Reye's Gold (Indigo)

by Robinson, Ruthie

  “Classes are fine. It’s amazing how much I picked up from clerking for you in the summers.”

  “How is Henri?” asked his mother.

  “Fine.”

  “Your mother tells me that Beth and her family are coming over for drinks after dinner tonight.”

  “So I heard.”

  His dad liked Beth, but knew that he couldn’t press Stephen. Men needed to make their own choices concerning women. “Your mother tells me that Beth is completing her degree in the spring.”

  “I guess so. I haven’t spoken to her much this semester. I’ve been tied up with classes, and I’m sure she has been, too.” His mother turned the conversation to some upcoming charity event and they finished dinner to the sound of her voice, a familiar occurrence.

  A young Hispanic girl walked in and began to remove their dishes from the table.

  “Stephen, would you mind helping me in the kitchen? While Maria cleans up dinner, you could help me prepare dessert and coffee.”

  “Sure,” he said as he stood and followed his mother into the kitchen. She pulled a tray containing several types of desserts from the refrigerator and set them on the counter.

  “Are you looking forward to seeing Beth?”

  “I guess,” he responded.

  Stephen gathered the dishes and utensils that had been set aside earlier and placed them on the tray his mother had set before him. He lifted it, trailing her into a smaller room reserved for more intimate gatherings.

  “Are you seeing anyone in Austin?” she asked.

  He was surprised by the question. “No one in particular,” he said.

  “Well, that’s not what I hear.” He didn’t respond. “I hear you’re rarely at home these days,” she continued.

  “Is that so,” he said, neither confirming nor denying her comment.

  The doorbell rang, ending his mother’s line of questioning. “I’ll get the door,” he said and walked to the foyer. The Barnes family, all three of them, stood on the porch. They fit perfectly with the three members of his family, a partner for each of them, and they’d always been a part of his life. He and Beth had played together when they were young and attended the same school from elementary through high school. Henri with his girlfriend and he and Beth were a regular foursome, hanging out together most of their senior year.

  “Happy Thanksgiving,” said Beth’s dad, extending his hand to shake.

  “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, glad you could make it,” Stephen replied. Behind them trailed Beth. She was a petite girl, gorgeous, with long black hair and striking green eyes, and as always dressed to perfection, showroom ready.

  “Hi, Stephen,” she said, brushing against him as she entered through the door.

  “Hi, Beth.” He leaned forward to kiss her cheek, but she moved her head towards his and he caught the outer part of her lips. She smiled, her eyes filled with mischief.

  “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day,” she said, turning as his parents entered. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Stuart,” she said, giving them a beautiful smile. His dad engulfed her in a warm hug and his mother followed suit.

  “You look more gorgeous every time I see you,” his mom said.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Stuart, so do you. I was hoping to steal Stephen away for a while this evening, if you don’t mind,” Beth said before they went further into the house. “Some of our friends from school are having a party and we do have some catching up to do,” she said, gazing into Stephen’s eyes as she spoke.

  A chorus of “no, we don’t mind” came from all of the parents in the room. “Young people prefer to be with other young people,” said Stephen’s father.

  Stephen had been manipulated. Manipulation was Beth’s forte, but it had never irritated him before. He’d even found it cute and amusing at times. He’d play along this time. “Let me get my keys and a jacket,” he said, leaving the room. A minute later he returned with both items in his hands. “Let’s go.”

  “Goodbye, everyone,” Beth said. She gave all of the parents a kiss and then proceeded Stephen out the front door.

  “Where is this party?” he asked as he walked around to the driver’s side of his car.

  “I’ll drive,” she said, snatching the keys from his hand. “We are going to a friend’s party. I met her in school, you don’t know her.”

  Beth had driven his car before, so he changed direction and went around to the passenger side. She slid in and adjusted the seat.

  “How long are you going to be in town?” she asked as she started the car and pulled onto the street.

  “Until Sunday morning, I think.”

