by Reina Torres
The thrill of the idea was short lived. She’d done that before with Stillman when he’d come to take her to her prom. She didn’t want to repeat the experience, not with someone else.
“No, let’s go down together.”
As they reached the landing, the conversation stopped, and Aylin saw the expressions on both Ethan’s face and Wes’. She couldn’t help the almost teary smile she showed them.
“I’m going to be the envy of everyone tonight.”
Aylin smiled at Wes’ comment, but she went to Ethan first. Even though he was a big, muscular man, he never made her feel small. And as he held her shoulders and brought her closer, he brushed a kiss on her cheek before he told her how beautiful she looked.
When she looked up at him, she beamed with love. “Thanks, dad.”
He fumbled in his pocket and brought out a little box. “Viv told me you were wearing the earrings tonight and I thought I should give you this.”
As she watched him struggle to widen the opening of the pouch, she caught sight of her mother wiping a tear away from her eye. Ethan finally upended the pouch into his opposite hand, and she could see the delicate amethyst pendant made of three matching stones.
“I was going to give this to you at Christmas,” he looked up at her as he worked the clasp open, “but I’ll have to get you something else, because I really think you need this now.”
“Dad, you don’t-”
“Hey, I started late in life on this dad thing. I have birthdays and Christmas holidays to catch up on.” He held out the necklace and she fought back her tears.
Lifting her hair from her shoulders and lightly gathering her mass of curls up near the crown of her head, Ethan was surprisingly deft at fastening the necklace around her neck.
When he was done, she wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. “I just need hugs like this, Dad. I don’t need the jewelry and gifts. Having you means the world to me.”
She felt his hand shake as it smoothed over her back.
“I love you too, Aylin.”
She made the introductions and after a few pictures, Aylin and Wes were out the door and walking to his car.
He leaned closer and told her again how beautiful she looked and then he opened her door and waited for her to get in. By the time they started onto the road and headed for the Hillandale Country Club Aylin was feeling like the very air around her was enchanted. “Thank you.” She turned and smiled at Wes, “I’m glad you asked me to go.”
He seemed surprised. “It’s a stuffy old party at the Country Club.”
“Well, I’ve never been to one. It’s like Cinderella going to the ball.”
Wes grinned back at her. “That makes me the prince, right?”
She nodded. “That makes you the prince.”
Turning the music a little higher, he tapped his fingers along the steering wheel as they drove. “That’s great.”
Stillman looked across the table at the Vidal house and tried to smile at Lissa. The look she gave him back could best be described as ‘cool’ but bordered on cold. When he turned away and looked at Warren who sat beside him, he leaned closer and lowered his voice. “She doesn’t like me, does she?”
Warren sputtered and almost spit out the water he’d just sipped from his glass, earning him a pointed look from his father. Warren gestured an apology and turned back to Stillman. “You think?”
“But why-”
Lissa cleared her throat. “I’m sitting right here.”
The two turned to look at her.
Lissa lifted her chin as she nailed Stillman with a look. “If you want to know why you’re on my list, you should ask me. Why get secondhand information when I can tell you in excruciating detail about your crimes against the gentler sex.”
Lissa’s father choked on his wine. “Lissa!”
“Gentler sex, Papa. It’s not about the act but the person.”
Stillman didn’t understand enough Spanish to understand her father’s words, and he was glad.
“I wouldn’t want to ruin dinner, so maybe you can tell me after, hmm?”
Lissa got up to help her mother in the kitchen, pausing at the door to glare back at him. “Why not? It’s your funeral.”
As she disappeared, Stillman sat back in his chair with a sigh. “Oh boy.”
Warren shrugged. “You should know that she’s besties with Aylin now. If I were you, I’d make sure she eats everything before you do... just in case.”
Stillman shook his head. It was going to be a long night.
The party seemed to go on forever.
The Country Club looked amazing in pictures online, but in person, up close, it looked and felt... sterile. The staff hardly smiled as they circled the room with the canapes, and it seemed to be a never-ending speed dating session. And she smiled through it. It took a lot of effort not to run screaming from the room, but then, finally, it was time for dinner and they were allowed into the private room adjacent to what she swore was an Olympic-sized pool.
Wes pulled out her chair and sat down beside her with a happy smile. “Thank God for the prompt dinner service. I thought I was going to fall over from hunger.”
Aylin smiled. “I admit I’m looking forward to dinner.”
Leaning closer, Wes gave her a mock-serious look. “You mean you didn’t eat your weight in those dried out bits of whatever they call food around here. What is it... hors d’oeuvres?”
Aylin had a feeling he knew exactly what he was talking about and she guessed he was trying to make her feel comfortable, but really, she was just hungry. She didn’t know what the country club was charging his father for the food they’d passed around during the cocktail hour that went on forever, but it was likely too much.
If she had to hazard a guess, her mother could have produced at least double the food that she’d seen walked around the room and it would have been delicious and filling!
Was it, she wondered, the taste preference of the people who belonged to the club, or did they just not know there was something better out there?
As the servers brought out the soups, Aylin placed a smile on her face. It was the best she could do in the circumstances. What she stared down into was something soup-y, but soup? Not really.
