Deshavi shook her head no vigorously.
Ella put the dish down on the counter and raised her hands up to frame Deshavi's face, "Then why should you? Things happen in life, but just as I don't view or love my son any differently and he me in return, then why should you be viewed or loved any different?"
Deshavi was crying freely and Ella pulled her close in for a hug that could only be considered motherly and loving.
"I love you as my daughter already and you know more so than many women can attest to just how much your man, my son, loves you!"
Deshavi nodded against her shoulder.
"Nothing is ever going to change that or altar how much your Heavenly Father feels about you! Nothing! So don't hide yourself from living life. Enjoy it as you were meant to!"
Ella held Deshavi for a few more moments before letting her go.
"Now Trent will be back soon and I'm sure he has a plan to do something, heaven knows what though."
Deshavi looked at the clock in alarm and started quickly out of the kitchen, but stopped midstride to turn back to Ella.
"Thank you! I wish my mother could have been more like you!" She said, before rushing back out of the room to go get ready for her date with Trent.
I stepped into the kitchen from the side hallway entrance that I had been listening from. Ella's expressive eyes darted to me and her face blushed a little. I didn't say anything, but I quietly went to the sink and washed the next dish. When it was washed I held it up for Ella to dry. Hesitantly she took it from me, as she came to stand beside me at the sink. We washed and dried dishes in silence for a while.
"I feel like such a hypocrite!" Ella said speaking into the silence of the moment.
I glanced over at her, but I didn't say anything.
"All these years that I've struggled not to view myself as some sort of second-class citizen and I have the gall to tell her it's wrong to feel different about herself!"
"We all have our weak moments, but the occurrence of them doesn't alter the truth of what you said to her." I said quietly in response.
She studied me for a moment, "Why is it that we can't practice successfully the things that we preach to others?"
I smiled and shook my head in agreement with her sentiment, as I continued to wash the dishes. I handed a dish to her and as she took it I let my thumb caress over her hand. She noticed the touch and imperceptibly she drew closer to me. I liked her nearness.