“I had to be honest with him.”
“You lost a man who worships you, and you dared to tell him it’s because he has less. You can marry a man with lots of money and be miserable.”
“Oh, Kenley, Father wouldn’t want his fortune going to the common man.”
“Mother would want you to be happy. Doesn’t she count too, sometimes?”
“Stop making things difficult for me,” Milandra said as she left Kenley and went back into her bedroom.
Milandra slouched down on the bed and wept herself to sleep. In her heart, she missed Nolan already but the damage was done. Her outspoken behavior had caused her to lose him.
• • •
Kenley went into her sister’s bedroom. She saw that Milandra was sound asleep.
Tiptoeing over to a nightstand, she picked up Milandra’s cell phone and carried it out into the hallway. She scrolled to find Nolan’s number programmed in the phone. She called him. Nolan didn’t answer, so Kenley decided to call him from her line. He picked up.
“Hello, this is Kenley. Please don’t hang up on me. I didn’t do a thing to you.”
“I’m not going to hang up on you. I hope you’re not calling me for your sister.”
“She doesn’t know I’m calling. The calls you got from her number, I made them.”
“Are you trying to get us back together? It won’t work. Your sister made it clear about what she wants—and it’s not broke me.”
Kenley sat on the floor in the hallway. “You have to understand Milandra. Yes, she’s stubborn and bossy. She’s not used to anyone else taking the lead on things except my parents. You are a new world to her. It’s frightening to her that she has actually fallen for someone that doesn’t have lots of money. In her head, love and wealth go together.”
“You and Noelle were born in wealth, but you girls are so different. You’re more open to things.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m spoiled in my own way. But Noelle and I take people for who they are. Milandra is the one that took after Father all the way. He taught her to believe that love and wealth are one and the same, but she’s finding out through you that it isn’t true. She’s fighting against herself. Please give her a chance. I know she loves you. I could see it when you ran out of here.”
“I don’t know.” Nolan paused. “Maybe I should keep my distance.”
“Do you think you’re in love with my sister?”
“You’re straightforward.”
“You older people make love a big project. So do you love her?”
“I feel like I’m falling in love with her. I hoped she was feeling the same way, but ‘just a friend’—now that’s cold.”
“Please, she feels more for you than just a friend. I should have videoed her after you left. All I can say is if you think you’re falling in love with her, make her see that being with you, a man who has less, can be worth more than any other man with money.”
Nolan said goodbye.
• • •
Milandra woke up the next day with a pounding headache. She decided to stay in bed.
Kenley came into her bedroom. “You’re still in bed?”
“I don’t feel good,” she said with an ice pack on her head.
“You’re in love.”
“Nonsense!”
Noelle came over to the estate and made her way into the bedroom. She saw Milandra still in bed. “I heard you were sick. That was the talk of the day as I came in the house.”
“I have a slight headache,” Milandra said.
“She has a love ache. She ran Nolan away and now she hates that she did it,” Kenley said.
“Hush your talk,” Milandra said.
“You let Nolan go? Why?” Noelle asked as she took a seat on the side of the bed.
“He doesn’t have wealth,” Kenley answered.
“Sid doesn’t have wealth, but he’s a good man. I would never throw him away. Milandra, how could you do such thing?” Noelle asked.
“You would marry Sid?” Milandra asked amazed.
“Yes, we’ve talked about it,” Noelle said.
“My head is pounding more,” Milandra said.
“You can get well really fast by just calling Nolan back over,” Kenley said.
“He doesn’t want to be a friend, so we’re finished,” Milandra said.
“Let’s forget about wealth. Let’s talk about him,” Noelle said, taking the role of a psychologist.
“There’s nothing to speak of,” Milandra said as she pulled the covers over her head.
“Oh, yes there is. I know you’ve kissed him, but what about sex?” Noelle asked.
Kenley ran up to Milandra and pulled the covers off her face. “You had sex with Nolan? Tell us how it was?”
