Over the Hedge: Part 2- The Finale (Lucky in Love)

by Minerva Vesta

  I took a note from Sean’s book on spicing things up in our relationship. If I learned anything from years of listening to other women talk about their love lives, it was that a man enjoyed variety in the bedroom. And, while I was certain Sean had no complaints about my performance in said bedroom, I wanted to keep him enthralled.

  When I walked down the stairs, Sean had given me a reason of my own to stop dead in my tracks. Any attempt on his part to try to convince me he wasn’t a beautiful man would forever fall on deaf ears.

  He wore his suit like a second skin. I offered to go shopping with him, but was told he and Brent already had it covered. Weeks prior to that evening they visited their favorite men’s boutique and had Ralph Lauren Black Label suits tailored to their exact measurements for a flawless fit.

  Flawless indeed.

  I admired the way Sean’s 6’5” frame fit into it.

  The two-button jacket with notched lapel and sloped shoulders was a slim fit; making his already sculpted torso and tapered hips appear even more enticing. His freshly cut hair and clean-shaven face made him look like a male model.

  “Ready?” I asked after visually molesting him.

  Sean chuckled at me boldly ogling. “You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” I leaned up on my tippy toes and planted a soft kiss on his lips, careful not to smudge my red painted lips. My favorite cologne of his tickled my nose. I had to pull away before I lost all semblance of self-control.

  “Let’s go. I know you’re dying to see the results of all your hard work.” Sean offered me his arm, and we left the house. I couldn’t wait for him to unwrap his present when we got home later.

  I was proud of the decorator’s work. The black and gold décor was the perfect choice for the night. Stacy and Crystal were the first two people that we ran into on our way into the hall.

  “Hey, you. You look great.” Stacy pulled Sean and me into hugs.

  “Thanks. You ladies look amazing,” Sean replied pulling each woman in at the same time.

  “I know right.” Stacy boasted proudly. “I’ve been waiting for this party all year. Poppa Price is going to flip when he sees how we planned this celebration for his big five-o.”

  “Girl you better calm down. I’m so glad this isn’t a party where there will be young single men. I swear Will needs to set you straight,” Crystal retorted.

  Stacy had been acting as if she was ready to get a little loose since she came to town. I was keeping count of the glasses of champagne my bestie had consumed. Young or old, there were still men in the room who wouldn’t mind taking home a beautiful young woman like Stacy.

  “Whatever,” Stacy replied with a wave of her hand.

  “So, Tiny Tot. Did you get a call from Brent?” Sean asked. He and I looked at each other with a knowing look. We’d been waiting to hear what happened between them. Brent wasn’t talking, and I kept forgetting to ask Crystal about it.

  “Hold up. What happened between you and Brent?” Stacy inquired. “I did not get the memo y’all had anything going on.”

  Crystal playfully shoved Sean. “You didn’t get the memo because there is nothing to tell.”

  “Well, did he call you?” Sean asked.

  “Yes,” Crystal replied.

  “So, there is something?” Stacy countered.

  “No! Damn, y’all nosy.” Crystal huffed and crossed her arms underneath her breasts. “He called to say, ‘hi’, nothing else. I was just as surprised as y’all.”

  Sean looked at her disbelievingly. “Brent called just to say, ‘hi’. Bullshit.”

  “And, he called to see how I was doing; you know, after you beat up my soon-to-be ex-husband.”

  “Mmhmm…” Stacy replied doubtfully.

  “I’m serious. Our conversation lasted maybe ten minutes,” Crystal replied, trying to convince them nothing else happened.

  I stepped away from them to answer a phone call from a family member that needed directions. If there were any juicy details about this Brent and Crystal situation, I know Sean would tell me. After making my rounds, I went back to the group; hearing the tail end of the conversation let me know there was way more to these phone calls between Crystal and Brent than what she was revealing.

  “Hey…the band is all set up, food is good to go, and I just got a call from Momma saying she is on the way. While we wait, I want to introduce you to some of my extended family.” I grabbed Sean’s arm and escorted him around the room.

