3
William May stood outside his daughter's door holding the handle of his rollaway suitcase in one hand and his hat in the other. He smiled at the woman he still saw as a child. "Are you going to invite me in or merely stand there staring at me until I must do so myself?" He grinned.
May shook off the mixed feeling of shock and affection as she stepped aside allowing her father to enter. He pulled the aged suitcase behind him and stopped inside waiting for Melinda to close the door.
"Do not look so surprised, Mellie. I am not that old that I cannot make a short trip across the country." He handed her his hat and shrugged off his overcoat. She took it and moved to the hall closet before turning back and watching him pull his case to the end of the foyer.
William stood and took in the large living room. "I see you have not made changes since your mother lived here." He turned and smiled at his daughter.
Melinda stepped next to him and realized that the room had not changed since she was a child. It remained pristine like the museum Skye thought it was. Other than the bit of dust that gathered between the visits of the cleaning woman there was barely a foot print in the deep pile of the carpet. The only rooms she used were the bedroom and the kitchen, and of course her office and small gym on the second floor. Even now, Skye spent most of her day with the neighbor and seemed more comfortable in that living room than the one where she was terrified of breaking something or making a mark on the white carpet. It was certainly time for a change.
"Everything in its own time," she nodded without looking at her father.
He laughed a silent laugh and wrapped an arm around her, bending to kiss the top of her head. "So much like your mother.
Melinda wrapped both arms around his waist and hugged him gently resting her head on his chest for a moment before pulling back. "Seriously, Baba, what are you doing here."
William turned and moved toward the kitchen. "My daughter calls me after almost a year and asks for Christmas treasures she has not worried about since she left home, then tells me she has given me a grandchild. Did you think I would stay away and wait for you to come to me?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
Melinda took a breath and hoped the flush in her cheeks did not show as she looked to the floor.
If he noticed, William did not comment. "Did you think I would allow some heavy handed baggage person manhandle the treasures it took us a lifetime to collect?"
"So you packed them and traveled with them?" May asked. "Unless you bought each box a seat, they were still handled by baggage."
"Ahh, Mellie," William sighed as he shook his head and appeared to be searching for something. "I still have some connections and one just happens to own a private jet. It was simply a matter of a phone call and our treasures are safely downstairs in your storage locker."
May stared for a moment.
William held up a set of keys on his index finger. "I still have these as well and it was nice to see that Steven is now the director of maintenance. He was always a fine worker. I am sure it is well deserved."
"That and his father was the last director," May huffed as she moved closer to her father. "What are you looking for?" She asked as he opened a cabinet door then closed it quietly.
"I was sure your mother always kept the tea in this place." He tapped the door softly. "And the kettle on that shelf," he pointed as he spoke.
Melinda shook her head. "I have made a few changes," she snarked as she walked across the room and opened a tall cabinet door next to the stove. She held out a hand toward the requested items then pulled out the kettle and walked to the sink. "All of the tins are freshly filled," she noted suggesting he make a choice.
"I was hoping to meet my granddaughter." William remarked as he set a small red tin on the counter and bent to look into the hall off the kitchen.
"I'm afraid she's already asleep." Melinda sighed as she drew two cups with matching saucers from the cabinet next to the sink and set them on the table then turned on the gas under the kettle.
"You are a strict parent, Mellie. It is only half past seven. I did not think children went to bed this early now a days."
Melinda shook her head as she pulled a plate of walnut cookies from pantry and placed them on the table then added a small jar of honey. "We spent the day at a," she stopped, almost laughing at herself. "At a Christmas tree park, plus she had a few inoculations this morning, which she sometimes has an adverse reaction to," she stopped and looked toward Skye's bedroom. "I guess I should have second thought the trip to the park but I promised and well…"
"Ah, so not so much like your mother, giving in to a little girl's desire." William smiled his approval. He'd always thought Lian had been too strict with the girl. He hoped she would model a parenting style more like his own.
"She fell asleep in the car on the way home and felt a little feverish to me." Melinda explained. "I didn't want a repeat of the last time, so yes she is in bed at seven-thirty."
"Then perhaps just a peek, a very silent peek?" William suggested.