“Kenley, get out of this room. I’m not discussing sex with my sister who is barely sixteen,” Milandra said.
“I can learn it from you or I can learn it on my own. Which would you rather I do?” Kenley giggled.
“Start talking, Milandra,” Noelle said.
Milandra said, “I’m waiting to have sex until I’m married. And I hope, Noelle, you’ll wait until marriage also.”
“Too late. Sid and I have made great love,” Noelle bragged.
“Good for you, Noelle. When I’m old enough I’m going to be just like you. I’m not letting a man out of my sight who gives me great sex,” Kenley said.
Milandra sat up in the bed. “What have you become, Noelle? There’s more to a relationship than sex.”
“Well, Sid treats me the best in and out of bed. Nolan treats you wonderfully, from what I see,” Noelle said.
“Yes, he’s a gentleman, I will admit,” Milandra said. “But no wealth.”
“Oh you’re driving me bananas. Forget about the wealth. Love him for who he is. Have hot sex, or I’ll be pushing you around as an old lady in a wheelchair. You’ll have to live with me. I’ll feed you peanuts and crackers,” Kenley teased.
Noelle giggled. “You better find a way to get Nolan back as soon as possible.”
“I’ve messed up. I don’t know what to do. He might never forgive me,” Milandra said.
Kenley smiled as Nolan appeared in the room.
“Ladies, will you excuse Milandra and me?” he asked.
Noelle and Kenley left the room. Nolan closed the door behind them. He walked over to Milandra and took the ice pack out of her hand, placing it on the nightstand. He held her in his arms and looked directly into her eyes.
“You listen here. I’ll be your friend for now or whatever you want to call it, but I’m going to work hard to build wealth because you’ll be my wife one day. I love you, and I know you love me. We’ll have to learn each other’s lifestyles. Now get out of this bed and get dressed. We’re going on a picnic.”
Nolan walked over to the door and opened it. Instead of leaving, he turned and went back to her. He took her into his arms, kissing her passionately. “No man can love you the way I love you.” He walked away, but he made one last comment before he left the room: “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
Her face puddled in tears, Milandra decided to get out of bed and join her man.
Chapter 34
Kenley’s sweet sixteen birthday party was one of the things that kept her from thinking of her parents’ death. She gave out all twenty-five invitations—including one to Pete. She had convinced her sisters to have her entire party at their home instead of the yacht club. Her concern was who would be her date. She went to Milandra.
“My party is not going to be so good,” she whined.
“You have all the trimmings for it,” Milandra said as she went over the party list.
“I have no date to walk me in.” Kenley wept.
“Let’s see if one of Father’s colleagues’ sons would like to escort you.”
“A stranger. I don’t want anyone to feel pity for me,” Kenley wept.
“Well, do you have an idea?”
Kenley thought and whispered, “P
ete.”
“Who?” Milandra stopped writing and turned around to look at her.
“Pete.”
“The help? I better pick out your date.”
“I like Pete. He’s fun and quite handsome. Please! He knows me.”
“He better not know you too well.”
“I’m just talking to him. I’m not mushy with him like you and Noelle are with your male friends.”
“Hush your mouth!”
Although she wanted to say no to Kenley, Milandra didn’t dare upset her sister. “Okay, it’s your sweet sixteenth birthday. I’ll grant it.”
“Yippee,” Kenley yelled and twirled around like a ballerina and ran to find her date.
Inside the kitchen, Pete was polishing a silver bowl. Kenley came up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.
He jumped. “You scared me.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to. But you must stop what you’re doing.”
“I have to finish polishing this bowl before Elsa comes back from shopping.”
“I need to talk to you.”
Kenley watched as he set the bowl down on the table. Pete turned and gave her his full attention.
“What you want to talk about?”
“I need you to come with me and buy a tuxedo.”
“That’s a funny name. What is it?”
Kenley laughed. “It’s a fancy suit. You’re going to be my escort for my party.”