Still, she lifted her spoon and ate when Wes did, nodding along when he said how great it was.
She couldn’t wait to get back to her apartment and eat something good.
Stillman got up when Mrs. Vidal asked Lissa to bring in the roast and vegetables. As soon as they were in the kitchen, Lissa turned on him and almost nailed him to the wall with a perfectly manicured finger in his sternum. “Just what are you doing here?”
He knew that was a loaded question. There were so many possible interpretations of it, but he knew he was going to pick the wrong one, so he just went with the simple version. “I thought you might welcome some help.”
“If I was going to welcome anything,” she hissed at him, “it would be your trifling ass out on the curb.”
He just blinked at her.
“You’re such a... I can’t believe you’re that much of a... of a...”
Stillman was kind of hoping that she wouldn’t actually find the words for the thought she had in her head.
“... a man!”
“Um... okay.”
Huffing, she turned around and would have dropped the roast platter into his hands if he didn’t reach out and take hold of the platter on his own. With that done, he turned and walked back out to the dining room, hoping he’d still be able to walk out of the house later.
Halfway through the entrée of the meal, Aylin wondered if it would be considered rude to just sit there and leave the fish untouched and just eat the vegetables. The inside of the fish was raw and while she loved sushi and sashimi, she wasn’t quite sure that this fish was sushi grade. The last thing she wanted to do was end the night sick to her stomach.
Deciding to err on the side of caution, she proceeded to nod and smile at the
conversations around her, she enjoyed the ‘steamed harvest vegetables’ with gusto. Hoping that no one would notice that she only ate part of her meal.
“Excuse me.”
Aylin turned to see one of the staff speaking to Wes in hushed tones. When he backed away, Wes dropped his napkin on the table and reached for her hand. “They asked us to join my father on the pool deck.”
She took hold of his hand and set her napkin down before getting to her feet. As they walked away from the table it felt like everyone was watching them. She was sure it was just a feeling, but she couldn’t help the ache that started in her middle.
As Wes pushed open the door, she leaned closer. “Do you know what this is about?”
He held her hand tighter in his. “I have no idea. My father’s never done this before. Then again, I’ve never brought a date to one of these things before.”
His last words didn’t make her feel any better. The idea that this was happening because of her made her feel sick. Wes had been really sweet with her and she didn’t want to get him into any trouble.
They stopped at the edge of the pool and Wes looked around for his father. “I don’t see him. I wonder what’s going on.”
Aylin stopped short when she saw a familiar face near the corner of the building. “Isn’t that Sean?”
Wes turned and started to wave at his friend, until he saw another man step into the light. “That’s Sean’s dad.”
Looking back at Wes, Aylin was confused. “He’s your dad’s boss, right?”
“Yeah. He is.”
Before Aylin could ask another question, Sean’s dad waved them over.
Under his breath, Wes mumbled. “This doesn’t look good.”
Even after they’d stepped into the shadows at the corner of the building, no one spoke. Aylin, who had been known to blurt things out at the worst possible times just to fill the silence, managed to keep quiet. Barely.
“Sean?”
Aylin could tell by the man’s face and build that he was related to Sean. Sure, he had at least two decades, maybe even three on his son, but the resemblance was there.
“Would you like to make introductions?”
For the first time since she’d known him, Sean Morgan was quiet. He looked more than a little uncomfortable and Aylin felt sorry for him. His dad wasn’t taking his silence well.
“Sean? Don’t make me ask you twice.”
If there was one thing Aylin picked up early on in their friendship, she knew Wes was a people pleaser. Seeing his friend’s discomfort, she knew he’d try to do something to help.
“Mister Morgan, I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Oh, you don’t?”
Aylin felt Wes tighten his hold on her hand and she tightened hers as well.
“No, sir. Maybe you could explain-”
“Maybe,” Sean’s father rolled right over Wes, “you could introduce me to your... friend.”
Wes looked at her, his eyes darkening with confusion. He tried to give her a smile, but it fell short of a reassuring gesture. He turned back to the other man. “This is Aylin Blaise, she’s-”
“That,” Sean’s father shot back, “is Aylin Dennis.”
Aylin didn’t even have a chance to hold back, her denial was immediate. “No, sir. I’m not. I’m-”
“Craig Dennis’ daughter.”
Even though the evening air was a little on the cool side, her skin was suddenly burning. “Sir, I’m not.”
“Oh?” His tone was as sharp as it was mocking, and she almost asked him if Kat was somehow his daughter too. He almost sounded just like her. “You’re not that piece of shit’s daughter?”
“My name, before I was adopted, was Aylin Martenz. I am Craig Dennis’ biological daughter, but-”
“Just how many father’s do you have, little girl?”
Yes, just like Kat.
“I’m not sure I understand why you’re so upset, Mister Morgan, I-”
“And you!” He’d turned his ire on Wes. “You know what happened because of that idiot and you bring his daughter to the Club? You bring her to your father’s party? What do you think people will say?”
Wes was stunned and she could tell he was struggling to understand what was happening. She was too, but this wasn’t about her. Sean’s dad was taking out his frustrations on Wes and she felt like she had to do something.