  “Well, you look good, as I’m sure you know,” she said, giving him a thorough once-over. He wore jeans that hugged his frame, a long-sleeve t-shirt, and a leather jacket.

  “Do you want to hang out Friday, maybe go see a movie?”

  “Sure,” he said. He was here to test out his feeling for her anyway, and what better way then to spend some time together with her. He wasn’t feeling that overwhelming sexual thing that he felt with Reye, but he still found her attractive.

  They pulled up to one of the more exclusive apartments in an exclusive area of Dallas and parked. The apartment they entered was huge, and there were people everywhere. Beth introduced him around to her friends. They were all well coifed and on the prowl, giving him second and third looks. He’d stick with Beth tonight, ignoring the other glances thrown his way. Beth took his jacket, and what she did with it he didn’t know.

  He tagged along behind her from one room to another before they entered a large room with a dance floor, or what passed for a dance floor tonight. Slow music played from a hidden sound system somewhere within the apartment. She stopped and put her arms around his waist. Her head came up to the top of his chest. He’d gotten used to Reye’s height, and it was a little disconcerting to adjust to Beth’s. Strange that he used to prefer short girls, imagining himself as some sort of protector, apparently another preference shot to hell by Reye.

  Beth pushed herself closer to him and he put his arms around her. Most of the others on the makeshift dance floor seemed to be coupled up as well. All were busy in their own personal embraces. It was dark in the room, save for a lamp or two. Beth put her arms around Stephen’s neck and pulled his head down for a kiss. He complied reluctantly at first. He had to remind himself that he was there to test his feelings. He lightly put his lips to hers and she opened her mouth, seeking his tongue. After a few seconds, Beth broke off the kiss and looked up at him. “Is everything okay with you?”

  “No, I’m all right, I’m just getting used to being home. I’m a little distracted is all,” he said.

  “Okay,” she said, pulling back from him, for which he was grateful. They continued to hold each other and dance. After the song ended, Beth left him alone while she went in search of something for them to drink. He stood with his back to the wall and looked at the other beautiful people in attendance. They were dancing, talking, and all having a good time. Most of the people present seemed to be his age or younger, probably home from college like him, looking to have fun. He wasn’t having much fun, and he was more than ready to get back to his place in Austin.

  “Here is a beer.” He turned to see her holding two Fat Tires in her hand. He took one from her.

  “Thanks,” he said.

  “Are you good here for a while? I wanted to talk to some of my girlfriends. Do you mind?”

  “No, I’m good.”

  “I’ll be back to check on you,” she said, turning to leave. He nursed his beer, relaxing, listening to the music. He moved on to the next room where a pro basketball game played on TV. He noticed two men seated on a couch and joined them, managing to get through an hour’s worth of the game before he checked his watch. He’d had enough and went in search of Beth, whom he found in the kitchen, surrounded by five other women, seated around a very large table. They all looked up when he entered, and, judging from the guilt and surprise he saw on t
heir faces, they must have been talking about him.

  “I’m ready to go. Are you?”

  “Sure, let me get our jackets,” Beth said. He stood there in the doorway as she walked by him. He looked over at the girls left in her wake. All of them returned his look with interest. Some friends, he thought, turning away. Beth returned quickly with their jackets and they walked out the door to his car.

  “Do you want me to take you home or drive you back to my parents? Yours are probably still at my house,” he said.

  “Take me home,” she answered. As they both got into the car, she gave him directions to her apartment. It was a quiet return trip. She gazed out of the window while he focused on driving, lost in thought, his mind two hundred miles away.

  He pulled up to the curb of her apartment and shut off the engine. He reached for his door handle to open it, intending to walk her to her door. Beth interrupted his movement.

  “Don’t walk me in,” she said.

  “I don’t mind.”

  “No, really, it’s not necessary.” She turned to face him. “Has something changed? You seem distant,” she said.

  “No.”

  “I know you see other women. We don’t have any agreement. I know that.“

  “Okay,” he responded slowly, not sure where this conversation was headed.

