Lovers' Dance

by Carr, K

  “I can’t believe you said that to Mr Brown, Jenny,” Madi exclaimed, rolling her eyes at her younger cousin before looking at her aunt. “I hope you made her apologize, Auntie Cleo.”

  “She did, and I made her volunteer at the nursing home two blocks over for good measure. No child of mine is going to shame our name.”

  Madi laughed at Jenny’s petulant scowl, and Matt took a moment to peruse the young woman. She was a touch taller than his poppet, but in possession of a body like her mother. Bigger breasts and wider hips, with an arse that had Matt looking away when she had come back downstairs after changing into skin-tight jeans and t-shirt. Matt wasn’t quite sure what to think of her as yet. She was more outspoken than Madi and fully aware of her good looks, unlike Madi, whose unassuming nature seemed to magnify the sheer beauty that she was and made her all the more enticing. Jenny’s hair, like her mother’s, was different too, he noted. The texture much coarser, but worn natural with pride. Matt was definitely learning to appreciate the allure of a black’s woman hair. But, the way she smirked at him as she ate left him feeling slightly uncertain as to how friendly he should be with her.

  Then there was Cleo. Aunt Cleo. Matt knew without a doubt the older woman did not like him. It was the manner in which she would phrase her comments when addressing him. It was subtle but Matt was used to picking up on hidden nuances in conversations. Endless board meetings with cutthroat businessmen had honed this talent over the years.

  No, Cleo currently didn’t like him one bit, but that was irrelevant. By the time they flew back to England, she would be wrapped around his finger and praising her niece on her choice of men.

  The other issue that was putting a strain on his smile was the interaction around the table. It seemed whenever the conversation dwelled on Madi’s life for too long, either one of her cousins would turn the topic in their direction. Madi simply went along with it. Matt realised she didn’t skip a beat; she would become interested in whatever they were saying, letting the focus fall on them and happy to shower them with supportive compliments. It irked him. She was the owner of a ballet company, in a foreign country, and bloody successful at it. Why was that being treated like nothing more than a passing fancy?

  And the understated teasing the two siblings tossed her way. She would laugh with them and make a witty retort, but Matt didn’t like it.

  It didn’t matter if he was uncomfortable with it though, all that mattered was the way Madi would smile at them, eager for unspoken approval as she constantly kept him involved in the conversation around the table.

  “I betcha this is the first time Matt’s ever been seated on his own at a table with five black people having lunch,” Jamal said baldly. “As you can see, we don’t all have guns and try to mug you.”

  Jenny covered her mouth with her hand, stifling her laugh.

  “Jamal.” Madi glared at her older cousin, then swung a pleading gaze to her aunt. “Auntie Cleo.”

  “Jamal,” Cleo warned. “That was rude. I didn’t raise you to act that way. It doesn’t matter if he’s probably never been around black folks, he’s here now and our guest. Behave yourself.”

  Matt deliberately widened his grin, not overlooking the fact Cleo confirmed her son’s comment in a roundabout way. He touched Madi’s hand that rested lightly on the table before looking at them. “And I’m sure this is a first for you, too. Having lunch with an Englishman, that is. As you can see, we don’t all have horrendous teeth and constantly harp on about the weather; that being said, it’s unseasonably warm in New York for this time of year, don’t you think?” Flashing his perfectly straight white teeth, Matt eyed Jamal with amusement.

  David’s booming laughter immediately rang out and Madi started to choke. At first, Matt thought she was trying to control her laughter but, after a quick sideways glance at her, it became apparent she was actually choking.

  “Bloody hell, poppet.” Matt thumped her on the back as she grabbed her glass of water. “Are you okay?”

  After glugging down some water she nodded, eyes streaming and a trickle of moisture running down her chin. Matt picked up a napkin and began dabbing at the water on her chin and the resulting moisture around her eyes from the choking episode.

  “I’m fine, Matt,” she croaked, stopping him from his ministrations. Matt cupped one side of her face with his hand and kissed her lightly across the mouth, relieved she was indeed okay. Madi pulled back as if stung, giving him incredulous eyes. Matt arched an eyebrow at her, silently daring her to make an issue out of that fleeting show of affection he had given her in front of everyone. She narrowed her doe eyes at him, the action a silent promise of pending retaliation and Matt winked at her. God. He loved her.

  David cleared his throat, breaking the silent communication between Matt and his poppet. When Matt glanced at him, the burly black man’s gaze had changed from suspicious to downright threatening. Maybe he shouldn’t have kissed her in front of them. They were her de facto parents, and no father is completely comfortable with his daughter’s boyfriend. It seemed that behaviour extended to Madi and her uncle. He felt the need to point out she was twenty-seven not sixteen but, wisely, bit his tongue while smiling pleasantly at the man.

  “So,” Madi started in a cheery voice. It was slightly raspy though, and Matt hoped she didn’t have a subsequent coughing fit. “Who’s coming for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Auntie Cleo?”

