robin, it wouldn’t be because of this. She wouldn't be bought. If, on the other hand, Robin showed even an ounce of regret, or if Makayla could confirm that Robin never wanted to leave her, she’d let it all go. For good.

Obviously, Robin was young when Makayla was born. Maybe she felt she had no other choice. Maybe she was forced to abandon her. Maybe, all these years later, she felt it was a mistake.

Either way, the emotional tug-of-war had to stop. And soon. Makayla was tired of telling lies and keeping secrets. She needed to know how Robin felt. There was only one way to find out—she had to ask her. It couldn’t be direct and she’d have to work her way into it, but Makayla knew it was what she needed to do.

She picked up the business card Robin left on the counter and dialed the number. After a couple of rings, Robin picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hi Robin. It's me. I mean, Makayla."

"Hey, baby! I'm so glad you called. You feeling better? You sound better."

"Yeah, I'm feeling much better. I just wanted to thank you for the phone."

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.”

“I do. I love it. And I was wondering… Would it be all right if I called you while you were gone? You know, just to talk?”

L
ater that week
, Makayla opened her door to find Trey standing on the other side, all grins.

"You're having dinner at my house. Dr. Robin's orders."

M
akayla could hardly believe
her eyes when she entered Trey's room. He had almost as many models as the hobby shop he’d taken her to. Finished ones were in glass display cases on shelves and others, in various stages of completion, were spread throughout the room.

The plane he’d bought the day they were together was on his desk, only partially constructed.

"I don't even want to know how much you must’ve spent to get all these.” Makayla took off her coat and draped it on the desk chair. "What are you? Some secret millionaire?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, his eyebrows raised. "Actually…"

Makayla rolled her eyes. "Don't say it. Do not say it."

"Robin—“

Makayla let out an exasperated holler and Trey started laughing.

“Has she ever said ‘no’ to you? Even once?”

“She has, believe it or not. But it hasn’t only been Escalades and model planes. I owe her for a lot more than that. My life would've gone in a whole other direction if it weren’t for her.“

Yeah, I know the feeling…

He bobbed his chin at the one bookcase covered with trophies, medals and ribbons, instead of cars. Makayla went to it to get a better look.

"Just about every opportunity I've had is thanks to her. Until Robin came along, the only time I had milk that didn't start off as powder was when I was in the low income breakfast program at school."

Makayla ran her fingers along the shelf as she scanned the various accomplishments—baseball MVP status, NAACP Act-So awards winner, Texas State Odyssey of the Mind participant and on and on and on… He might have been a welfare kid at one point, but he was doing all right now.

"Well," she said, still admiring his many awards, "the powdered milk may have been nasty, but where I come from, the brick cheese is where it's at."

To her surprise, Trey doubled over with laughter. He laughed so hard, Makayla found herself smiling. When he recovered, he straightened up and wiped the tears from his eyes.

"See? I knew you knew what was up." He came to where she stood and leaned against the wall. "Since you mentioned it, where exactly are you from?"

"Why?

"I want to know more about you."

"Why?"

He grinned, eyebrows raised. "Because that's what people do when they become friends. They get to know each other. Unless of course, one of them is a spy… Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

"So we're friends?"

He smiled. It was open and honest. Makayla wasn't used to that. She was more familiar with the guys that couldn't be trusted. The ones that said one thing, but always meant another.

When she said nothing, he rubbed his hands together and nodded. “Okay. I can see interpersonal communication is a challenge for you. That’s all right. I’m more than happy to be your guide.” He cleared his throat and clasped his hands behind his back. “This, my young grasshopper, is what people do when they make friends. They open up. They share. As your mentor, I’ll lead by example.”

“Oh, okay. I had better sit down for this.”

Trey waited until she was seated to continue. “The girl singing and dancing in the kitchen?"

Makayla nodded. She’d seen her when they arrived and immediately decided she liked her. How could she not? She was performing Michael Jackson moves, listening to Billie Jean and preparing Chicken Florentine lasagna—all at the same time.

"She's my mother."

Makayla smiled at his lame attempt to pull one over on her. When she realized that wasn’t the case, her smile faded.

"I know,” he said, in response to her reaction. “People always assume she's my sister. She could've been. She's just fourteen years older than me."

Makayla tried not to appear as shocked as she felt, but failed.

