Ray’s eyes caught Bev’s and she quickly looked away. They had been playing this cat and mouse game all evening. He chuckled to himself. This was one evening that he would remember. Simultaneously, he was getting attention from Bev and experiencing the Stillwaters family full force. It was a bit overwhelming.
The grand matriarch of the family wasn’t at the dance, but hundreds of her descendents were. Those in attendance ranged in age from their eighties to their teens, and the Stillwaters family proved to be one that partied hard.
Ray’s host, Uncle Gerald, was the deejay. Sporting a Kango hat perched backward on his thick shock of hair, he kept the place jumping with a steady mixture of old school soul and hip hop. He was really good at what he was doing and kept everyone fired up. Thad and Darnell pumped the crowd up further when they appeared midway during the festivities and sang their award-winning duets, and then Darnell took the stage alone and sang. As expected, the crowd went wild.
People danced with and without partners and the line dances were endless. Two of the family members that Ray already knew, Nedra Davis-Reasoner and her husband Sinclair, won the salsa contest with moves that put the younger couples to shame. The place was jumping all evening and Ray was enjoying it all, despite Dana’s attitude.
She had branded Ray as a “traitor” but she kept up appearances, danced with him occasionally and introduced him to so many esteemed family members that he lost count. There were doctors, lawyers, scientists, artists, and entrepreneurs of every kind. He had read the names of many of those in attendance in some of the most prestigious newspapers and magazines in the nation, unaware that they were related. Each family unit was distinguished by the accomplishments of its members, and as the evening progressed Dana would whisper tidbits of information about each. There was one branch of the family that had ten children. Dana referred to them as “The Breeders.” According to her, nearly half of those in attendance at the dance came from that branch of the family.
One of the highlights of Ray’s evening was meeting the architect Armon Casey, who, much to his surprise, turned out to be the brother of fashion kingpin Bo Buchannan.
“Neither one of them use their real names in their businesses,” Dana explained. “You’ll find a lot of professional names being used among us Stillwaters folks.”
She introduced him to other family members. There were more aunts, uncles, and cousins than Ray could count.
Later Dana offered Ray a glimpse into some of the family’s political maneuvering that he had heard hinted at when he first arrived.
“My oldest aunt is first in line to head the family after Grandy,” Dana told him later. “That would have made her only daughter next, but neither of them wants to do it so some members of our family think that we ought to have a vote on the successor, and of course The Breeders would probably have the largest voting bloc.”
“Why can’t one of your aunt’s sons take over?” Ray wondered.
“Ours is a matriarchal family,” Dana replied. “Whoever replaces Grandy will be female.”
“Oh, really?” Ray wasn’t sure that he liked that idea, but of course his opinion didn’t count. “What do the men in this family say about this ‘woman must rule’ thing?”
Dana looked at him pointedly. “I never asked, but it’s been my recent experience that some men can’t be trusted.”
“Ouch!” Ray said, grabbing his chest in mock pain.
She wasn’t amused. Throwing her napkin down, Dana got up from the table. “Forget you, Ray. I’m going to the ladies’ room.” She stalked across the dance floor, leaving him alone at the table snickering at her retreat.
Bev watched her sister’s exit with interest, noting that she was clearly agitated. She guessed that the strain of keeping up the farce was beginning to get to her. Too bad, but it was Dana’s own fault. She’d get no sympathy from her.
Deciding to call it an evening, Bev was about to leave when her favorite cousin, Gerry, suddenly appeared at her table. Thrilled, she greeted him happily with a kiss and a hug.
Dana’s absence had allowed Ray to resume his eye dodging with Bev. He looked across the room and found her talking with some man. It was clear that their conversation was an intimate one as they laughed and jostled one another fondly. From the look on Bev’s face, this was someone special. For a split second Ray felt a tinge of jealousy, but the feeling was fleeting as he reminded himself that every man, woman, and child in the room was related to one another in some way; except for him, of course. Besides, he had no right to any feelings where Bev was concerned. She wasn’t his woman, and she had made it clear that she did not want to be.