  I didn’t miss the disapproving eye we received from a few members of my extended family. The worst of the bunch was Daddy’s eldest uncle. He refused to shake Sean’s hand and asked him, ‘what he was doing with me.’ I held my tongue because my parents always raised me to respect my elders. I also had to realize that Uncle Pete was raised in a different time where interracial dating was not common, much less allowed.

  I had to hold back a smirk when Sean outright answered his question of what he was doing with me.

  “Can’t ya find someone else in ya own kind? Hmmm? What’chu doin’ wit my niece, boy?” Uncle Pete asked, rheumy eyes squinted tight with suspicion.

  “Loving her,” Sean answered. His words were loud and clear enough that everyone heard it.

  I smiled tightly at the group of older people sitting near Uncle Pete and pulled Sean away before he could lose his cool.

  Sean’s mother showed up looking like she stepped out of an old Hollywood movie premiere. Her and Momma had become good friends, so it was a pleasure inviting her.

  “Hey, honey,” she said kissing Sean’s cheeks, before pulling me into a hug. “Oh, you two look gorgeous.”

  “Ma, you look stunning,” Sean gushed, twirling his mother around. “Let me introduce you to Lashawnda’s Great Uncle Pete.”

  I cut my eyes over to him so fast. Mrs. Colcord was not a woman who held her tongue for anyone. And, Uncle Pete had the mouth of a man who’d lived a long life and just didn’t give a care what he said anymore. Those two in a conversation was a recipe for disaster. But, unfortunately, the caterer came over asking for my opinion, so I couldn’t stop Sean from escorting his mother across the room toward my great-uncle.

  He was such a momma’s boy. Somewhere along the way, I lost track of them.

  Later as Crystal, Stacy, and I were chatting and rehearsing our speech, Crystal blurted out. “Oh, sweet Lord in heaven, I just creamed my panties.”

  “Crystal!” Stacy and I screeched simultaneously. We both followed her line of vision until our eyes landed on Ian and Brent walking through the entrance. Mouthwatering, eye-catching, seductive, delectable, and tantalizing were just a few of the adjectives that could be used to describe them. When they spotted Sean across the room, and went to make their greetings, it was certain every woman in the room added another descriptor…X-rated.

  “I should not be saying this…but I think I just did too,” Stacy said in a hushed whisper.

  “I’ve been creaming mine since I walked down my stairs,” I admitted while licking my cherry tinted lips.

  “I know I said it before, but I will say it again. Lashawnda you are one lucky bitch.” Stacy shook her head.

  “Yes, I am,” I responded as the guys approached us. “Oh, y’all; I’m about to sex him so good tonight.”

  “I don’t need these visions my sex deprived brain is creating.” Stacy crossed herself like she was in church. I had to grab her arm when she started chanting. “Sweet Jesus, when did Ian get so big? I’m in a relationship, I’m in a relationship, I’m in a relationship…”

  The men made their way over, catching the eye of every woman as they passed. They stalked the room like suit-clad predators on the hunt.

  “Well, I must have died and gone to heaven,” Brent exclaimed right before he leaned in and planted a kiss on all three of our cheeks. It was all an act because his eyes never left Crystal from the second he saw her.

  “I’m with you,” Ian added, with a cool nod.

  His personality was right alongside Sean
’s—reserved, yet intense. Brent and Jackson where the louder two of the bunch. Ian and Sean would be the ones taking a backseat and watching them in action. The more I thought on it, Brent was the only loud one. It just so happens he targeted his antics toward Jackson the most.

  “Well, it looks like just about everyone is here. Momma said they’re ten minutes away. Let’s get everyone in place.” I looked around the room, happy just about everyone invited had showed up.

  I got on the mic to get everyone’s attention. “Okay, everyone; Daddy is pulling up, now. When he walks through that door, I want everyone ready to yell ‘surprise.’”

  “I’m too damn old to be hiding under no table,” Uncle Pete hollered out from his side of the room.

  “You don’t have to hide under the table, Uncle Pete. Just sit in your chair.”

  “Too old for this shit,” he grumbled, wrinkled hands crossed on top of his shiny wooden cane. That infamous scowl on his face.

  “Okay, Uncle Pete.” I put the mic back on the podium with a shake of my head. I walked back down to the steps to a waiting Sean.