"That's why we were on welfare. She actually comes from a pretty good family. Her father, grandfather and uncles? All denominational bishops. All well-known. When she got pregnant…" He exhaled. "I don't know the whole story, but what I do know is, by the time I was born, she was living on friends’ couches and we were on our own."

Makayla was speechless. Just by looking at him, she never would’ve guessed Trey’s background. Their circumstances weren’t exactly the same, but knowing he hadn’t always been the college boy living in the nice neighborhood, lessened the inferiority complex she had to fight whenever they were together.

"Your turn."

He leaned back, arms folded and waited. He seemed genuinely interested. Not just nosy. And not like he was just trying to make conversation with the hopes it would eventually lead to her pants coming off.

"You never mention your family. Why not?"

Makayla shrugged one shoulder. "Not much to say. I was raised by my grandmother. Well, my adoptive grandmother. But she got sick when I was six and died when I was eight.”

“I’m sorry. What about your mom? Did she pass away, too?"

"No."

"Your father?”

"Never met him."

"Brothers? Sisters?"

Again, she shrugged.

"So… You don't have any family."

She could tell by the way he said it, he felt bad for her. It was sweet, but unnecessary. It was just the way things were. She’d gotten over that part a long time ago.

"Where are you from originally?"

“Bunkie.”

He squinted and looked up at the ceiling. "I don't know if I've ever heard of it.”

Makayla arched an eyebrow. “You haven't. Not unless you were unfortunate enough to be born there."

“Where exactly is it?"

“The middle of nowhere.”

"Oh, okay. That's not too far.” He grinned. “What made you decide to go to school here? Instead of Louisiana?”

Makayla stiffened.

The question was like a splash of ice cold water on her face. What was she doing? What was she thinking? How had she gotten so comfortable?

Her number one rule when she came to town was: No personal information. Rodney lived three feet away and even he knew nothing about her. It was the only way to keep the secret, at least, for now. At least until she knew where she stood with Robin. Why in the world was she in this boy's house, telling him all her business?

What if Trey mentioned Bunkie to Robin? Makayla felt her stomach tense. If Robin knew where she came from, she’d figure it all out.

Sure, she might hug Makayla and tell her how happy she was they were together again. But somehow, being outed as her secret child by godson Trey didn't seem like the best course of action.

No, she’d already said too much. She needed to get out of there before she said anything else and she needed to stay away from Trey. For good. She leapt from her seat and moved to the door.

"You know what? I need to get home. I have stuff to catch up on, reading for class and all that."

Trey stood as well, a blank look on his face.

“But you just got here. We haven’t even had dinner.”

"Sorry. I'm swamped with homework."

Trey looked completely stumped, but didn’t argue. "Um, all right. Let me grab my keys."

"That's okay," she said, snatching her coat off the back of his desk chair and swinging it behind her to put it on. "I saw bus stop on our way in."

"But that was all the way—“

Makayla was in such a rush, she didn't notice how close she was to his desk. She didn’t anticipate the bottom of her coat swiping the wing of his in-progress plane. She didn’t know why his hands flew up, then out in her direction. By the time she turned to find the cause of his reaction, it was too late.

She watched as the plane, carried by the momentum of her coat, spun across his desk until it ran out of surface and crashed to the hardwood floor.

They stood, in shock and silence, staring at the result. The one hundred and fifty dollar purchase he'd already invested hours in was nothing more than a pile of broken parts.

Makayla dropped to her knees and scrambled to pick up the pieces. "Oh my God, I am so sorry." She looked up at him, but couldn't read his expression. "I'll pay for this. I promise. It might take a little while, but I will."

He knelt beside her and touched her wrist.

"Makayla, it's all right."

The kindness in his voice just made her feel worse.

"It's not. You were so close to finishing it. I’m sorry. I wasn't paying attention."

He exhaled, took some of the broken pieces out of her hands and placed them on the desk.

"No. It's my fault. I'm the one that was asking all the questions. I freaked you out.”

“No. I’m not— It’s fine.”

"Look, I get it. I used to do the same thing when people asked about my family. I’d do anything to avoid the subject. Even now, I can count on one hand the number of people I’ve invited to my house."

Makayla looked up at him. He looked down at his hands.

