Would you like something to drink?" Mrs. Ellis offered. Instantly Marla's hands were up waving in protest.
"Oh no ma'am… I'm fine, but thank you for the offer." She politely replied.
"How's my little grandson… Jayden right?" Mrs. Ellis surprised her with her words. She didn't think that Jacob or his mother recognized Jayden as his son. Neither of them had put forth any effort in reaching out to him over the years.
"He's getting big…" Marla stated quietly. "He started kindergarten last week." She told the older woman honestly.
"Kindergarten already? My-my-my where did the time go… Got any pictures?" She asked again giving Marla a shock.
"Of… well only the ones I carry in my wallet…" She answered.
"Ooh let me see my grandson… When are you going to bring him over here to meet his grandmother? You know he's got family over here too… Lots of cousins that he needs to know." She chattered on and Marla couldn't hide her surprise any more. What was going on? Was this the same woman who had questioned her if that was really Jacob's baby she was carrying? Is this the same woman who had accused Marla of trying to trap her son into marriage? Marla fought against those negative thoughts. She wasn't here because she was trying to get Jacob back. She was only here because her son wanted to know his father. She took her purse off of her shoulder bringing it forward to rest in her lap. She then rumbled through it until she found her wallet.
"Here you go…" She said as she got up and moved closer to the older woman while flipping her wallet open.
"Ooh wee… Yup that's Jacob's baby alright." She conceded. "Looks just like him… Linda… Linda…" Mrs. Ellis called out to who Marla knew was Jacob's baby sister. Linda emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron and with a wooden spoon in her hand. She too looked as if she had gained fifty or so pounds and wore her short hair in African twists.
"Well hey Marla… Long time no see… Where you been girl?" She said in a friendly voice.
"Hey Linda… I've been working and finishing school. You know how that go…" Marla said keeping the conversation light.
"Linda… Linda… come look at your nephew…" Mrs. Ellis said to her daughter.