Chapter Thirteen

                                    

                                          
Ayo's face screwed up in confusion. "The night off," she repeated totally at a loss.
                          
"Yes, you are free to do whatever you like this evening. I will dine with my parents and their... guest, so you can do as you like," His face twisted in repulsion.
                          
Unabashed happiness shone on her face in that moment. She was free...not the kind of free she truly desired but she had freedom to choose what she did that night.
                          
Elijah felt a sense of bliss. It was a small victory for him. He never knew that making someone else happy could be so fulfilling. He turned to see Thomas watching very worriedly, he would deal with Thomas later. At this moment, nothing could take his joy.
                          
They left the office not long after that and started back towards home. When they arrived, Ayo immediately ran to her room and put on her old serving clothes. Elijah was curious as to why she did such a thing. Did she not like all that he has provided her? 
                          
He watched her run outside and to the rare of the house to the servant's quarters, where the children ran to embrace her. She laughed loudly. It was a melodious sound that touched his soul. One of the many children gathered at her feet brought forth a ball, which the group began to kick around the open yard.
                          
When he told her she had the evening to herself, he naturally assumed she would spend it quietly and alone. Or perhaps with Ida, Lucy or any of the others she had grown close to. When he really examined the situation, Ayo had made a home for herself here amongst all of this. She had made friends who would go to any lengths for her. She had protected and helped people when she had nothing to gain in return. What a curious creature, he thought as he watched her.
                          
He had not noticed but Sara standing in the background glaring at him. He watched her for a moment smiling remorsefully, at which point she turned and left. The situation with Sara was turning into a royal mess. He had been trying to get her out of this depression she seemed to fall into since Ayo's arrival. She made all her seedy plans and when they didn't hatch the right way she became openly bitter and resentful. Had he never introduced her to his friends from Harvard, she would have never have thrown herself around so willingly. Since that time he's not been able to look at her the same way. He simply ignored her until it became painfully obvious there was no continuing any kind of relationship.
                          
The children screamed calling his attention back to the game. They seemed to be enjoying her company so immensely. He was certain one more addition to the game would not be noticed, there were already at least fifteen in play. He waltzed outside when the group saw him they all stopped including Ayo, waiting with bated breath for Elijah to reveal his intentions.
                          
He smiled and asked, "Now, which team needs the most help?"
                          
The children all cheered in delight. Ayo's wide grin did not fade she said nothing to Elijah. She watched closely as he wholeheartedly joined the game on the team opposing hers. When the ball was kicked to her, she tried her best to manage and serve it to another of her team but Elijah was closing in fast.
                          
"For such a good fighter, you are not very good with your feet. I shall need to remember that." Elijah shouted over her shoulder as he and his team, which he had curiously been made the leader of, chased her without tire. She had another trick up her sleeve. She would not give in so easily. She turned sharply, she had intended to evade Elijah and his group, but, instead, she almost ran full into him. Elijah saw the collision about to happen grabbed Ayo in his outstretched arms and used her momentum to swing her up into the air and avoid harm. She laughed like a child, as she was hoisted several feet into the air and came crashing into Elijah's arms again. They both gave into a fit of giggles as they fell to the ground. The children around them were in no better shape, laughing loudly and wildly.
                          
Ayo lay atop Elijah and stared into his big grey eyes. Eyes she realized that she had seen so many times eyes she recognized without knowing how or why. There was more behind those eyes than just a handsome face and money. There was a soul, a fun-loving, warm-hearted creature that was just as human as she was. He was not as bad as she had first presumed or perhaps it was all part of a trick to get her to submit to him.
                          
Just then, the beautiful woman she had seen with him before walked out into the yard with Ida. She was obviously wealthy, for her fine silk gown and costly jewelry reflected her status. The look on her face spoke volumes, it was not happiness to see them, specifically, it was not happiness to see Elijah with Ayo.
                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
                          
"Have I interrupted something?" She asked in a soft southern voice. Though it sounded honey-coated, it was wrapped in repulsion.
                          
Elijah scrambled to his feet, almost unbalancing Ayo in the process. "Jacqueline, my dear, I was not expecting you so soon." He went to her and embraced her.
                          
Jacqueline's cold blue eyes raked up and down Ayo as if she could have killed her where she stood. "Come, let us away my dear. We should not keep your parents waiting. All of this soil and filth makes me a little nauseous." She said and brought her gloved hand to her nose to ward off the apparent stench. This comment was obviously intended for Ayo's purpose. The children seemed downhearted seeing that the game was over. However, Ayo's game was only beginning.