“It’s not that I’m ashamed of my mom. Never. She’s my best friend. I just don't want people judging her, you know what I mean?"

Makayla felt her cheeks flush with heat. “Yeah…”

“What I’m saying is, anything you ever tell me… You don’t have to worry about what I’d think of you. And you don’t have to worry about me telling anyone else either. I meant what I said earlier. We’re friends now. I’m on your side.”

Makayla looked down at the pile of junk that once was his plane so he wouldn’t see the emotion in her expression.

"I'm really sorry about the plane."

He smiled the goofy smile that was starting to grow on her.

"You really wrecked it, didn't you? Well, now you
have
to stay for dinner."

A few moments passed in silence as they picked up the rest of the pieces. Then she felt him watching her.

"What?"

He narrowed his eyes. "At the risk of making you run and possibly destroy another one of my models on your way out, can I ask you one more question?"

No
. That's what she wanted to say. But she felt so bad about the hundred and fifty dollars that now lay in a pile on the floor, she thought it was the least she could do. She nodded.

"You were never really on a diet, were you?"

The last thing Makayla wanted was to tell him any more of her business. But at least the answer to his question had nothing to do with Robin or put Makayla at risk of exposure.

Taking a deep breath, she got up and sat on his bed.

"My aunt—well, she's not really my aunt. Kim was my grandmother’s daughter and the woman who raised me after she died. Kim didn't want to, but it was a stipulation in the will. The only way she could have the house was if she let me stay until I was twenty-one.

“We didn’t…get along. She wasn’t the mothering type. Not even with her own son. I don’t know. It’s like she was always looking for something else, maybe someone else…” Makayla shrugged. “Who knows. I never got her any more than she got me, I guess.

“Anyway, I had a smart mouth. I’m not gonna lie. I said something one day, I don’t even remember what it was, but as punishment, she locked me out of the house. It wasn't that bad because I could just eat breakfast at school the next morning and sleep out on top of the oil drums in the shed. But then summer came—“

Makayla stopped. Her eyes burned and her throat felt like it was closing up. But why? It was a million years ago. Why would she get emotional over it
now
?

She cleared her throat. Trey sat on the bed and slid his hand across the comforter toward hers, but she quickly folded her arms to avoid him.

"It was summer and school was out. What’s messed up is, I hadn’t even done anything that time. But the dude she was with just up and left in the middle of the night. She was a mess after that. Didn’t go to work, didn’t go to the store, didn’t do anything. There was no food in the house. I asked her for some money to go to the grocery store and she had a fit.

“Ended up locking me out the house again. I tried sleeping in the shed, but it was stifling. I had to stay on the back steps and got ate up by mosquitoes. The next morning I was so hungry. I kept knocking on the door, begging her to let me in. That only made things worse. She told me I had another night and if she heard from me again, it would be three. So I shut up. I drank from the hose at the front of the house, but the full feeling never lasted more than maybe thirty minutes.

“After my two days were up, I took a bath, changed my clothes and walked the neighborhood the rest of the day, looking for odd jobs. Before I went home that night, I used the money I earned to buy some plastic forks and packaged tuna and chicken. I gave the rest of the money to one of the teens living right behind us in exchange for keeping it all hidden at his house.”

“That’s rough.”

“I guess. But it worked out. That's when I started doing yard work for neighbors. I walked dogs, cleaned up after them. Washed cars, did housework. At thirteen, I added babysitting to my resume. I must’ve watched every kid in walking distance. Some of them were bad as the devil, but I didn't mind because that meant I could charge more."

Makayla smiled and Trey shook his head.

"Kids at school must've hated you. That young and with all that money."

"Nope. No one ever knew. I never spent any of it."

Trey did a double take. “You never spent it? At all? I would've blown every cent on candy and comic books, guaranteed."

"No, I had big plans for that money. Me and my—“ Makayla hesitated, then decided she might as well tell him the whole truth. “I was going to use it for me and my mom. Whenever she came back. I thought it would help us start over."

"What happened?"

"Not that."

"Sorry."

"Naw, it's cool. Was a dumb plan anyway."

Trey remained silent. Makayla stared across the room and out the large window.

"Why do you still carry them now?"

Makayla looked at Trey. She’d never thought about that.

"I don't know."

Trey leaned back against the wall and tucked his arms behind his head. He watched her, smiling.

"What?"