Page 84 of Love Overdose: St. Louis

He sat near the center of the room in a black wheelchair, watching an animated superhero movie on the television. A blue shirt covered his slim torso, and Spider-Man stretched across the front of it. His bald fade was precise, and his head rested against the support behind him.

He turned at the sound of the door.

His gaze found Frankie first and his entire face changed. A wide smile spread across his mouth as he lifted one arm toward her.

“There’s my baby.”

Frankie crossed the room quickly. She bent and wrapped her arms around him, pressing kisses across his forehead and cheeks.

“I missed you. Did you miss me?”

Malik smiled and clapped.

“Yes, you did. I can tell.”

The softness in her voice reached into me. I had seen Frankie as a businesswoman, a friend, a lover, and a daughter. Each version carried the same warmth, but this was different. Nothing competed with the attention she gave her son. The room could have disappeared around them, and she wouldn’t have noticed until Malik finished welcoming her home. Amelia touched my arm.

“It’s good to lay eyes on you finally, Dr. Valentine.”

“You too, Ms. Mellows.”

“Amelia.”

“Then you should call me Elijah.”

“We’ll see.”

Frankie looked over her shoulder. “Mama.”

“What? He may be Dr. Valentine for a while.”

“I don’t mind.”

Amelia’s gaze traveled over me with more examination.

“You joined Frankie’s class today.”

“I did.”

“And survived.”

“Easily. One person believed she was dying, but she was medically stable.”

Amelia laughed. “Let me guess. Was it Journey?”

“You know it was,” Frankie said.

We all chuckled, and Malik’s gaze moved past Frankie and settled on me. The laughter faded from the room, although no one became silent. Frankie straightened and rested her hand on the handle of his chair.

“Malik, this is Elijah. The friend I told you about.”

I approached slowly and stopped several feet away. Malik watched me without blinking. His eyes were dark and alert. His expression held none of the immediate welcome he had given his mother, but there was no fear in them either. He studied me as I lowered myself into a chair across from him rather than kneeling in a way that might make the introduction feel temporary.

“Hello, Malik. I’m glad to meet you.”

He continued watching me.

“Your mother told me you like superheroes.” His eyes dropped to the gift bag in my hand. I held up the bag. “I brought you something. Would you like to see it?”