70 - Momma Dee

_Tuesday mornings, when I don’t go to your practice, I come here. It’s time you two meet. – Darkness_



Sunday mornings were when Darkness taught Camille how to cook breakfast. That morning, she was attempting bacon and eggs again. Preferably without burning the bacon so badly that it was no longer recognizable. This would be her fourth attempt, and the first time that it was edible. Her fried eggs still needed some work.



After a mostly edible breakfast, Camille did her weekly updates to the websites that her company maintained. Darkness asked questions about what she was doing because he never knew that so much went into websites. With her work for the week done, as long as no emergencies came up or changes needed to be made, she took a shower and got dressed for a ride with Darkness.



They both preferred the new Roscoe Reagan Original custom bike where she could wrap herself around his strong body. After Tink was settled in his spot, she crawled up behind the large man and laid her head against his back before she pulled on her helmet and signaled that she was ready.



When they left the clubhouse a little before noon, Camille thought they were headed towards campus. But instead of continuing to follow her regular route, Darkness got on the highway and crossed the Mississippi River. He took an exit for a nearby town and followed a winding road south outside of town.



Pulling up in front of a large building with a portico out front, she looked at the name on the sign, and recognized it as the assisted living center that Rosie and Candi worked at. Parking over in the guest lot, he helped her off before putting the kickstand down. With the gear stowed away and Tink’s lead in her hand, Darkness took her free hand and guided her inside.



The nurses, staff and residents waved and said hi to Darkness. He waved back and Camille saw the looks that the women gave him. She was wearing the Cajuns cut, and he glanced down at her with an adoring smile. When the flirtatious women saw it, the looks went from come hither to rot in hell.



Ducking her head into his chest, he draped his arm around her shoulders, keeping her hand in his. When he asked if she was OK, she merely nodded. Afraid that if she said anything, she would not be able to stop the laughter.



Stopping in front of a half-opened door, Darkness knocked on the door frame. “Momma Dee?”



“I told them that you were coming. You bring that girl of yours?” an old woman said from inside.



A young blonde opened the door wider and motioned for them to come inside. “Yes, Momma Dee, he brought her.”



“Good. Good. Come here, child, let me see the woman who has my Amos all tied up in knots.”



Camille stepped over and took the outstretched hand. She was a small woman in a large recliner. If Camille had to guess, she would say that the woman would barely be this high to ride the rides. And that might be a stretch. Her skin was wrinkled with age and her thin hair stark white.



Momma Dee’s eyes were clouded with cataracts and Camille was certain the woman couldn’t see anything. She knelt in front of the chair and motioned for Tink to lay down. He lay on his belly, keeping his body against her leg. Taking her glasses off, she brought the small black hand to her face.



“I like her.” The old woman cackled. “Mary, is she pretty?”



“She ain’t bad for a white girl.” The aide making the bed said. “But we all know I like my women like I like my coffee.”



“Hot, dark and wet.” Momma Dee finished with a laugh. Camille couldn’t help but laugh also. “She’s smiling, but she’s not blushing.”



“No, ma’am,” Camille admitted. “It takes a lot more than that to make me blush.”



“Careful.” Darkness warned. “She might take it as a challenge.”



“Anyone ever tell you why we don’t eat at the island in my parents’ kitchen?” Camille asked as she looked towards Darkness. When he shook his head and gave a soft no, she grinned. “It’s my dad’s favorite place to eat.”



“What does he eat?” Mary asked, putting the pillows on the bed.



“My mom.”



Momma Dee rocked with laughter and Mary blushed.



Darkness smiled at the two women of his life. “I’m going to go see if our lunch is here.” He walked over and squatted down next to Camille; they exchanged a quick kiss. “Don’t let her corrupt you too much.”



“You saw my dad when he was drunk.”



“Who says I was trying to protect you?” he asked, caressing her cheek before he stood up and walked out of the room.



Momma Dee was laughing as he left. “Tell me how you met.” She demanded, as Mary also left.



“I am staying at the Cajuns clubhouse-.”



“That’s not when you first met him.”



“No.” she admitted as she shifted and laid her cheek on the woman’s lap. Camille closed her eyes as a small dark hand began to gently undo her braid. “They came up when Evie got shot.”



“You were there?”



“No. My friend Priscilla got a text telling her to bring them McDonald’s. She was hanging out at the pool with me, taking pictures of me diving. She left, and I was waiting for her to bring our nuggets back when I got the message that Evie was shot.”



“I was living at the clubhouse that Evie and her men stay at. I have insomnia and was in my little reading nook.” Camille smiled at the memory and the gentle touch of fingers in her hair.



“My Amos suffers from insomnia,” Momma Dee said softly.



“We talked about tactics that we used to help us sleep. Not that any of them worked. My mom used to play with my hair like this.”



“Did it work?”



“I would doze, but never really sleep.” Camille admitted.



“What else happened that night?”



“He kissed me.” She sighed. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”



“I do. Do you?”



“Not before. But then, I saw him. He was standing just outside the light, in the darkness. Something about him called to me. When he kissed me, I knew I belonged with him.”



“You do. You are the light to his dark.”



“I like that.” Camille smiled and opened her eyes to see Darkness walk back into the room. “What did you get me?”



“Pancakes.” He teased, setting the bags and boxes on the small table. A nurse’s aide sat the drink carrier on the table and gave them a strange look. The restaurant that delivered the meal did not serve pancakes.



“I prefer midnight pancakes.”



“Momma Dee, do you want your little tray, or do you want to sit at the table?” the aid asked.



“I’m comfortable right here.” She said, letting Camille’s hair fall from her hand.



Darkness offered Camille a hand up and pulled her to him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pushed up on her toes and gave him a kiss.



“I still like you in your glasses.” He grinned at her. She slid her glasses back on before helping him distribute the food.



“Your guides are quiet.” Momma Dee said as Darkness sat down on the bed to eat. He and Camille were sharing a rolling table.



“Yes. They still speak, but only in riddles.”



“This is good.”



The conversation was light while they ate. Then Darkness cut slices of chocolate cake.



“I remember making cakes for you boys.”



“I’ll make you a cake this week.” He promised.



“Momma Dee, when is your birthday?”



“I will be 102 in June.” She smiled as Darkness placed the fork in her hand and helped her to know where the plate was. “I was born during the Spanish influenza. There were no doctors available, and my mom gave birth to me at home. Good thing she had done it before.”



“You’ve lived through a lot.” Camille observed as Darkness handed her a plate of cake also.



“I have. You’ve seen a lot too. Your spirit is older than your body.”



“I’ve been told that I have an old soul,” She said as Darkness sat back down beside her. He pressed a kiss on the top of her head.



“I like your old soul. It soothes me and quiets the voices.”



She leaned into him. “I don’t hear any voices, but you soothe me too.”



“I sleep there, don’t need to think about you two going at it.”



“Momma Dee, we’re still dressed.” Darkness chuckled.



“Remind me to show you a book in Nessie’s library. And pictures of my dad in a kilt.”



“Trying to put me in a kilt?”



“There are advantages to kilts and skirts,” Camille offered him a bite of cake.