Melinda nodded. "She's a sound sleeper. We won't disturb her." She motioned for him to follow and grabbed his suitcase a second before he took it from her.
"I am not yet an invalid, Mellie. I can take my own bag." He smiled.
She shook her head. "You can use the room at the end of the hall. If you need to freshen up I will get some clean linens."
William shook his head. "I arrived hours ago and had a fine visit with Steven then took a walk around the old neighborhood." He spoke softly as he followed his daughter. "So much has changed, but it was good to see Carl's is still on the corner."
"He passed a few years ago." Melinda told him. "The new owners kept the name, the food and the service is still excellent."
"I will have to pay a visit." William smiled.
"Skye's favorite breakfast stop," Melinda spoke softly as she turned the knob on the little girl's bedroom door.
She moved quietly across the softly lit room with William close behind. He stood at the side of the child's bed and smiled as his daughter brushed the dark hair from the little girl's face then bent to kiss her forehead. She stood and placed the back of her fingers against the same spot. Then stood back as Skye squirmed a bit then pulled her panda close and snuggled into her pillow.
William nodded at his daughter. "She is beautiful in sleep." He whispered, "just as her mother was so long ago when I would sneak into her room to kiss her head." He put an arm around Melinda. "I see she has the same panda as that small girl I remember. I believe you called it móhú de."
Melinda laughed as she turned toward the door. "Fuzzy one…guess I wasn't very creative."
"You were three and it was quite fuzzy as I recall."
"Wu Li," Melinda whispered. "Móhú de's cub, but Skye calls him Willie."
"A fine name," William smiled as he waited for Melinda to step out then followed and closed the door with a soft click.
Melinda hesitated staring at the door for a moment. "She's still warm, but it's almost three hours before she can have more Motrin®."
"We will keep a close eye on her, but for now I think sleep will be the best thing." William spoke softly.
The squeal of the tea kettle called them to the kitchen.
xx
After a few amenities such as 'how is work?' and 'what's new on the west coast?', May and her father shared a comfortable silence. He was surprised she kept the walnut cookies in her kitchen. Melinda had not been one for sweets in many years. May explained they were Skye's favorites and she had purchased them the day before knowing her little one would be quite upset over the number of injections she'd receive at her doctor's visit. He laughed and warned her about the dangers of spoiling her only child.
William listened as May told him Skye's story and her experiences a St. Agnes, after which he agreed that the little girl was due a bit of spoiling and meant to do some of it himself. He'd brought presents for her in his bag and was anxious to share them. He also looked forward to unpacking the Christmas treasures with his daughter and his granddaughter, sharing memories with both. He hoped Melinda would not be too upset with the new treasures he'd purchased for the little girl. Not being able to choose from the ornaments he thought she would like, he'd taken them all.
"It is apparent that the child has some Asian background," William remarked. "I would think you would choose a name that better reflects your culture."
"Like you did?" Melinda stared over the edge of her cup.
William looked into his. "Your mother and I felt it would be easier for you growing up to have a more European name. I have since seen the error of that."
"Skye chose the name. I took her to the park where we used to watch the clouds. She asked if she could share that piece of the sky. After the Bradshaw disaster she begged me to let her be my sky," May recalled the scene in the foyer of St. Agnes. She drew a breath then exhaled slowly. "It sealed the deal. She's been Skye ever since."
"I see." William nodded.
"Her full name will be Skye Qiaolian-May when the adoption is final. I thought Skye May was just a little too plain. She needs some flair and a bit of culture doesn't hurt either."
William chucked as he put down his cup. "And you've given her your mother's name as well. It is a good name for a child with such a pretty face."
May raised her brows and let out a soft whistle. "I don't know how I will tell mom that she is a grandmother. I don't think she will be as thrilled about it as you are."
"Do not underestimate your mother, Melinda." William sighed. "She too wishes to see you happy and I am sure she will understand when you share the child's story."
Melinda let out a soft huff. "Well, I don't have to worry about it. Skye might be in high school before she has the opportunity to see her grandmother. I don't remember the last time I spoke to her. It may have been when she turned over the lease of this to me." She rolled her eyes around the apartment.
"Be careful in your criticism, daughter. You too have a job that will take you away for long periods of time." William warned.