“Escort?” Pete said as he wondered what an escort does.
“You’ll walk me into my party.”
“Oh, I see, like a papa walks his daughter in for marriage.”
“Yes, like that.” Kenley giggled.
“How about your boyfriend?”
Kenley said sadly. “I have no boyfriend. Please escort me. If you don’t, I won’t have anyone.”
Pete grinned. “For you, señorita, I do it. What about the pants and shirt I got from Elsa to wear to party?”
“Give them back to her,” Kenley said. She abruptly kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks for being my escort.”
The touch of her lips turned his groin into a frozen Popsicle. Without any thought, he in return placed a peck on her cheek.
Her heart fluttered as she wished he had kissed her on the lips. “Let’s go get you a tuxedo.” Kenley smiled as she took him by the hand.
The afternoon was filled with shopping and grooming Pete for the party.
• • •
The servants decorated the estate with an arrangement of assorted flowers and balloons. A garland of pink roses adorned the staircase banister. Pete proudly stood in his tuxedo, not daring to sit down and mess it up. With the help of Elsa, his hair was slicked back, and the shirt he wore was white and crisp. The black cummerbund lay flat around his waist. His shoes dazzled like polished silver.
Pete kept looking up the stairs as he waited for Kenley to make her entrance; it wasn’t long before she stood at the top of the stairs. She was dressed in a simple, pale-pink, low-cut, backless dress with sequins. Her hair was pulled back into a curly ponytail, and it showed off her mother’s diamond stud earrings that sparkled in her ears. She strolled down the stairs on pink diamond stud high heels to match her dress. Her cheeks were rosy from pink blush and her lips glittered with pink lip gloss.
Pete held his head up high to show off the black bow tie as Kenley stepped down the last step to stand in front of him.
“Wow! You’re the most beautiful black girl I’ve ever seen.”
She smiled. “You’re the best looking Mexican boy in a tuxedo.”
“Black-Mexican,” he corrected her. “But thanks.” He smiled.
“Pictures,” Noelle and Milandra called. They had already snapped several shots as Kenley came down the stairs, as if the occasion was a photo shoot.
Kenley and Pete posed for photos. Kenley knew her friends would think Pete was her boyfriend. She didn’t care because he was fine.
They made their way out into the entrance of the yard. Many young teens sat around the pool under tents decorated in pink and white roses. The tables were covered in white linen.
In the center of the tables were bouquets of pink and white roses. A white runner was put down on the walkway, which extended to a hand-built arch filled with pink and white roses.
Kenley and Pete made it to the entrance. She put her arm under his. Pete reached over and kissed her on the cheek. “Happy Birthday, Miss Houston.”
“It’s Kenley to you.”
Milandra stood outside and held a microphone. She announced, “May I have your attention, everyone?” The guests became silent. “Everyone, please stand.” The audience stood up. “On behalf of my sister, Noelle and I, we would like to thank everyone for attending Kenley’s Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party. At this time we graciously introduce to you, our sister, Sweet Sixteen Miss Kenley Houston escorted by Mr. Pete Gomez.”
Kenley walked down the aisle on Pete’s arm. Cameras flashed in their faces. They showed teeth until they made it under the arch. There, Pete stepped back and cameras continued to flash. Some of the local media were allowed in to take photos. Under the arch was a table set up for Kenley. There, she sat and prepared to dine on her favorite dish—lobster.
Pete sat at a nearby table with Milandra, Noelle, Nolan, Sid, Tessa, and Baron. Even Elsa was able to sit at the table at Kenley’s request.
Later on, a toast was made in her honor. Then it was time for the guests to change from their dainty clothes into their swimwear. The girl invitees changed in the pool house. The boys changed in an outdoor bathroom. Kenley changed into a two-piece swimsuit.
Milandra saw her make her way back out to the poolside. “That’s not the bathing suit Kenley is supposed to be wearing. It’s a one-piece. I must go and talk to her.”
