In His Arms

“You should mention that to whoever manages the building.”

“Actually, I have. No change.”

“We’ll have to see about that.”

Rashad had on a brightly colored shirt for a change, and he wore it with black slacks. He also had a heavy lamb’s wool cardigan over one arm and a bag in the other hand.

“Is it cold out?”

“Not yet, but it will be tonight and at the movie. I should have left this in the car, but I took it off on the way up.”

Michelle grabbed her sweater and purse, but Rashad was still looking around. “Where’s Andre? I thought I would meet him. I brought him these.”

He handed Michelle a bag of toys.

“He’s at my cousin’s. You didn’t buy these, did you? Toys are expensive, and he has toys. You can’t buy his approval, you know.”

“I know, but I thought I’d try.” Rashad chuckled. “Actually, most of these are my nephew’s. He’s too old for them now, so I thought I would pass them along. These are new.”

Rashad pointed to games and learning programs that went with a computerized tablet.

“Trying to get him hooked on the computer early, I see. We do have one.”

“I know. Or I figured—you being a student. But these are his very own, and all the new programs are for his age-group.”

“Rashad, you didn’t have to. This is too much.”

“No, like I said, my nephew outgrew most of this. Here, this is for you.”

He pulled a DVD from the bottom of the bag.

“I didn’t know about flowers or chocolate.”

Michelle took a serious step back. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know about chocolate,” she said, her eyes sparkling with humor.

“Well, I guess I know now. But what kind? See. Too many options.”

“Anything with nuts—peanuts, almonds, pecans.”

Rashad laughed at the passion in her voice. Then she stepped back to him and took the DVD he was holding out. It was The Color Purple.

“Aw. I love this movie. And I don’t have it.”

“I’m glad. I thought you might like it. You think in color. Look at your place.”

Michelle followed Rashad’s gaze to her living room. The furniture was worn but colorful, and her walls were full of art, what she could afford, which was her own and her son’s. It did make for a rather gaudy presentation. She laughed at the thought.

“What?” Rashad asked.

“It’s actually quite gaudy. I hadn’t noticed before.”

“It’s not gaudy. It’s bright. And it fills in for what you don’t have or can’t afford right now.”

“That it does. Thank you, Rashad, for the movie and the toys for Andre. You didn’t have to, really.”

Michelle didn’t know how to truly express her thanks. It was all more than she could have imagined and just like Rashad, as she was coming to see.

“I wanted to. Don’t give it another thought. Are you ready to go?”

“Yes. Where are we off to?”

“Have you been to Gallery Place, Chinatown, in northwest D.C.?”

“I’ve driven through it a couple of times.”

“Good. I thought we could go to Clyde’s for an early dinner—they have just about everything. And the movie theater there has fourteen cinemas, so there should be something that we like. Does that sound okay?”

“It sounds great. Oh, can we find parking down there, or should we take the train in?”

“Parking is a block over. If your shoes are comfortable, we’ll be fine.”

“They are,” Michelle said. “Let’s go.” Then she paused. “Wait. Who’s driving?”

“I figure I am—only because I know where we’re going.”

“Okay. As long as you’re not still poking fun.”

Rashad pursed his lips in the cutest little pout. “Would I do that?”

Michelle flicked her finger against his arm. “Yes,” she said. “You would.” But she was still taken by his childlike pucker and smiled.

Clyde’s was packed, and when she got to see the atmosphere, she understood why. It was lively, but it was quiet enough to talk, and they did have just about everything.

Michelle rolled her shoulders and stretched her head to either side after they sat down.

“I’m so glad I didn’t have to work today. I got so much done.”

“Tired?”

“No, I just needed a stretch.”

“How do you manage on what you make at the coffeehouse, even as a manager? Is that too personal to ask? You don’t have to answer.”

“No, that’s fine. I would wonder if I wasn’t me. I get some child support and alimony from my ex-husband, and between that and work, I can pay for things around the house. For school I take out student loans, and my cousin Nigel helps a little with that. He’s...wonderful, and he’s like you—giving. I can only imagine what I’ll need to pay him back.”

Rashad took her hand, and Michelle felt a tingle move up her spine.

“He wants you to pay him back?”