Love Delivered Read Online Free PDF Page B

believe God created us to live in solitude. She made it her mission to connect with people like Stanley, who she felt needed companionship of some sort, hence my visit today.
    I didn’t need to be assigned to come to Newark to spend time with Stenton’s uncle for his birthday. I got along with him and only didn’t initiate the visit myself because he could be a bit standoffish and preferred his privacy. We’d invited him to church, family dinners and other gatherings where he selectively obliged. But my mother was insistent that Jordan and I come today, even skipping morning worship to be with him. So, after Sunday school, Jordan and I hit the parkway.
    “You’re a damn firecracker, you know that?”
    I shrugged and smiled ruefully. “I’m good for a hoot every now and then.”
    “Sit down and relax. I put out some snacks for us.” He started out of the living room, presumably headed to the kitchen toward the back of the two-family home.
    “Hang on,” I alerted. “You know the first thing Sarah Barrett is going to ask is what you thought of her banana bread.” I rustled through one of the gift bags for the pan.
    “Sarah…sent banana bread?” his voice drooped like Scooby Doo’s. “Well, young lady, you should have said banana bread instead of just cake. Give that thing to me.” He came over and barbarically snatched the pan from me.
    “Hey! And what am I…chopped liver? I put on my favorite dress for you!” I pinched my brows together.
    Stanley paused, considering my jeering. “One piece. That’s all I’ll share and that’s because you’re wearing open toe shoes. I don’t fancy them. But you did bring my great-nephew to celebrate my birthday, and that has earned you one piece.”
    He paced to the back, now leaving me laughing to the point of tears. That was Uncle Stanley. He was a pseudo-loner. When he felt inclined, he’d light up the room with unmatched energy, but you could always be guaranteed the following day he’d decline your invitation for more of it. Mercurial, just like his nephew.
    Stanley and I had my mom’s banana bread and tea. I watched as he opened the gifts my parents—or more specifically, Mom—sent over. He seemed content with them, though with him you never knew. One reaction that wasn’t ambiguous was that to Jordan awakening. It was perfect timing, considering my breasts were filled to capacity. He’d fallen out on the way here. I didn’t expect for him to sleep so long. I guess I should have, considering how late he stayed up the night before. It was unusual for him now that he’d just been trained to sleep through the night by Eligia who turned out to be a god-send.
    Stanley had just asked me about school when Jordan started wiggling and getting fussy in his lap.
    “Lunch time for the Jordan!” I cheerily announced to calm him. “Is there a room I can use to feed him? I don’t want to have to explain your myocardial infarction to your next of kin.”
    “Sure.” He chuckled. “Use the room near the living room. You’ll have plenty of room there. If you saw mine, I’d have to explain your myocardial infarction to Sarah Barrett.”  
    In no time, I learned the room he offered up was Stenton’s childhood bedroom. It was small…and dark from not having direct sunlight due to the close proximity of the house next door. The walls boasted sports awards and academic certificates along with a few posters of rappers. There was a desk in the corner, still covered with old notebooks, binders and folders. I pulled the tiny chair from the desk and made myself comfortable, idly wondering if a teenaged Stenton could fit in it. It was at the perfect height for me. A hurried Jordan was wrestling with my blouse before I was able to open it and unhook my nursing bra. Once he was suckling, I sat back, trying to relax as he finally did. I knew this would be a long feed considering the length of time he slept, which was fine by me because I had the supply. As Jordan relieved