Nolan grabbed Milandra by the arm. He was about to comment but Noelle handled it. “Leave her alone, Milandra. It’s her birthday. Please let her be happy for this day. She deserves some happiness after all the hardship we’ve been through.”
Milandra stayed put.
Pete changed into his swimming trunks. He dove into the pool for fun—not to help clean it as he sometimes did. Kenley splashed into the pool. She and her guests played volleyball.
“We adults should go inside and let the young people have fun,” Noelle said as she got out of her seat.
“We’re not leaving a bunch of teenagers alone. The boys might get out of hand,” Milandra said and she stayed put.
Nolan grabbed Milandra by the arm again, this time to help her up out of her seat. “We can watch from inside. They’re not babies.”
The adults went into the house. Milandra stayed close enough to see as much as she could at the pool area.
Kenley enjoyed her party. The end had come too soon. She saw all her guests to the door. Pete was the last one to go home. She walked him halfway to the servants’ quarters.
“Thanks, Pete. I’ll always remember that you’re the one who made my sixteenth birthday the coolest.”
“I had fun. It was like a fiesta,” he said as he handed her the tuxedo.
“My sister will see that it gets back to the renters, but I better get back to the house. Milandra will be looking for me.”
Pete reached over to kiss her on the cheek. Kenley turned her face enough for their lips to connect. He put his arms around her and pressed his lips hard against hers. Kenley could tell Aniyah had taught him more than he should know.
Pete tried to touch her breasts, but Kenley pushed his hand away.
“I’m not ready for that. A kiss is fine for now. I like kissing.” She blushed.
“The other stuff—that’s for my sisters. They’re old enough. I just want to have fun being a teen.”
“I understand. I like kissing you, too. I just thought…”
“I know you have experienced more. That crazy fake Aniyah.”
“Yeah, she’s a hot tamale.” He giggled.
“I’m in no way like her.”
“You’re a p
rincess,” Pete said as he bowed his head to her.
“Thanks! I’m ready for bed. It’s been too much fun,” Kenley yawned.
“Kiss, one more time,” Pete said as he pointed to his lips.
Kenley reached out and they pecked each other on the lips.
“You be my girlfriend?”
Kenley called out to him as she ran to go home, “Yes, but let it be our secret.”
“Okay, goodnight,” Pete said and ran off toward the servants’ quarters.
Chapter 35
The fall season had arrived. The waves wobbled in the lake and gave off a cool breeze. Kenley hurried down to the lake to meet Pete. They had been boyfriend and girlfriend for two years. Her father’s boat was their private spot away from everyone.
Kenley stepped inside the boat that was tied to end of the dock. She walked to the bottom level of it. Pete sat there drinking a soda.
“I thought you weren’t coming today.”
“It’s Friday. My sisters and I have lunch together, something my mother used to have us do. It’s the time we talk about our daily lives.”
“You talk about us?”
“My lips are sealed,” Kenley said as she took the soda out of his hand and took a sip. “Ah…that hit the spot.”
“No kiss for me?”
“I forgot.”
Kenley pecked him on the lips. “Turn on the television. Let’s watch a movie.”
“Not yet! More kisses,” he said as he squeezed her close to him, pressing his lips to hers.
Pete touched her blossomed breasts. She didn’t push him away. He caressed her breasts as he kept kissing her. Kenley let her hand travel to his crotch. She touched his muscle and felt it become stronger.
Pete nudged her to get on the floor of the boat. Kenley pulled him right along with her until he was on top of her.
“You’re ready.”
“Yes, I’m a woman now. I’ve been waiting for you to take me since I turned eighteen.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” He wanted to know.
“I’m a lady. I wanted you to approach me first.”
Pete said no more. He reached under her skirt and went to pull her panties off, but felt nothing but her flesh.
“I told you I was ready for you,” she whispered. She wiggled her hips and removed her skirt.
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