  “God, I pray if I get to that age, I’m not so miserable,” I murmured, face pressed close to his lips.

  “When, not if.” He dropped a light kiss on the side of my face. “I plan on living a lot longer than old, Uncle Pete, and I expect to have you by my side.”

  My phone buzzed with an incoming text from my mother.

  She was probably having a hard time trying to wrangle Daddy in the limo. As a cover story, we convinced him to go to a dinner and a show at the theater. He complained of course it was his birthday, and he wanted to celebrate it his way. But, with Momma, it was hard for him to tell her ‘no’ on anything. I heard the limo pull up and got into place. A few seconds later voices were heard coming down the corridor.

  “Wow…they really decked out this place for opening night.”

  “Yes, they did.”

  “Are you sure we are in the right place?”

  “Philip, of course, I know where we are going.”

  “What they got these two boys standing guard out here for?”

  The two ushers pulled open the door slowly, a long sliver of light streamed in, casting Momma and Daddy’s shadows on the ground.

  “SURPRISE!” came the chorus of voices all around us.

  Crystal, Stacy, and I came running over and hugged our parents.

  “Happy birthday, Daddy,” Crystal said giving him a big hug and kiss.

  “Poppa Price, you are the man tonight,” Stacy said, following Crystal with a kiss of her own.

  “Oh, Daddy! We’re so happy you’re celebrating fifty years,” I said giving him a big hug.

  Philip Price was not a man that cried. Not that he had anything against men who did; he just wasn’t one of those guys. But, as the tears formed in the corner of his eyes, I knew he had never been happier than in that moment to have everyone there to celebrate his birthday. I saw the slight quiver of my Daddy’s lips and quickly wrapped my arms around him. Momma and the girls followed suit; forming a group hug that made everyone in the room cheer with excitement.

  “Oh, Elizabeth look at my girls!” Daddy gushed, his eyes sparkling with love. “Lucky, Crisis, Stick Stickly…oh, you girls look gorgeous. I can’t believe y’all got all dressed up for little old me,” he said giving each of us a once over.

  Crystal put her hands on her hip and cocked her head to the side. “Please, Daddy. You know good and well we had better celebrate your fiftieth birthday in style, or else, none of us would hear the end of it.”

  Her pronouncement made the entire room echo with laughter.

  “Come on, guys, let’s give Momma and Daddy room to sit and greet the other guest,” I suggested.

  On cue, Brad and the other members of Ealey began playing a soft melody. We led Momma and Daddy to the center table. Sean was already standing there, arms outstretched as he pulled my dad into a bear hug. Seeing my two guys embrace in that tender moment touched my heart. For the next hour, it was nice seeing Daddy mingling around with his guests.

  The wait staff came around with appetizers and filling everyone’s plates with top notch delicacies. Daddy could be heard laughing at the top of his lungs at some quip from his friends or one of his distant cousins. It was no secret, his childhood as the kid that got passed around to different households, wasn’t the best. It was nice seeing him relax and enjoy himself.

  By the time dessert was served, Crystal, Stacy, and I got on stage to make our speeches. Sean was such a gentleman as he got up with us, making sure we climbed the stairs safely. I had voiced my fears of falling when we were leaving the house. He promised to see me up and to help me down.

  “Hello everyone,” I began speaking into the microphone.

  The room became quiet as everyone gave me their full attention.

  “First, my mother and I would like to thank all of you for taking the time out of your busy lives to come out and celebrate my daddy’s fiftieth birthday.”

  A resounding cheer sounded around the room.

  “Now, I know some of you are like, ‘whew fifty, Philip Price is old.’ And, others are thinking, ‘he’s still got plenty of years before he’s old.’ I know you are all thinking the same thing: Philip Price is a great man no matter which side of the age number line he falls on. This may come as a shock to many of you, but I’m a tad bit clumsy.”

  I paused as everyone laughed at my joke. Anyone who knew me knew I had two left feet.

