Soon approaching the cracked open door of Mrs. Hart's room, I bit my lip timidly one final time before finally knocking. My palms were almost dripping with sweat.

However the shaking of the tray surely didn't cover up my nerves as much as I wanted to.

"Ivy, stop that fuss! Ya already know better to come in." She now spoke. Whoops. Sorry.

Opening wide, I did as told. But the second I was in, it was all but cordial.

From the first glance, she stared at me oddly—like I was the Black Plague or worse...the Spanish Flu. I knew this was a bad idea to come in here. I knew I should've told the kids to work their muscles and get to work.

But I still didn't feel right about any of that though. I'd just have to face the music now.

"Y-y-you ain't Ivy..." She continued on, nearly breathless with a fearful look in her eyes too. More so than mine ever was.

Oh no. Now I definitely had to assure her she wasn't in any harm.

Say something Levi, say something.

"Uh, no. I'm not. But don't worry, I'm not here to cause any trouble. I promise. M-m-my name is Levi Janson! Ivy is my...co-worker. And friend." I shyly started out nicely. I wanted to say much more however. Like how Ivy was my rock. My heart. The beautiful words to all my melodies. Though without saying a word back, I knew I had to just continue on. "Ivy had to work late tonight. But she wanted—more like I wanted to come by and check on things for her. Make sure everyone was doing dandy. She tells me a lot about ya, Mrs. Hart. Ya have a lovely home...and family. I-I-I only wish I could be as close to my parents as she is with hers."

Still eyeing me like I was about to attack her at any moment she then slowly nodded, noticing her tray of food in my hand. I shyly smiled and rushed to put it in front of her bedside table—gently placing each thing down while she began monitoring my every move.

That wasn't enough either. What else could I do for her to at least say–

"Ya not like the others, huh?" She finally let out.

Freezing, I peered up to her and shrugged innocently. At least it was something.

"May I ask what ya mean by that?"

She then smirked, giggling to herself nodding. "Oh come on boy. Ya know exactly what I mean. I've been on this earth for over 47 years...and you're the first white man that would ever think about steppin' foot on our side of the tracks for anythin' let me tell ya."

Well, nice to know she definitely knew more words. "I'm just trying to help." I smiled.

"Please. I know my daughter quite well, Mr. Janson. She is surely not one who freely accepts help for her personal life. Ya say ya work with her?"

"Oh yes! She's an excellent..." I trailed off, unsure if she knew about Ivy's singing or not. Though if she didn't and was anything like my parents, it was probably best if I didn't mention too many details about it. "Worker. Truly. She always comes on time, works hard, puts others before herself—man, I'd consider myself lucky to be with a skirt like that. I-I-I mean, work with a young woman like herself. You've raised a lovely daughter. Her siblings are pretty swell too." I told her, admiring just the very thought of her while analyzing her wall collage of photos.

It was all from Ivy's past. Everyone looked extremely happy back in Harlem. It just broke my heart knowing her mother would possibly never be that way again.

But hey, maybe if she heard Ivy's voice like I did...she could.

"Thank ya Levi! I knew there was always a reason to like ya!" I heard Joy now call out, passing the den to the living room.

My eyes widened as I traveled back again to Mrs. Hart. "So I see ya been leaving quite an impression with my other kids as well, huh?" She now sternly eyed me down.

I held my hand in defense. "Only when Ivy's been around, I swear it. And also tonight. They were trying to feed each other peanut butter crackers for dinner. But don't worry, I took care of it."

"Ya made us dinner too?" She now wondered in shock, as if it was a sin.

I shyly nodded hesitantly. "But I didn't take anything ma'am. I-I-I made sure to put everything back—just like ya usually have it too. Dale, Diana, and Jordan seemed to like it. T-t-they even helped me with all the cooking. Please don't be mad at me o-o-or them. I'll even leave right now if you'd like." I started to scurry off.

She then laughed, holding her hand up to me to stop before shaking her head.

Whew. A laugh was good. I think.

"I've never seen someone like ya so nervous toward us either..." She pointed out. I shamefully nodded, feeling like a huge joke now.

I knew my fears would get the best of me.

