Page 30 of Caught off Guard

I plopped on my back and held my stomach, sighing before turning my head his way.

“I’ve gained twenty pounds as president. You are one the best athletes in the world. It’s not a good look for me to be out of shape like this.”

I hoped Cairo caught my meaning and let me know what his physical expectations of a woman were.

He rested his hand on my fupa and tapped it playfully with his fingers. Instead of being offended, I searched his eyes, trying to read what was behind them.

“I’m not shallow, Zora. If I assessed my wellness by my body mass index, I’d be overweight. I’m six feet six and two hundredsixty pounds. I promise you I’m as healthy as a stallion.” He whispered the last sentence in my ear.

“Hmm. I’m plus size though. How many guys like you step to bigger women? I like who I am, but you’re literally in a different league.”

“Come here.” Cairo reached for my hands and pulled me to a sitting position.

He lifted his body and sat behind me, nestling me in his lap. When he wrapped his arms around me, I enveloped his in mine too.

“When you have a wife who loses her hair from cancer and weighs seventy pounds wet, you learn what matters. Our earthly shells are temporary, but what is in here…” he placed his hand over my heart, “is what matters. This is the second time I’ve told you that. I want to know who you are inside. Trust me.”

“You make me happy,” I confessed, closing my eyes and resting in Cairo’s embrace, inhaling his warmth and freshness and enjoying the now familiar sense of peace that found me in every area in his home.

As we ascendedthe staircase after my light cardio workout, I pondered what was happening between Cairo and me.

The smell of freshly baked bread and roasted coffee filled my nostrils. I wasn’t sure how Cairo pulled off making his enormous home feel like a quaint bed and breakfast, but I appreciated it.

Maybe it had been anointed with oil. I knew about such practices because of those summers in Alabama when I joined my grandparents in their Pentecostal church. People laid hands on folks for healing. More than once, I rode with my grandmother, who was an evangelist, as she entered people’s homes and anointed the doors with oil, praying a blessing over the dwelling. Was Cece a spiritual person?

“There he is.” Cairo dabbed up his chef, who’d prepared a small feast of croissants, fruit, and other assorted pastries. “Chef Yosef, meet Dr. Zora Langston.”

We exchanged pleasantries.

“If you’d like oatmeal or something lighter, please let me know. It’s my pleasure to serve you.” The chef bowed low.

“A buttered croissant and a cup of hot coffee sounds great.”

Cairo picked up a plate and offered it to me. I used tongs to select my croissant, which was bigger than any I’d ever seen. After filling my coffee with hazelnut almond creamer and stirring it, I joined Cairo at the table. He had a spread of scrambled eggs, oatmeal, a slice of sourdough toast, and a cup of green juice in a large, frosted glass.

“That’s a big breakfast.”

“I fuel my body all day for energy and muscle support. Chef has prepared foods with healthy fats so I’ll stay full. Of course, I’ll hydrate throughout the day in preparation for the sweat and movement that’s part of intense games.”

“Your body is a beautiful machine, so I get it.” I raised a glass of water in salute then bowed my head to bless my food.

As I bit into a croissant, an explosion of buttery flavors filled my mouth. I eyed the crusty pastry and groaned. Both the chef and Cairo turned toward me.

“Chef, this is the flakiest croissant I’ve ever put in my mouth. Do you cater?”

The medium-framed man with laughing eyes smiled.

“No, Dr. Langston. I’m not local. Cairo is a family friend who flew me in from New Jersey. But I’m happy to give you the recipe so you can enjoy them anytime.”

When I learned that Chef Yosef was to serve our needs the entire weekend, I became impressed with Cairo even more.

“I’ll ask Chef to box all leftovers up and send them with you. It will be something for you to remember me by.” Cairo’s sweet gesture warmed my heart.

“I would like that very much.”

Chef excused himself, leaving Cairo and me alone.

“My sister will be here around four o’clock if that’s okay. I’m warning you now that we are opposites.”

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