  “I know, I know, it’s a bit surprising. But, when I was five years old, I was so frustrated from always tripping and falling and busting up my knee. I swear I thought I would never learn how to ride a bike. Daddy took Crystal and me out together to teach us one Sunday morning. Crystal got it in no time and was zooming up and down the block like she was a pro. I couldn’t stay seated and upright for more than three seconds without falling over. And, by the end of the day, I had so many bruises my knees stung every time the wind blew. I sat out on the curb and cried until my daddy came to get me. Now, at five-years-old, I kept thinking the world was coming to an end, because I couldn’t ride a bike. I deemed myself unlucky. Daddy sat me down and explained to me I wasn’t unlucky. I had gifts and talents that other people would die for. On that day, he gave me a nickname. I was dubbed, ‘Lucky.’ Momma had given him the side-eye after he started calling me that, but it didn’t take long before everyone knew me as Phil Price’s Lucky.”

  I paused and smiled at my father. I breathed deeply as the tears burned hot behind my eyes, threatening to fall. Daddy reached out and took hold of Momma’s hand. My eyes met Sean’s where he stood off to the side of the stage, giving me an encouraging head nod.

  “A few days ago, Sean and I were talking, and he informed me my dad had given him ‘the talk.’ It was a reminder of how great my father is. Even now, as a grown woman, he still has my best interest at heart. He’s always there to make sure I’m happy. I am lucky enough to have a man who has always loved me and who will always love me, no matter how clumsy I may be. Happy birthday, Daddy—from one of the luckiest people in this world.”

  The room erupted into applause. I blew my father air kisses and passed the microphone to Crystal.

  “Hey, y’all, hey!” Crystal shouted. The room shouted their, ‘hellos’ back to her. “Now, my big sister is called, ‘Philip Price’s Lucky’ and I’m his, ‘Crisis.’ Now, I know y’all must be like what kind of nickname is that. Well, a few weeks after Lashawnda got her nickname, I noticed how she would beam with pride every time Daddy called her that. Well, you know me, I wasn’t going to let her be the favorite, oh no. I was the baby and that was my job. So, I marched my feisty four-year-old self into his office and went to tell him as much. Now, in our house it was a rule you knocked on any closed door before opening it. But I was mad, so I ignored that rule and shoved my way into Daddy’s office. Now, ten seconds later, I was walking right back through that door after Daddy had given me a look like I must’ve bumped my head.
”

  Everyone laughed along with Crystal as she mimicked our father’s facial expression.

  “After knocking, and getting permission to enter, I propped my hand on my hip and said, ‘Daddy you love Lashawnda more than me.’ My dad smiled and told me. ‘no.’ I argued, he must love her more because she got a nickname, and I was just, ‘plain old Crystal.’ Daddy said, ‘he had a nickname all picked out, but I had to wait until I turned five to get it. Well, y’all know I was not having it. So, I told him I wanted it now. He told me my nickname was ‘Crisis.’ Now, even at four-years-old, I knew that word didn’t sound as nice as ‘Lucky.’ I told him I didn’t like it, and I wanted another one. He asked me if I knew what it meant, and I replied, ‘no.’ He then pulled out the dictionary and turned to the definition and told me to read it.”

  Crystal stopped and laughed. “I told him: ‘You know I can’t read.’ Oh man, I can still hear the booming sound of my daddy’s laughter. So, he read it to me.”

  She pulled out a small piece of paper from her clutch.

  “A stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, especially for better or for worse, is determined; a turning point. I had him write it down for me so when I learned to read, I would understand it myself. It took a few years, but one day, I went to his office; this time I knocked first, and I asked him if I was a turning point for better or worse. Daddy pulled me on his lap and told me, before I was born, he always thought he needed a boy to make him feel like a man. But after Momma couldn’t have any more children, he looked at me in my crib at three months old and fell in love all over again. He told me I was his turning point; his reason for reading books on how to raise little women. His reason for learning how to do hair; his reason for feeling like a man regardless of his children’s gender.”

  Everyone who had seen Daddy’s handy work on our hair when we were little laughed at Crystal’s reminder of our struggle ponytails.

  “So, it’s with great pride that Philip Price’s little Crisis stands on this stage to wish her Daddy a happy fiftieth birthday. Love ya, old man.”