"Braelyn, no," I told my baby cousin as she attempted to try and get out into the dinning area, but I grabbed her around the middle and tickled her as I lifted her into mid air. "I need a leash for this girl," I mummbled offhandly to no one in particular.
I glanced through the glass of the door and surveyed the dining area. It was pretty full out there. Only a couple of empty tables. My cousin definitely had her work cut out for her out there, but she was good at her job. Heading back into the kitchen, I watched my aunt and uncle work away at the counters and stove. My aunt was pulling a loaf of meatloaf out of the oven while my uncle was stiring some pasta in a boiling pot.
Aunt Mae looking up and saw me standing there. “Elijah, can you grab a couple of hot pads and place them on the counter there,” she asked, gesturing with her head where she wanted me to put the hot pads.
Nodding, I set Braelyn down, “Want to put a puzzle together?” when she nodded her head, I continued, “Go pick out a puzzle for us to do.” She turned and started for the living room. Perfect. I turned and pulled open a drawer, grabbing the hot pads and placing them where my aunt had wanted them.
"Thank you, Elijah," my aunt said as she started dishing out the meatloaf onto several plates. "Can you grab a tray for me, please?"
I did as I was asked and helped her arrange the dishes on the tray. Then I decided I had been away from Braelyn long enough, so I went to check on her in the living room, but she wasn’t there. The puzzle had gotten pulled from the shelf that she had wanted, but it looks as thought she had abandoned it for better and bigger things. I walked back into the kitchen and over to the door into the dining area where I found her running around between the tables and hiding underneath them.
What a little sneakster. She hid under a table with a couple of ladies sitting there. They were smiling and talking to her, so they didn’t seem too put off about it.
"Elijah, order’s up!" my uncle Dylan called out.
I hurried into the kitchen and saw there were a couple of trays that were ready to be brought out. “I got them both,” I told them. Putting the biggest tray in my hand, I balanced the other on my forearm. As I was headed to the door, my cousin Marcy opened it for me and helped me down the stairs, taking the biggest tray from me.
"I got it, everyone’s pretty much ordered anyway," she told me with a smile.
"Great, thanks," I smiled at her as I grabbed the ticket and found the table it belonged to. What a coincidence. It happened to belong to the table Braelyn was currently hiding under.
Walking up to the tabel, I smiled down at the two ladies, one looked barely eighteen, and the older woman had to be her grandmother. I recognized the grandmother right away, “Well, how are you tonight? I haven’t seen you in awhile,” I commented. “Was getting worried about you!”
"You know how life is. Easy one minute, busy the next," she said offhandedly.
I nodded as I grabbed a plate from the tray, “Which one of you had the burger with fries and a milkshake?” I asked.
The young lady raised her hand slightly, and I placed the plate in front of her and put the other plate in front of her grandmother.
"Who’s your date?" I asked.
She smiled as she glanced at her granddaughter. “This is Avery, she’s going to be staying with me for awhile. You know, to help out around the house.”
I feigned sadness. “If you needed help, you know I’m only a phone call away!”
"Funny, I’m pretty sure phones work both ways," she teased me.
I turned to Avery and smiled at her, “Welcome to the world of small town living.”
"Thanks," she said quietly, glancing up at me.
I could hear Braelyn getting antsy under the table, so I knelt down at the table. “I have been looking for a little girl by the name of Braelyn. I don’t suppose either of you have seen her, have you? We’re getting quite worried about her.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Braelyn peek her head out from under the table cloth, giggling.
"Well, would you look at that," I mused, "A little girl that closely resembles the young lady I’ve been looking for!" I reached down and swung her out from under the table, threw her up in the air above my head and caught her in my arms as she let out a squeal of delight. I tickled her sides, making her laugh as I looked down at Avery and her grandmother. "I hope she didn’t cause you guys too much trouble."
Avery’s grandmother shook her head, “Oh no, she was an angel.”
I smiled, “That’s always good to hear. We’ll let you guys eat your meal in peace. Say goodbye Braelyn,” I turned her in my arms so she could see the two girls at the table.
"Bye bye!" she waved her small hand at the two of them, and with that, I slung Braelyn over my shoulder and we headed back into the house.
Avery seemed like a nice enough girl, a little quiet, but she looked sadder than a person that young should. I wondered briefly what her story was. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time to dwell on the matter as I had more food to run out.
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