From the day that they had met, Bev had used the fact that she was ten years older as a bridge that was never to be crossed. Now, as he sat watching her, he wondered what she would do if he ventured across that barrier this evening and asked her to dance. After all, this might be his only chance. If she refused, his ego couldn’t be any more bruised than it had been in the past, so what the hell! Getting up from the table, he started across the room.
Bev was ecstatic. Gerry was Uncle Gerald’s only child. Close in age, she and her cousin had been raised together and loved each other dearly. Business had delayed his being in town any earlier, but he was here now. As they caught up on the news about each other and their loved ones, she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Someone was maneuvering through the dancers on the floor. Thinking nothing of it, she continued talking to Gerry until the figure drew closer and stopped in front of her. She looked up. It was Ray.
“Would you like to dance?”
Bev was taken aback. In the years since they’d known each other and the many events that they both had attended, separately, they had barely said ten words to each other. She and Ray didn’t dance. They avoided each other. That’s what they did! What was wrong with him wanting to dance with her, and why now? Why here?
Ray wanted to laugh out loud at the look on Bev’s face. If he had proposed marriage she couldn’t have looked more shocked.
The man standing beside her looked from one to the other, wondering what was going on. Ray was grinning as though he were the cat who had swallowed the proverbial canary. Bev looked as though she was that canary. The man thrust his hand out toward Ray.
“Hi, I’m Gerald Stillwaters, Jr. They call me Gerry. I know everybody else in this place, so you must be the houseguest my father told me about.”
“One and the same. I’m Ray Wilson.” He and Gerry shook hands. “And your father is great, and a cool disc jockey, too.”
Gerry flashed a grin that looked just like his father’s. “That’s him, all right. He’s one hell of a guy.”
An awkward silence followed as the three of them stood looking at each other expectantly. Ray took control.
“Excuse us. I’d like to dance with your cousin.” He turned to Bev.
“Go for it,” Gerry urged.
Bev stuttered, “Uh, no, no…”
Ray grabbed Bev firmly by the hand. She resisted.
“I…I was about to go home.” She gave Gerry a look that silently pleaded for his intervention. He only shrugged.
Ray kept walking, all but dragging her behind him as he ignored her protest. When he swung around to face her, Bev was standing as stiff as a board.
“I…I don’t think this is a good idea,” she told him above the pulsating music.
“What?” Ray feigned deafness as he took her into his arms and prepared to move to the beat. Bev was still resistant.
“I can’t dance with you.” She tried to pull away.
Ray wouldn’t allow it. “What?” He cupped his free hand behind his ear as if he couldn’t hear her. “Did you say that you can’t dance?”
“No, I said…”
“Is that because you never learned or that you’re too old?”
Bev’s eyes grew as large as saucers and her face turned as hard as granite. “What? I bet that I can dance you off the floor!”
She proce
eded to be as good as her word as the long version of Marvin Gaye’s “Give It Up” took its toll on dancers young and old. By the song’s end, Ray and Bev were one of a half dozen couples left standing, and Ray was sweating as though he had run a marathon. Bev was exhausted, but she didn’t want him to know it. Thank goodness, the music finally stopped.
“I’m ready for another go at this,” she crowed as a haggard Ray started to leave the dance floor.
“Oh really?” He didn’t believe her for a minute, but he was ready to call her bluff.
“Yeah, really,” Bev replied with bravado, silently praying that the turntable would break. No such luck, but it was a slow song. Aretha Franklin’s “Call Me” filled the room.
Bev groaned. She regretted having opened her big mouth as Ray took her into his arms. He kept a respectful distance between them, but to her he was still too close. His cologne tickled her nostrils. He smelled good, and dancing with him felt a little too good. She began to feel embarrassed and wasn’t sure if it was because of the warmth that was spreading though her body or her perception that everybody was watching them. Over Ray’s shoulder, Bev shot a glance at Dana, who had returned to the table. She sat staring daggers at them while Bev tried to retain her self control.
