Page 99 of Rules Of Engagement: St. Louis
“Ella, come help me with the mac and cheese,” Aunt Bernice called from the stove.
“Of course.” My mother squeezed Naomi’s arm. “We’ll talk more later.”
I eased closer to Naomi. “You okay?”
She smiled. “Yes. It’s a lot, but your family is lovely.”
I nodded as Elijah walked up. He held his hand out.
“You look familiar, do I know you from somewhere?” he asked.
Her eyes widened, and she laughed haughtily. “Yes, and no.”
“I can’t put my finger on it,” he snapped his fingers. “Come on, help me out.”
I glanced between them with curiosity.
“My friend Frankie whistled you down at the café a few weeks back. You’re the nurse who works at Barnes-Jewish, right?”
“Oooh,” his face brightened. “That’s iiiiiit!” He laughed. “Wow, small world. Yes and no. I do work at Barnes-Jewish, but I’m a neurosurgeon, not a nurse.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow, what an accomplishment. Not that being a nurse isn’t, but a neurosurgeon is a complicated and delicate career to have, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but the nurses are a packaged deal. We need them just as much.”
“I can imagine. Well, it’s nice to formally meet you. So, you’re Christian’s brother?”
“I am.” He winked over at me, and I smirked.
“And I’m his niece, too,” Sade said, manifesting next to Naomi.
She chuckled, and Elijah responded to Sade. “Yes, you are. And I’m your favorite uncle, aren’t I?”
She smiled widely and looked over at me, then back to Elijah, then hid behind Naomi’s leg. We all laughed, and I shook my head.
“Is Frankie here with you by any chance?” Elijah asked.
“She isn’t, and if I had known you’d been here, I would’ve invited her if that would’ve been okay with Christian.”
“I have no problem with that. I’m interested in meeting your friends.”
She blushed. “Maybe a double date, one day?”
“That sounds good, but I’d like to ask her out before scheduling dates without her knowledge,” Elijah said.
Naomi’s eyes widened, and she tossed her hands up. “Of course!” she murmured. “She’ll be delighted, let me tell you.”
Elijah nodded. “I look forward to it.”
The time moved, and Sade refused to leave Naomi’s side. My niece had decided that Naomi was her new best friend and was currently showing her every single one of her toys she kept at here at the house.
“She’s got good taste,” Elijah said, joining me by the window where I was watching Naomi help Sade set up a tea party in the living room. “Sade, I mean. She usually hides from new people.”
“She’s six. She doesn’t have taste yet.”
“She has instincts. Kids can tell when someone’s good.”
I watched Naomi pour pretend tea into tiny plastic cups while Sade chattered about her dolls. She was completely absorbed in the conversation, asking questions about each doll’s name and personality as if it were the most important discussion she’d ever had.
