Mackayla's Story

Still Settling

As they walked into Tonio,s Mackayla sighed as the cooler air hit her, then smiled at the decor of the little restaurant. "I see why you like this place reminds me of Maxine's."

Leon smiled and nodded at Mackayla, Maxine's had been the families favorite stomping ground for a while. "You still go there?”

"Occasionally Mom, I and the girls will go but Dad won't."

Leon frowned "I am sorry I never meant for any of that stuff to happen much less in such a public place."

"It’s okay Uncle, Mom and I forgave you a long time ago." Leon smiled and

hugged his niece as the waitress came up to seat them.

As they sat at the booth in the corner the waitress introduced herself. "Hi I am Debborah. What may I get you to drink" she asked with a smile at the two little girls, winked at Leon, and gave Mackayla a grin.

"Can I get a chocimi Shake Daddy?"

Leon nodded "go ahead order whatever you would like. I'll take my usual

Debbie."

"What's a chocimi shake" asked Mackayla?

"It's chocolate, cinnamon, whole milk and mint ice cream mixed it's very good."

"Okay I will have one of those with a small glass of apple juice please."

"Okay I will be back shortly with your drinks."

As she walked away a young man walked up and set five glasses of water on the tble, "hey Leon" he said.

"Hey Toby" Leon said back "what's up with you today?"

"Not much work till two then headed out to hit a few balls with Stan" he replied then walked away. Debbie came back with the drinks.

They order their food, talked comfortably while Aerina colored and Brenda

babbled to her dolly, received their food, ate and drink. Debbie came back a few times to refill their drinks and ask if everything was good. She and Leon flirted a bit. "That was actually a very interesting and good shake. This food is fantastic. Wow I could really see me getting used to eating here."

Leon chuckled "we come here at least once a week. I told you would like it. The food is good the service very friendly and very reasonable price too."

Debbie came back again with the check and Leon handed her the credit card before she could even lay it down. She took it laughing and shaking her head. "As always the food was amazing Debbers. We really should get together sometime soon" Leon said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Yeah I don't think Chuck would like that too much" she replied with a wink as she walked away.

"Chuck is Debbie's husband." Mackayla just shook her head with a little smile, her uncle was obviously still the flirt he had always been. "She knows I was joking" he said. "Debbie and Chuck are very good friends of mine and I love them both and would never do anything to hurt them."

"I figured that out Uncle but thanks for clearing that up," Mackayla said laughing.

"So what's on the agenda for the rest of the day ladies? Shopping, playing, or

swimming." “Shopping" three voices cried out. Leon laid a $20 on the table and picked up Brenda then offered his arm to his daughter.

Pushing the stroller and walking with the girls as they walked to the strip mall just down the block. They shopped for the next few hours walked to a little stand and brought some drinks and snacks. Then walked to a little park where the girls played for a bit and Mackayla turned to her uncle, "so how did you come to find out about Aerina?"

"Through Sasha actually she was doing a home visit with a patient when Aerina's current foster mom dropped by with her. They got to talking and then some test where run and as they say the rest is history. My life has changed pretty drastically but I love it and love her so much that I won't go back to the way I was."

"I know the feeling" Mackayla said with a smile and loving look at her own

daughter. Leon smiled and put his arm around his niece and pulled her closer. After they arrived home and put the things they had brought away, Mackayla fixed some pasta salad and a few burgers for supper. They sat down and ate then they went into the living room to watch the news and relax. Mackayla picked up her phone and dialed a number.

"Hey Mom how are you?.....I am doing great....Yeah we went to lunch at a place called Tonios it's almost the same as Maxine's, it was absolutely wonderful. Then we

did some shopping, I picked up a few things for me, Brenda, and Aerina. I got some

pictures done, and then picked up a few more things....Yeah." They talked for a while more and then said goodnight.

"Aerina you need to go take your shower."

"Okay daddy."

Leon's phone rang "Hello....Oh, how bad is he.....Shoot, send him home

....Mackayla could you keep an eye on Aerina for a few hours for me. “

“Of course Uncle Leon”

“Ok I will be there in a little bit." He hung up the phone and looked at Mackayla

with a frown "I am sorry, had taken the weekend off. But Jimmy got sick and everyone else Jenny tried was busy. Being the boss and it being a Saturday night..."

"Don't worry about it I understand. Plus, we have a while to get reacquainted.

Are we still on for the volleyball tomorrow?"

"Of course, okay I gotta get going. Love you." Leon walked over and kissed her lightly on the cheek, than did the same to Brenda. He walked down the hall and

explained what had happened to Aerina and then left. A few minutes later Mackayla

heard the rev of a motorcycle.

After Aerina finished her shower the three girls colored for a little while longer then Aerina got up and hugged and kissed her cousins said good night. Mackayla got

Brenda in her jammies and changed herself then settled in the chair to nurse her. Half an hour later Brenda was asleep so Mackayla kissed her on the forehead and whispered good night settled her into the play pen turned on and clipped the monitor to her belt. She did the dishes and picked up the kitchen and living room then pulled out

her laptop and set it on the end table.

She settled down on the couch pulled it on her lap and turned it on then wrote a

letter. Finished with the letter she went to check on Aerina then into her new room

checked to make sure Brenda was all right then crawled into the bed and fell asleep.

She awoke several hours later to birds singing and the sun shining across her face,

heard the soft babble coming from the playpen smiled and sat up. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed she looked at the clock it was 6 am, a little bit early but given the time difference it was about the normal time when they awoke.

She stood and walked over to the chair where Siammy was perched and stroked

her for a little bit Brenda peeked over the edge of the playpen "Ma, Ammy, uv a."

Mackayla went to pick her daughter up Siammy trotted along after her. She blew a raspberry on Brenda's cheek then took her to the chair sat down and nursed her,