  Matt let their conversation wash over him, contributing when required, answering their questions when asked, and letting Madi openly hold his hand on top of the tablecloth. Hand holding she was fine with. Matt wondered what she would do if he tried to kiss her again. Probably smack him, then let her aunt smack him. Jenny kept staring at their entwined hands while peeking at her mother. Jamal had a smirk on his face as he exchanged glances with his father. And Madi kept smiling at them.

  “You should’ve seen him, Auntie Cleo.” She gave him a distracted look before turning back to her aunt. “Matt totally eviscerated the interviewer. The poor man was stammering and sweating on national TV. Serves him right though, his questions were out of order. Weren’t they, Matt?”

  He nodded in agreement, squeezing her hand gently. “Yes, they were, poppet.”

  “Puppet.” Jenny spoke up, eyeing Madi with derision. “Why is he calling you that? Is it like a puppet on a string? Cos that’s bullsh—”

  “Jenny.” Cleo simply said her name and Jenny lowered her head, suddenly finding her fork interesting.

  “It’s a nickname, Jenny,” Madi explained. “Like sweetie or whatnot.”

  “Strangest nickname I’ve ever heard,” Jamal added dryly. “Makes you think of a marionette.”

  “Well, it’s spelt differently. It’s British slang and a term of endearment,” Madi replied with a touch of temper. Matt leaned back in his chair, quietly pleased at her bristling defence of the nickname he’d given her. “You guys won’t get it. You’re not English.”

  Like we are. Those unspoken words seemed to be on the tip of her tongue. She hastily looked at her aunt, expression changing into one of supplication for whatever slight she thought she had made. Matt squeezed her hand in subtle support. Madi was English, her deceased mother was English-born. Madi’s maternal grandparents were West Indian immigrants who had come over to England hoping to make a better life for themselves. All this Matt knew from the brief background check on her.

  “Whoa,” Jamal held his hands up in a defeated manner. “Chill out, cuz. You jet-lagged or something?”

  “It was a long flight,” Matt interjected smoothly, aware of the tiny change in Madi’s demeanour. “Jamal, you’ve recently started work in construction with your father, yes?”

  “For the time being. I want to get out of it,” he replied.

  Madi tugged on his fingers to get his attention as she advised proudly, “Jamal is good with computers, Matt. He’s got a degree from NYU in computer engineering.”

  “That hasn’t gotten him anywhere,” Jenny added w
ith a smirk.

  Cleo gave her daughter a dirty look as she drawled, “At least he has a degree. What about you, Jennifer?”

  “Thanks, Ma,” Jamal said with a smug smile, as he and Madi exchanged knowing looks. David sighed loudly and continued eating. Matt was amazed at the amount of food Madi’s uncle was shovelling down his mouth.

  Jenny got defensive, her knife and fork clattering on her plate as she stared at her mother. Matt hid his amusement behind his glass as he took a sip of water. It seemed this was an ongoing contentious issue within the family, and he was about to witness firsthand how it played out. Airing one’s business in front of guests was outside the norm for him, but he had to admit a secret delight at observing Madi’s family. They were different from his family, and not in the obvious way of race, but in their behaviour.

  “I am planning on—”

  “Planning.” Cleo snorted. “Always planning. It’s time to stop planning and get doing, girl.”

  David sighed, putting down his utensils and pushing his chair back. It appeared he was making his escape. Matt’s curiosity increased.

  “How you gonna come at me like that, Ma?” Jenny groused. “You always take Jamal’s side.”

  Jamal twisted in his chair, one arm slung over the back of it, as he grinned at his sister. “Because I’m working, Jen.”

  “Snap,” Madi muttered under her breath. She looked over at him and mouthed “sorry.” Matt waved it away, gaze locked on the building tension between Cleo and Jenny. Was this where Madi had gotten her temper from? Having to live with these two women?

  “I’m sick of you guys talking down to me.” Jenny fumed. “Embarrassing me in front Madi’s rich man—”

  “Whoa.” Madi jumped into the verbal fray. “Leave Matt out of this. And Auntie Cleo’s right, Jenny-penny. You need to start—”

  “Oh, shut up, Madi,” Jenny sneered. “Don’t tell me what to do. You don’t live here anymore.”

  Madi inhaled deeply and looked at her aunt, who shrugged with a roll of eyes. David got to his feet and said, “Lunch was great, Madi. I’m going to read the papers.” He addressed Jenny with fatherly disappointment. “Sweetie, be nice to your cousin. She’s only here for a week and apologize to your Mom. You know there’ll be hell to pay if you don’t.”

  “But Dad—”

  “Going to read my papers,” he said and hurried away.

  Jamal coughed lightly into the following silence as all three women maintained heavy looks between themselves. Matt kept his mouth shut and stayed motionless in his chair. What was going to happen next? He had no idea. All he knew was his poppet’s eyes had that dangerous shine to them. The one that spelt trouble.

  “Matt.” Jamal was rising from his seat. “You want to watch the game?”

  Matt wasn’t sure what to do, but David had left and Jamal was in flight mode. Should he flee the impending drama also? He didn’t want to desert Madi, and he wasn’t that comfortable with Jamal, but curiosity had gotten the cat killed.

  “Ah, yes,” Matt said, releasing Madi’s hand and getting up from the table himself. “What sort of game is it?”