"Is it bad?" I asked her, sighing in distress. She simply nodded agreeing.

"But it works for ya." She then mentioned staring at something from behind me and smiled. She had an angelic smile too that I love so much on Ivy. "Here, go grab me that picture behind ya. Do ya mind?" She pointed, sitting further up in bed. Turning around to do so a bit baffled at why she was even asking, I saw the photo she was describing. It was Ivy, her mother, and a man. Taking it from my hands, she then showed it to me. "This is Ivy on her 15th birthday. It was the first time her Daddy and I took her to see him perform at the Cotton Club he sang for, when she was finally old enough to."

Of course. It was her father. He looked very kind.

"The Cotton Club?! I've heard of that place before. I love music so I know all the greats have performed there. Oh, it's the bee's knees! Do ya sing too? I-i-i-if I may ask?" I then blurted out.

I didn't mean to though. It just felt right to bring up since her and her father were so talented.

Though staring at me carefully and almost saddened, she sighed and shook her head once more. "No, not me. But I'm sure if ya work with Ivy, you must hear her always hummin' some tune like she wants to as well. The gal loves her some music too. I usually never give her a chance to go the distance to find out how she sounds, though."

I slowly nodded, becoming hesitant at first. "Well, I-I-I might've heard it a few times. But...from what I could make out, she still sounds wonderful."

Now pausing for a moment, she then put her photo away and agreed—beginning to take a few bites of the meal I prepared. I guess that was enough talking about that subject I suppose.

"Young man, do ya own any kind of seasoning where ya live?" She now wondered.

Again, I wasn't the best cook. Sighing to myself however, I just laughed it off.

"Maybe. Though, I should really let ya enjoy ya meal in peace now Mrs. Hart. But I truly appreciate ya for sharing with me."

Glancing back to me, she grinned. "But do ya know why I did?"

To be honest, I didn't.

Though I figured if she was as depressed as Ivy said she was, maybe she just needed someone else other than those who were related to her to talk about what her favorite pictures and memories were.

Although, shaking my head being honest with us both...she beamed. "I can see how much ya truly care about her." My body tensed up. Oh no. Did she not approve?! Who was I kidding? I looked like me. Of course she probably didn't. "I can see it in ya eyes just from the second ya walked through that door. From the way you've done apparently more than I could ever lately in one night, and definitely the way ya said her name. It's the same way her father lit up at me when we first met."

I smiled back, feeling like I couldn't keep anything hardly to myself.

But just in case I had Ivy becoming a really big star soon enough written all over my face too...I should leave quickly.

"Thank ya for being so kind ma'am. But I'm afraid I must be heading out now." I shyly uttered. She agreed, starting to let me go. "Oh and Mrs. Hart?" I turned back around as my feet landed on the outside of her den room while she stared at me baffled. "Can we just not share that I was here tonight to Ivy? We both know I'll be swimming with the sharks if she ever finds out."

It was a strange request, I understand. But that remarkable woman was as stubborn as I was when it came to not budging on certain things.

Nodding in understanding, we instantly formed an alliance and I finally left.

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Kicking my shoes off, feeling the aftermath of lending a hand to four little kids and an ailing mother—I was wiped out.

Back at my apartment pondering over it all, I didn't feel too bad about it however.

Everyone had what they needed and was well taken care of.

So now all my baby had to do when she came back home tonight was rest her sweet little head, and drift off into a dream until I finally got the chance to see her tomorrow again.

Somehow and maybe then if I tell her myself what I had done, she would be more understanding versus hearing it from her family—thinking probably the worst if I didn't eventually explain it.

But for right now, I just wanted to rest.

So, the moment I finally could manage to take off my jacket and tie...my bell suddenly rang from the downstairs buzzer. Making a mystified expression to myself while eying the time of nearly ten at night—I surely didn't expect anyone to stop by so late without a phone call.

Becoming ever more curious, I put my shoes back on and rushed to see who it could possibly be. Though when I opened the door...it was someone I knew alright.

All too well.

"Hey, handsome? Did I come at a bad time or what?" Her voice rang out, with her hand on her hips smirking.

"Heather?"

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Nooo!! Why is Heather back now, I wonder? 

See ya next time! ;)