"I won't put it before Skye." Melinda shook her head. "I will take her with me if it comes to that."
William tsked at the statement. "You know that is not safe."
"I promised her she will always be safe with me and I do not break my promises." Melinda stared into her empty cup.
William sipped the last of his tea and gently set the cup down. He stared at his daughter knowing she was deep in thought, but this was not the time for this discussion. He was sure she was aware of the danger she faced in her difficult job and the risks it meant for the small child asleep a room away. He was also sure she had taken all of these things into consideration before taking this little one into her home, but maybe not before taking her into her heart. He was not there to lecture. He was not there to judge. He was there to share the holiday with his newly extended family and to become familiar with this little girl she was sure he would love as much as his daughter surely did. He reached across the table and patted the back of Melinda's hand.
"You are a strong mother, Melinda. This little one is fortunate to have found you." He smiled softly.
Melinda huffed a small smile without raising her head. "We're learning together, Baba, one day at a time and I've made a lot of mistakes."
William laughed out loud. "That is what parents do best, Mellie. I have made my share of mistakes. I do not often think of those teen years."
Smiling a sly smile, Melinda chuckled. "I was a smart ass, wasn't I?"
"Among other things, I recall." William chuckled back as he stood and carried his cup and saucer to the sink. He glanced at the clock. "I see we have been talking a while. Let me clean up while you check on Skye and then I think I will take my elderly self to bed. Travel is sometimes exhausting."
Melinda looked to the clock as well. They'd been talking for over two hours. She considered shooing her father off to bed, seeing to Skye then cleaning up and heading to bed herself, but she knew it would be a losing argument. Instead she stood and handed William her cup, saucer and the empty cookie plate.
xx
May stepped from the shower and briskly rubbed a towel over her hair. She'd been up for more than two hours, long enough to give Skye another dose of fever reducer, finish two reports, and complete her early morning workout. It was her time, quiet time, time to get to the things that being the mother of an eight year old with more than her share of issue rarely had time to do. She enjoyed these hours, but never stared without checking on the little girl before diving into it. By the time she showered, dress and brewed a cup of her favorite tea Skye would come dashing from the bedroom already full of energy and with some story she'd forgotten to share the day before. Of course that was on a normal day, when the skinny little imp wasn't down with fever and nursing a sore…well those injections usually left her with some nasty bruises. Skye never complained but bath time revealed all. May kept a jar of arnica gel, just in case.
Today she opened the bathroom door, releasing the steam that had collected in the smaller room and stood draped in nothing more than a towel. She drew a deep breath and reminded herself that the olfactory sense stirred memories faster than any other. Suddenly she was the child, hurrying to wrestle on school close and race to the kitchen while the youtiao were still hot. She pulled on the sweats she planned on wearing for all the decorating that would be done today and headed for the kitchen wondering where her father had found everything he needed to make the wonderful fried donuts she loved as a child. Did he have soy milk as well? Another memory surfaced. Baba had told her he disliked the taste of the soy milk as a child so his mama had created her own sweet version of the recipe with honey and fresh berries. Baba did the same for her. She slid her feet into a pair of plain slippers and headed for the kitchen.
"Good morning, Mellie." William practically sang from his spot in front of the stove. He did not turn from his chore but cocked his head toward the table. A plate of crullers set in the center with three small bowls of what she knew was the secret family soy milk recipe.
"Where did y…" she started as she smiled at the neatly set table and her father busy at the stove.
"The bodega at the end of the block is now open twenty-four hours." He turned and smiled as he dropped two more hot dough sticks to the plate. "That I found yesterday when I stopped to make my purchase. I stored it in your refrigerator then."
"How…" Melinda wrinkled her brow in confusion as she limply pointed to the fridge.
"I still have my key. This was after all your mother's home. I spent many hours here." He smiled smugly.
Melinda rolled her eyes and held up a hand. "Spare me the details, please."
"We were adults, Melinda and you were never more than a room away." He pointed with his metal tongs toward the hallway off the kitchen.
Melinda picked up one of the hot donuts, dipped into the thick white cream and took a bite. She closed her eyes and relished the familiar flavor as she grabbed a napkin and caught the crumbs.
"You should sit when you eat, Mellie. It is better for digestion." Again William spoke without turning toward his daughter.