  “Doesn’t matter, man,” Jamal quipped, before saying to his mother with a grimace, “Don’t let Jenny make you sin your soul, Ma. We just came from church.”

  It was like oil to the fire. Jenny’s face underwent a transformation as she spun in her seat to glare at Jamal.

  “Shit-stirrer.”

  “You watch your mouth, Jennifer Meyers,” Cleo said. “I’m tired of your sass. You’re embarrassing yourself and me.”

  “Auntie Cleo, calm down,” Madi said. “Remember your blood pressure.”

  “Like you care.” Jenny attacked Madi. “Living it up in England with your rich, sugar daddy. All my friends talk about you—”

  “You leave Matt and me out of this, Jenny. I swear I’ll—”

  Matt didn’t wait around to hear the end of her sentence. He hurried after Jamal and left the ladies to it. Good God. They’d only been here a few hours. In the sitting room, Madi’s uncle cast an eye over the top of his newspaper and nodded at Jamal. “Nice having all our girls under one roof.”

  “Sure is, Pops. Is the game on yet?”

  Matt took a seat, conscious of the raised voices coming from the kitchen. Did this mean he was being accepted? They were arguing without any thought of his presence, as if he had earned the right to witness a family disagreement. Or was this the way they all acted? Matt needed to do more research. The information he’d read hadn’t explained the ins and outs of a modern day black family.

  Ten minutes later, the raised voices fell quiet. Matt was perched on the edge of the sofa, trying to peer through the open door.

  “So, you’re hooking up with my little cousin,” Jamal said. “I’ve been seeing stuff on the Internet.”

  Matt regarded Jamal with wariness, aware of her uncle’s suspicious gaze at him from over the top of the newspaper.

  “The media tends to exaggerate when it concerns my private life,” he said smoothly.

  Jamal opened his mouth, but whatever he was going to say didn’t get uttered as Jenny stormed into the sitting room and flopped on the sofa next to Matt. His gaze went back to the doorway. Where was Madison?

  A minute later, Cleo popped her head around the doorway. “I’m going to lie down for a moment.” She paused for a second, then added, “If you need anything, Matt, I’m sure Madi will take care of it.” Then she disappeared.

  David sighed and folded the papers neatly before putting it aside. He stood and shook his head at his pouting daughter.

  “I hope you’re happy now.” He walked out of the sitting room.

  Matt looked at the doorway. Where was Madison? He moved to get up when he heard her voice, chatting to her uncle. Matt made himself comfortable on the sofa and waited.

  Soon enough she entered the room. She looked embarrassed as he held her gaze and he sent her an encouraging wink. Madi went over to her suitcases in the corner and grabbed her knapsack. She took out her iPad and a purse, then made her way over to the sofa.

  “Scoot over,” she said to Jenny.

  Matt felt more relaxed when she sat next to him, brushing her leg against his in the process. He watched as she went online and wondered why she’d brought over her purse.

  “Jenny-penny,” she said. “Is this the undergrad programme you were referring to in the kitchen?”

  Jenny leaned over, peering at the screen. “Yup.”

  “But courses already began in September. You’ll be a whole semester down if you sign up to start in January. Can you handle that work load? Will you be able to catch up?”

  “I’m not stupid, Madison. Mom told you months ago that I wanted to do this, so there. It’s not my fault.”

  Matt couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. He watched as Madi silently took out her cheque book, lower lip caught between her teeth and a small frown forming between her eyebrows.

  “I can probably cover your first semester—”

  “Why not the first year?” Jenny asked in a suddenly sweet voice. “You know Mom and Dad won’t front me the cash, and I want to do this.”

  “Because you should get a j-o-b,” Jamal drawled under his breath.

  Jenny glared at her older brother before pasting a bright smile on her face and scooting closer to Madi’s other side. Matt stared at the two women with their heads bent over the iPad. Jenny’s smooth chocolate complexion was an almost perfect match to Madi’s, but that was where the similarities ended he noted when they raised their heads. The gleam in Jenny’s light-brown eyes was full of triumphant glee, while Madi’s soulful, dark-brown eyes held nothing more than guilt.

  “Okay, but you need a job, too,” Madi warned as she pulled a pen out the purse. “And you have to get good grades. And stop being sassy with Aunt Cleo. Deal?”

  Jamal snorted and said, “And she gets her own way, again.”

  “You’re jealous she loves me more, Jamal,” Jenny cooed as Madi st
arted filling out the cheque. “We’re like sisters.”

  Matt saw the glow of delight in Madi’s eyes at her younger cousin’s words and his heart broke a little. He couldn’t believe what he’d witnessed.

  “I love you both the same,” Madi said evenly, tearing the cheque out and handing it over to Jenny.

  “Thanks, cuz,” she gushed as she leapt off the sofa. “I’m out peeps. Gotta tell my friends the good news. Jamal, can I borrow your car?”

  “No,” he said, then he stood up. “I’ll give you a lift. That friend of yours, Delilah, she seeing anybody?”

  The siblings walked out the sitting room, leaving Madi and him alone.