Ray could sense her uneasiness. He could also feel her body heat. He was trying to control his own body. The smell and feel of her was turning him on. He didn’t want to embarrass either one of them, especially in front of her family, who—from his observation—could not have cared less about what was happening with them on the dance floor. But it was obvious that Bev was concerned because she was back to her board-stiff posture. That was a sure sign that she didn’t want to enjoy the dance with him.
The song was a short one. For different reasons both Ray and Bev were grateful. He thanked her politely. She responded courteously and they retreated to separate corners of the room. The dance was over, or so they thought.
* * *
A car came for Ray at seven o’clock the next morning. It was the white Rolls-Royce that he had seen the day that he arrived in town. The young man driving introduced himself as William Stillwaters IV. Ray said his goodbyes to Uncle Gerald and to his son and started to climb into the front seat of the car. The young man opened the back door and directed him there instead.
Ray obeyed and was surprised to come face to face with Esther Stillwaters.
“Good morning, Ray.” Her manner was pleasant as she watched him settle into the plush seat next to her. “Don’t be alarmed. I’m not leaving town with you. My great-grandson will be dropping me off at The Cove. But I wanted to see you before you left and tell you how much I enjoyed meeting you.”
“The same here, ma’am,” he said, and he meant it. “You are a fascinating lady with an amazing family.”
“Thank you. We’re not perfect, but we are loving and respectful toward one another. That’s something that I insist on. It’s my greatest wish that this will continue after I’m gone.”
“Which won’t be for a long time, I hope.” Ray took her hand in his and squeezed it fondly.
She chuckled. “I’m ninety-nine, Ray. Only God knows how long I have, but I plan on enjoying every second that he gives me. Meanwhile, I’m sorry that you won’t be here for my birthday bash. I hope that the business that’s taking you away from us will be settled satisfactorily—all of your business.”
Esther looked at him pointedly, just as she had yesterday, and once again Ray had the feeling that she knew what had happened with Dana, even though Bev and her sister had informed him that neither she nor their mother had been told.
They arrived at The Cove. The driver jumped out of the car and opened the back door. Esther turned to Ray.
“Goodbye, son.” Her smile was effervescent.
“Goodbye, Mrs. Stillwaters.” He returned the smile. “And thank you for your kindness.”
Her great-grandson helped her exit the car. The door was closed behind her, but as Esther started toward The Cove, she turned back and tapped on the car window. Ray lowered it.
“I just wanted to tell you that Bev’s bark is worse than her bite. Don’t let her scare you off.” She winked at him. “And I’ll see you when you come back.” She turned and walked away, tossing over her shoulder, “And I’m sure that you will be back.” She disappeared inside.
Ray was still sitting in a stunned stupor when the driver returned to take him through the gates and out of the town of Stillwaters.
* * *
The evening of Grandy’s birthday party, Bev parked her golf cart in The Cove’s parking lot and was getting out of the vehicle when Dana pulled up in her rental car. The two women had tried to avoid each other since their spat days ago. That hadn’t been possible. Only yesterday they had engaged in yet another heated discussion at their mother’s house. Thankfully, Ginny had not been home that time, but a lot of truth had been revealed.
“Nothing that I do is ever good enough for this family!” Dana had barked as they stood toe-to-toe in the living room. “I’ve always had to come second to you. I graduated from college cum laude. You graduated magna cum laude, despite being a widow with a young child to raise. In your teens you marry the love of your life, and then you become the tragic young widow and get sympathy ever after. I get married and divorced, then married and divorced again and I get criticized and the shaft!”
