Free Family Ties by Nina Perez Page B

someone else getting credit for them.”
     
    “From what you’ve told me of Lila, she seems pretty fair, like she has your best interests in mind.” Patrick said, placing a forkful of salad in his mouth.
     
    “Yes, but I work with these people too, Patrick.  I know.”
     
    Patrick didn’t push. I looked at Myra, trying to catch her eye, but it seemed dipping a piece of arugula in dressing required every ounce of her attention.
     
    “Well, we’re having a team meeting to run it by everyone.  Then we have to get some boards together to show the people at Raven Cosmetics.”
     
    “Wait.” Patrick put down his fork. “Did you say Kelly Kennedy?”
     
    “Yup.”
     
    “From Shining Moments ?  That Kelly Kennedy?”
     
    I smiled and took a sip of wine. “Formerly of Shining Moments, and I didn’t know you watched soap operas.”
     
    “I don’t.  She’s a client of mine and a friend.”
     
    Myra and I both stopped eating.
     
    Myra asked, “You know Kelly Kennedy?”
     
    Patrick looked at us both like it was no big deal.  “Yeah, we were in some acting classes together a few years ago.  When she got the gig on Shining Moments she asked if I would train with her a few times a week to keep her in shape. Anyway, she’s from Long Island and we were a year apart in high school.”
     
    “Small world,” I said.
     
    “You want me to talk to her for you?”
     
    I shook my head, “No, no.  I couldn’t ask you to do that. If Raven is on board, they’ll reach out to her people—“
     
    “You’re not asking, I’m offering. Putting in a good word can’t hurt, right?” Patrick said as he stood with his empty plate and started to clear the table.  “That was delicious.”
     
    “Yes, Chloe.  You outdid yourself tonight, girl.”
     
    “Thanks, guys. Who wants coffee?”
     
    “I can’t.  I’m meeting my sister and her boyfriend.”
     
    “Charlotte?  The one with the weird boyfriend?”
     
    “Yeah, I promised my Mom that I’d get Charlotte to come home for dinner on Sunday.”
     
    “Good luck.”
     
    “Thanks, I’ll need it.  Myra, it was good meeting you.”
     
    “You too.”
     
    Patrick left Myra and me alone and I tried to convince her to stay for coffee as well.  She declined, stating that she was meeting a guy she met while jogging in Central Park.
     
    “Myra, be careful.  That sounds dangerous.”
     
    “Please.  I’m meeting him in a very public place.”
     
    “I know, but I meant going out with a guy you met in the park.”
     
    “How is that any worse than letting a complete stranger move in with you?”
     
    I sucked my teeth. “Myra, please don’t start.  I thought we had a good time.”
     
    “Chill out.  I was just messing with you.  Patrick seems okay.”
     
    Realizing that was about as nice as she was going to be, I gladly walked her to the door after we made plans to go shopping the next weekend.
    ***
    The next day I made arrangements to take Brianna to the Children’s Museum.  I took my responsibilities as godmother seriously and felt bad that I hadn’t spent much time with her over the past summer, but between finding a roommate and work getting so hectic, I’d had very little free time. I planned to make up for it that Saturday.
     
    I took the train to Harlem to meet Crystal and Brianna at my uncle’s restaurant.  As I entered Home Sweet Home , the aroma of glorious soul food embraced me.  Memories of Crystal and I running through the restaurant while Uncle Troy jokingly chased us with a wooden spoon came flooding back.
     
    Folks would come from all over Manhattan to sample Uncle Troy’s sweet potatoes, fried catfish, smoked turkey, collard greens, and homemade corn bread.  Had The Colonel sampled Uncle Troy’s fried chicken, he wouldn’t have bothered to open that restaurant of his. As usual, the dining room was packed; all but two tables were taken. I spotted Brianna sitting at a table near the kitchen door, face buried in a