Chapter Eight.

After work, Zaynella drove to the restaurant, it has always been her routine though this time around she was visibly happy. After her meeting earlier in the day with Mr Stark, she had gone back and done some research and thus came up with a new seafood dish that she planned on preparing for her workers before she adds it to the menu.

She drove swiftly, accelerating her car into the parking lot, she got off and headed to the kitchen through the back door. Two of her chefs were busy making dishes and did not notice her, not to distract them she took her apron and started bringing out ingredients for the new dish. When they eventually discovered her presence, she has started dicing vegetables for the dish.

" Hey boss", George and Kelly greeted.

" Hey you guys were busy when I arrived," Zaynella said.

" Yeah pretty much, we are getting many people in the restaurant and we only have two chefs we need an extra hand", Kelly complained.

" I figured that out,I will have something done about it so how is your son Kel", Zaynella asked.

" He is much better now he got his injuries from a fall during recess, Bob volunteered to stay at home today.

" That's nice you can take the day off early and go take care of your son".

" Thanks boss".

Zaynella smiled.

" whoa!!!, I haven't tasted anything like this before its simply delicious", Jenna a brown haired waiter of about thirty years exclaimed.

"Jenna is right this is really the food of the year", Michael chipped in taking a bite on his own dish. They were all currently sitting at the workers dining having a taste of the new dish Zaynella made. They were taking a few minutes break just to sample the new seafood cuisine.

"This tastes better than any seafood I have had in years, where did you get the idea", Kelly asked.

" Earlier today during work I had a business date with one of our software suppliers, we had lunch at Tummy's and the seafood I had tasted great so the idea for my new recipe came", Zaynella explained as her workers looked at her with awe.

" Zy you are simply amazing", Kelvin said glumping down the last bite of his food. Zaynella exchanged her plate with his when she noticed his empty plate. Kelvin smiled at her and digged into his food with happiness. Everybody at the table laughed at his behavior as they happily chatted and ate.

"How was classes today", Zaynella asked as she accelerated her car out from the parking lot, hitting the road. The cool breeze from the car window wiped her hair making it dance to the wind. A smile sat on her face and a subtle song could be heard from the cassette playing in the car.

" Classes were great", Kelvin replied his eyes shut.

" Am glad it was, did you visit grandma today after school", Zaynella asked.

" No I didn't I came straight to the restaurant".

" I did speak with the doctor and her condition is normal for now, her heart is not beating erratically and she is still in a good condition".

Kelvin stayed quiet for some minutes, then he snapped his eyes open and looked at Zaynella, his gaze contained resolution, and peace unlike what his gaze held when they found out of the relapse of his grandma's sickness.

" Thank you very much Zy, I don't really know how to repay you but am grateful that I have you in my life and I promise no matter what happens to grandma I will be strong".

His voice carried conviction and determination. Zaynella looked and him with a heart blooming smile, she released one of her hands from the steering wheel and squeezed Kelvin's hands.

" You are the brother I never had Kel, you are family and no matter what I will never abandon you I promise".

Kelvin held back his tears from spilling he looked at Zaynella and gave her a bright smile. One she haven't seen since the relapse. She smiled back, right now all that mattered is making sure that Kelvin doesn't feel his grandmother's absence when she is gone, and seeing him smile so brightly she knew that he would be strong no matter what and that alone gave her relief. The rest of their ride home was filled with silence, but not the awkward one.

Lionel was making dinner when he saw the headlight flash and just asked he guessed, Zaynella entered into the house carrying two small gift bag and her hand bag, Kelvin with his hand tucked into his pocket followed her quietly with his backpack.

" You are back, welcome", Lionel said stepping out of the kitchen.

"Thanks", Zaynella replied throwing a smile his way which he returned without much ado.

"Hi", Kelvin greeted.

" Hi Kel, how're you doing".

"Great".

Leo nodded at the reply and turned to enter the kitchen once again announcing on his way.

" I made dinner, chicken drumsticks and vegetables salad I used your recipe and am not sure how it would taste".

" Am actually famished right now let me go freshen up you too Kelvin, the room at the left of mine is ready for you".

Kelvin nodded and left.

"This is for you", Zaynella said handing the two gift bags to Lionel. Lionel looked into the bags and saw a new phone and the other one two food take away, he raised an eyebrow at her.

" I passed by the phone shop and thought you might need it so I got you one, hope you don't mind and the food is a new seafood recipe I created today you should try it out later. I have things to discuss with you but that would be later the food comes first", Zaynella said laughing as she walked to her room.

Lionel chuckled as he entered back to the kitchen with the two bags.

"What do you think Kel", Zaynella asked after she had taken a bite on her chicken drumsticks.

" Not bad but yours tastes better", Kelvin answered picking up a chicken drumstick in the process.

" For someone who just insulted my food, your appetite is really Huge".

" I am sincere am I not", Kelvin asked helping himself with the salad.

" You really are", Zaynella said smiling.

" If am to rate your work I do give sixty Five", Zaynella said.

" You are merciful Zy I would rate him ten", Kelvin said.

"Ouch!!", Lionel shouted feigning pain as he clutched his heart. Kelvin and Lionel have been getting along great and Zaynella was relieved at least he would have companion for now and Lionel was not that much older than Kelvin so he might look up to him as an elder. Lionel has also come accept her help and was glad he did, she have always wanted to repay him for all those times, his movement were relaxed unlike before. The day before most of his movement where stiff".

" H.E.L.L.OOOOO, back to earth", Kelvin said snapping his hand in front of Zaynella.

"Sorry I was lost in my own world, what did you say", She apologized with a smile as she asked.

" He was asking you about the dish".

"Oh that...

Just like that dinner went on and when it finally came to an end, Zaynella had a little chat with Lionel and she figured out that everything else were in order of course apart form the job hunting which went bad. Being an ex - convict wasn't a piece of cake, at the end Zaynella hired him as a new chef, besides she needs the extra hand since her restaurant is growing lately. She went to bed after that and Kelvin and Lionel stayed awake to watch movies.