Melinda nodded but could not answer as she took a second bite and hummed with the delicious flavor. Both adults paused as the soft sound that caused them to turn toward the hallway.
Skye stood in the doorway, one arm wrapped tightly around her stuffed panda the other holding up the fist she was rubbing into her eye. The little girl's dark hair poked out in all directions. Her cheeks were rosy but not as flushed as they had been a few hours ago.
"Hey, kid," May hurried across the kitchen and knelt in front of the child. She raised a hand to her forehead then pressed her lips there instead. She stood taking the little girl into her arms. Skye let her head rest on May's shoulder.
"How you doing, kiddo?" May crooned as she swayed side to side and rubbed a hand on the little girl's back.
Skye snuggled into the embrace. "I smell somethin'." She lifted her head and looked into May's eyes. "It smells real good."
"Mmm hmm," May nodded, resting her forehead on the child's. "How 'bout we take your temperature before we think about what smells real good."
Skye had closed her eyes, but she shook her head without losing contact with May. "My belly don't hurt none. I think it's hungry though. It makes me feel hot."
May smiled as she turned toward the little girl's bedroom, walking slowly. "Your belly is always hungry." She teased. She turned and bumped the door open with her backside and winked at her father who had been watching closely.
"No thamoniter, May." She whispered as the door closed with a quiet click.
William stood and smiled at how easily Melinda slipped into motherhood, reminding him so much of his own mother. She'd been quiet and loving, but firm and strong. He noticed how she had instinctively rocked the little girl in her arms and gently eased her into something she clearly did not like. He gave a satisfied nod and turned back to his crullers. He was sure both of his girls would be back very soon.
xx
"All done," May announced as she held up the thermometer and squinted at the small silver line. "Just one hundred," she smiled as she placed the instrument on the nightstand and picked up the small squat jar. "That's not great but it's better than last night." She tickled the little girl's ribs earning a quick giggled.
"How about we put some magic arnica on these purple blotches and then…" Skye rose up on her elbows and looked over her shoulder at May, unsure whether to be anxious or afraid. May wriggled her eyebrows as she twisted the top off the jar. She scooped a bit of the gel on to her fingers. "Then we'll go have some of your Yéyé's famous youtiao and soy milk." She spoke slowly as she massaged the gel into the little girl's bruises.
As soon as the gel was applied, Skye slipped off the bed and yanked up her PJ pants. "I got a yay ya?" The little girl scrunched up her face, "and it makes yo tee ow?"
May chuckled as she led the child to the bathroom. "Yep and he can't wait to meet you."
"Where did I get him?" Skye asked around the cool washrag May used to clean the sleep from her face.
"Well, he's been my Baba for a very long time." May explained into the mirror as she gently brushed the little girl's hair. She smiled at Skye's wide eyed reaction.
"Your daddy is here?!" Skye squeaked to May's reflection.
May nodded as she set a hand on either side of Skye's head and sighed at the make-do hair repair. It would have to do for now. "I guess that makes him your grandfather."
Skye spun around and looked up at May. "You mean I gotta grandpa?"
May pursed her lips, raised her brows and nodded. "I think he would really like it if you called him Yéyé." She tapped end of the little girl's nose. "That's Mandarin for grandpa.
Skye hopped from the step in front of the sink and headed for the door. May slid the steps back under the sink and closed the double cabinet doors. "Ain't a mandarin a orange?" Again the little girl scrunched up her face as she took May's hand.
May wobbled the little hand in her own and teasingly glared down at Skye. "We'll talk about that later."
Skye giggled and gave a nod.
They took a few steps to the door and stopped before May turned the knob. "One thing," her voice grew serious, causing Skye to come to attention. "You take it easy today and when I say nap time, no arguments." The little girl nodded her agreement. "And if that fever comes back, it's right back to bed. Got it?"
"Got it," Skye nodded again, "but that's two things." She looked up at May innocently.
May glared until the little girl's lip came out and she dropped her gaze to the floor. Immediately the new mom put a crooked finger under that chin and lifted the child's head to look in her eyes. May's wide smile resurrected Skye's.
"Let's go meet your Yéyé." May smiled as she opened the door and lead Skye into the hall.