79

ALAYNA

It’s usually quiet in the house, but unlike yesterday, I don’t have bitterness for breakfast. Casey has online classes, Cassius is at work, Ms. Lennie is busy ordering the maids around, and Pauline... Well, I don’t care to know what she is doing. On the other hand, I’m not sure how to tell them Brandon, and I reconciled.

Brandon promised he would be early tonight, and I wish to surprise him with a new dish. I choose to believe him for now, for us, since that’s what trust is all about. He wants me to give it, and I’ll try again. This is better than wondering if there’s a future for us every day. No matter what Pauline says about their relationship, I will wait for him. Our present is all I should care about.

In the afternoon, I try to make grilled chicken gnocchi. It’s an Italian version of gyoza or dumplings, but I use the chicken’s skin as a wrapper to retain the smoky flavor of the chicken when I grill it. I stuff it with mashed potatoes, minced garlic, ground chicken meat, g