“Sir, I’ve never told Wes about my connection to... I rarely see him myself. If he did something to you, I am sorry, but-”
“You. Are. Sorry.” He looked over at Sean and then at Wes. “Listen to that, boys. She. Is. Sorry.” He turned and glared at her. “And I suppose that you’re really ignorant of what your father did.”
The cold tone of his voice didn’t hide the vitriol that seemed to burn the very air between them. “I haven’t been a part of his life for most of mine,” she explained and felt the unfamiliar weight of her connection to the man who helped give her life. “Only recently has he even spoken to me. I’m telling you this, not because I feel you have any right to know my personal business, but for some reason you’re taking this out on Wes and I didn’t even tell him about Craig, because he’s not a significant part of my life.”
The colorful curse that Mister Morgan spat at her burned her ears. “Well that’s fine, since you’re not significant either.”
He turned his dark gaze on Wes next. “You’ve shamed your father, Wesley. If you want to make up for your appallingly bad judgement, you’ll come inside right now and apologize to him... and to me.”
Wes turned to look at her and she could read the worry in his eyes. He fairly shook with the idea that his father was going to be in trouble because of him.
Because of her.
She knew that he was torn. She could feel the tight hold that he had on her hand, but it wouldn’t be that much of a struggle in the end. Wesley was really close to his dad. He looked up to him as a hero in his mind. And why shouldn’t he?
Aylin let go of his hand. “Go,” she told him. “Talk to your dad. Please give him my apologies. I didn’t know...” That’s all that she could say. “I didn’t know.”
Wes left then, hard on the heels of Sean’s dad. And that’s how it should be. Wes was close to his family, just like she was close to hers.
“I’m sorry.”
She turned and saw that Sean was still there. It made a kind of sense. She didn’t see him leave, but then again, she really hadn’t expected him to stay. “What are you sorry for?”
The air around her body which was hot and humid a moment before was suddenly cool, almost cold to the touch. Crossing her arms over her chest she rubbed at her arms.
“I’m sorry for telling my dad about yours.”
“Ahh. Well, I guess it makes sense. Did you know his history with your father before you told him?”
Sean’s shrug was slow, hesitant. “I knew I remembered the name, but I didn’t remember exactly why I did. I know it’s hard to imagine, but I haven’t been really interested in my dad’s life outside of the business I’m supposed to take over when he retires. My dad was always into politics too. So, I guess I must have seen or heard your dad’s name somewhere.”
Aylin’s shoulders tensed. “You know, most of my life he was just not a part of it. Ever since he came back into it, all I’ve had is trouble.”
“Ah, parents.” Sean waved off the idea. “Do you think Wes is going to come back soon?”
She shook her head. “I doubt he’ll be back at all. I know how much he values his father’s good opinion, and I’m sure he’s going to feel like he has to make up for bringing me to the party.”
Sean narrowed his eyes at her. “And you’re not angry?”
“Angry?” She shook her head. “Disappointed, but not at Wes so much. We’re dating. Or I should say we were dating, but it wasn’t anything serious.”
“Not serious?” He shifted on his feet and made a vague gesture with his hands. “I thought you and he were... close.”
<
br /> She narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t know what exactly you’re talking about, but as far as I’m concerned, we were friends who were having fun dating.”
“Wow,” Sean’s smile was almost natural, “that’s good to know. I thought... never mind what I thought. Look, why don’t I give you a ride home. It’s the least I could do to make Wes feel better and because I’m the one that put you in the middle of this.”
She waved off the idea. “I can get one of those ride share things.”
He stared at her with wide eyes. “Hillandale is at the far edge of San Antonio. It’s going to cost an arm and a leg.” He gave her a look from head to toe. “You got a couple of spares under that dress?”
Laughing, she gave his arm a swat. “Don’t you dare think about what I’ve got under this dress.”
“Look,” he explained, “I’m not an official guest at this party and really, I think it’ll make Wes happy to know that I’m going to take care of you. Okay?”
She wasn’t sure about it at all. There was something niggling at the back of her mind, but she also knew how stressed she was. She needed to clear her head so she could think.
Looking at Sean she realized that he might just be the answer to her immediate problem. “I think I need to feel the wind on my face. You’ve got that convertible, right?”
There was a distinct glint in his eyes. “My Jag? Of course! Let’s go.”
Mister and Missus Vidal sat down in their living room to watch some television while the ‘young people,’ as they’d dubbed the children and Stillman, could enjoy themselves as they pleased.
It was enough of a worry that during the meal, Mrs. Vidal had chided her daughter to be kind to their guest during dinner and Lissa had done just that.
Sitting on the porch steps beside Warren, he knew he’d finally get his answers and probably kicked in the nuts. Warren was working on his EMT certification so Stillman was hoping he’d still be able to father children someday.
When Lissa sat herself down on the steps, Stillman went still and waited.
Warren looked between them once and then a second time. “You know,” his normal voice had been altered to sound like a documentary voice over, “what Stillman doesn’t realize is that the wild and wicked Lissa Vidal doesn’t have eyes affected by movement. She can still see her prey even as he remains still, cloaked in fear.”