  “Forget I said anything. I’ll call you around noon on Friday to see if you’re still interested in a movie.” She opened the door to leave.

  “Sure. I’ll try and find Henri and see if he can scrounge up a date, and it’ll be just like old times.”

  “Maybe not quite like old times,” she said as she smiled, the smile not reaching her eyes. She exited the car and his eyes followed the swing of her hips as she walked to her apartment. Nice, he thought, just not the ones he’d gotten used to.

  Chapter 10

  Stephen caught up with Henri early the next morning.

  They’d agreed to meet to play basketball at the gym. “Dude, get ready to get your ass kicked,” said Henri. “In your dreams,” Stephen replied as they both joined in a pick-up game that was starting up. They played for a while and afterward sat drinking a sports drink and watching a new game with new players begin.

  “I went to a party with Beth last night,” Stephen said. “Is that so? How is she?”

  “Gorgeous, as usual,” he said, his tone neutral.

  “You don’t sound excited about that,” Henri pointed out. Stephen knew that Henri had never been that fond of Beth, because he thought her beautiful in a shallow, vain kind of way.

  “No, it was good to see her,” Stephen said.

  “She’s just not Reye, huh?”

  Stephen gazed speculatively at Henri. “I thought seeing Beth might jolt me out of this obsession with Reye.”

  “Did it work?”

  “No, not yet. I like her, just can’t see bringing her home.”

  “I think you underestimate your parents, or at least your dad. Your mom may require more effort, but it’s your life and your woman. I think they would accept her if you were serious about her,” Henri said. He paused for a second. “Are you?”

  “Am I what?”

  “Don’t play dumb.”

  “Don’t know if I would refer to Reye as my woman. I really think my dick has an obsession with Reye, and it appears to be in control these days,” Stephen said.

  “You know, Stephen, Reye is a nice girl. You shouldn’t play around with her if you aren’t serious. She could be hurt,” Henri said in a disapproving tone.

  “Dude, what, you’re her guardian now?” Stephen said with a chuckle. He looked over at Henri.

  “Whatever. I like her, you could do worse, that’s all.”

  “Okay, this conversation is getting way too serious for me. I’d better get home for Thanksgiving dinner. Come by tonight if you want to,” he said as he stood up to leave. “Let me know if you can scrounge up a date for the movies tomorrow.”

  * * *

  Stephen leaned back from the table. “Great dinner,” he said.

  “Thank you.”

  “You look great Stephen,” his maternal grandmother said. “We don’t get to see you nearly as much as we’d like. Isn’t that right Frank?” Frank was Stephen’s grandmother’s second husband. His mother’s dad had died when Stephen was in elementary school.

  “Are you taking Beth out this evening?” asked his mom.

  “No, I am going to stay in and enjoy my family. She and I are going out tomorrow.”

  “Well, that’s nice. She really is a beautiful girl.”

  “Yes, she is,” agreed Stephen.

  “Dad, are you and Frank up for a game of poker?” he asked, standing up from the table.

  “If you don’t mind losing,” replied his dad with a wink. “I don’t mind taking your money.”

  The men moved to the study. Stephen retrieved the cards and chips while his dad poured drinks and pulled out the cigars. He knew his dad appreciated this time with him, and he loved being able to offer it. He loved his mom as well, even with her control issues, but he’d spent more time with his dad, and he’d always sought him out when he needed comfort and support. It was from his dad that he’d felt unconditional love, so it wasn’t a sacrifice to spend time with him.

  * * *

  We are bunch of loud-mouths, Reye thought to herself fondly as she looked around the table. At the head of the table sat her dad. He was the glue that held her family together. She loved her mother, but her dad was her rock. He was as soft as her mother was demanding and hard. Tall, at six feet, five inches, and with dark, rich chocolate skin, he was big and wide, useful for playing football when he was younger and then helpful for knocking his sons’ heads together as they grew up.