Bev hadn’t been surprised by her words. Even their mother knew that the root of Dana’s problems was jealousy of her older sister, no matter how misplaced. All of her life Dana had been living in her shadow and trying to play catch-up. Bev couldn’t say for certain that she wouldn’t feel the same if their places had been reversed. Yet the depths of her sister’s feelings were disturbing and detrimental. She wanted reconciliation and had tried to offer some advice.
“You have to live your own life, Dana, and be satisfied.”
Although her words had fallen on deaf ears, Bev thought about them as she stood waiting to speak to her sister. It was hurting their mother to see them continuously at odds with each other. It had to stop.
Bev noticed Dana hesitate when she saw her waiting, but she couldn’t sit in her car forever. Bev wasn’t about to move. Finally, Dana exited the car, but she tried to ignore Bev and walk past her and toward the building. Bev fell in step beside her.
“Have you heard from Ray since he left?” It might have been the wrong question to ask, but at the moment Bev could think of nothing else to say.
“Since you seem to be his confidante, I’m surprised he hasn’t called you.” Dana kept walking, and so did Bev.
“I know that we’ve said a lot of unpleasant things to each other while we’ve been here, but I’d like bygones to be bygones. We’re sisters, Dana. Mama and Daddy always told us that we’re all that each other has.”
Dana opened one of the double glass doors to The Cove before turning to face Bev.
“You’re wrong. You have the Stillwaters family, and you love it and all that it stands for. As for me, I find it hard to be part of a perfect family, especially since I’m not perfect.” Brushing her sister aside, she entered the building.
With a sigh of resignation, Bev followed her. Dana was so stubborn. Unfortunately, it was a character trait that ran in the family. It seemed to come with the territory.
Grandy’s hundredth birthday bash turned out to be a rousing success. Generations of the Stillwaters family filled The Cove gymnasium, which had been turned into party central. The decorations were beautiful, the food was delicious, and the tributes were unending. Love for the great lady herself flowed freely. Esther Freedom Stillwaters was queen for the day. There were tears and laughter as the history of the rambunctious Freedom and Stillwaters families was recounted by the senior members of the family, but, in the end, it was Grandy who ruled the evening.
As savvy at one century old as she had been as a young woman when she first laid the foundation for her family’s economic ascension, she eliminated any possibility of infighting by
using the celebratory gathering to name her daughter, Ginny, as her successor as the head of the family. There would be no democratic vote. The matriarch had spoken.
Bev’s cheeks were wet with tears of pride for her mother. The family’s greatest honor had been bestowed on Ginny, and there was no dissension regarding it. Family unity prevailed.
As Bev stood beside her mother on the podium, reveling in the standing ovation that Ginny was receiving, she thanked God that her sister was here to share this moment. A glance at Dana revealed that, despite her sister’s attempt to remain stoic, her pride in Ginny’s accomplishment appeared to be as immense as her own.
Grandy raised her hand for silence and the audience grew still. She looked out over the generations that she had helped spawn and invited them to join her in a toast.
The elderly woman’s voice was strong and clear. “It took blood, sweat, and tears to get us this far. Faith, love, and determination will keep us here.” She raised her glass high, and every member of the Stillwaters clan followed suit as she said the words that would continue to take them forward: “Family First.” Her words were echoed throughout the room.
As Bev sipped from her glass, it was her hope that those words would one day hold special meaning for Dana and her. Only time would tell.
CHAPTER 8
Ray had been back in L.A. for a week. Since he was supposed to be on vacation, he avoided going to his office and had gone to his house in Tiburon. He had bought the property from Thad after he and his wife had decided to reside on the Peninsula. Ray had always liked the place and enjoyed spending time there. However, when he arrived at the house where he expected to spend the rest of his vacation, he discovered that he had termites. A tent had to be placed over the house, and he found himself back in his house in L.A. Determined to enjoy his dwindling days of freedom, he drove to Santa Barbara for a few days of relaxation and spent a day on Catalina Island and the rest of his time on the golf course, all the while thinking about the time that he had spent in Stillwaters.
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