  “Everyone, grab hands, bow your heads,” he said, waiting. “Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing my family to come together this Thanksgiving. We sing your praises for all of our blessings and seek your forgiveness for our transgressions. Keep us in your heart and show us your will as we complete the remainder of the year. Amen.”

  “Amen!” The table was immediately filled with conversation. Reye loved her family. Her brothers had always looked after her. Sam, who sat next to her, hit her elbow to get her attention.

  “Pass me the turkey platter,” he said, winking at her. She held it to her left so he could select the slices he wanted. “How is Stephen, by the way? Are you two still seeing each other? You haven’t called to cry on my shoulder, so I guess everything is okay.” Her eagle-eyed and sharp-eared mother turned to them, looking intently at Reye.

  “Tell you later,” she returned. Turning to her sister-in-law, Reye asked about her nieces and nephews.

  * * *

  Friday afternoon found Stephen at Beth’s apartment at noon as agreed. Henri hadn’t been able to find a date, or he hadn’t wanted to join them. She opened the door, hair wet from a shower, with one of the smallest robes he’d ever seen covering her body.

  “Hi, Stephen. I’m not ready yet.”

  She moved to allow him entrance, managing to brush against him as he entered. In the old days, he wouldn’t have minded and would have taken her up on her unsolicited offer, but not today. She seemed to sense his impatience. “Are we in a hurry?” She sauntered over to stand directly in front of him.

  “Well, the movie starts in about forty minutes and if we don’t hurry we’re going to miss it.”

  She moved her finger to his lips. “Would it be so bad if we missed the movie? We could entertain ourselves here in other ways,” she said coyly. She reached up and put her arms around his neck. He caught them before they were able to connect and placed them by her sides.

  “Not a good idea. I’ve wanted to see this movie for a while.” She seemed surprised by his abruptness and hurt by his rejection.

  “Let me finish getting dressed, then,” she said sharply. She turned to walk away from him. This was a bad idea, he thought to himself. He didn’t want to go anymore. But if he could just get throu
gh the movie, he could go home.

  Later on that night he lay in his room, head propped on his pillow as he watched college football games, his second round of football games today. Earlier, after dropping an angry Beth home, he’d joined his dad on the couch in the game room and they’d watched games together. He left his dad there a while ago to try and get some sleep, but it eluded him.

  He missed Reye. He reached for his cell and dialed her number. She hadn’t been far from his thoughts this week. She answered on the first ring.

  “Hey, stranger,” she said softly.

  “Hey,” he said, equally softly. “What are you doing?”

  “Nothing much. I’m still at my parents. I think I’m going to spend the night here, get in some major family time. All of the brothers are here with their kids and I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like. Auntie Reye, the favorite and only aunt, is a popular item around here. And as usual the brothers are giving me grief, especially Sam. By the way, he asked about you.”

  “Did he?”

  “What have you been up to?”

  “Nothing much, really. I’ve been spending time with my parents and grandparents. I met Henri for some hoops yesterday and hung out with old high school friends one night.” He paused. “I was thinking about coming back early, leaving tomorrow morning, actually.”

  “Okay.” Reye wasn’t sure how to respond.

  “Will you be home?”

  “Not in the morning. I have a practice scheduled with the kids from the center, but after that I should be home. You could come by then if you want to,” she offered quietly.

  “I will,” he said. “Should I call before I come?”

  “No. If I’m not home, you know where to find the key, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Okay. See you.”

  * * *

  “What drills are you going to start with today?” Sam was looking around the field, noting Reye’s practice setup. During the last couple of practices they’d worked on passing, shooting, and trapping, really basic stuff, keeping it simple for those new to the game. Getting Sam to help had been a great idea whose outcome could have gone either way. Sam considered himself the guru of soccer, so she’d expected a power struggle to maintain her position as coach; twenty-four years of being the little sister was difficult to overcome. He’d surprised her though, by not interfering at all, totally assuming the role of the helpful assistant, offering suggestions which she felt free to accept or discard.