by Nia Arthurs
“Anytime!” Melody assured me and they both left.
I closed the door behind them and grimaced. It was time to put my game face on and get social.
Whoopee.
CHAPTER TWO
The hall of the Queen’s Hotel was buzzing with conversation from the random people in beautiful gowns and button-down shirts and trousers. The tiled floors were mosaic print and the clack of heels against the floor added a staccato beat to the lively jazz music pumping from the speakers. The room smelled of a mingle of cheap and expensive perfume added with the stench of hairspray. I coughed once or twice from the air pollution. A gorgeous chandelier hung from the middle of the ceiling, its individual bulbs spraying light on every corner of the room. Where would I possibly hide in all that illumination?
I pulled down the hem of the blue dress and cursed my choice. My hips had been a little too wide for the gown and so it came a lot higher than I’d first thought.
I probably should have put it on before choosing it.
Oh well, the deed was done.
I appraised the hall for a great hiding place and decided on a quiet corner next to a fake plant. I made my rounds once or twice and then I stuck to that corner of the hall and played on my phone. I’d reached my quota of talking. I couldn’t count the amount of times I’d answered the same kinds of questions.
Yes, I enjoyed college. I’m glad I have my Bachelors in Computer Programming.
No, I’m single.
Yes, I work from home.
No, I’m not actually this tall. I’m wearing heels.
Yes. I’m completely satisfied with being alone. I don’t need to meet your cousin, your brother, your nephew, your grandfather.
Ugh, people were so exhausting. My computer never talked back or asked me why I was single with a disgusted expression like singleness was some kind of scum disease that needed a desperate cure.
“Hey,” Susan found me in my corner. She’s a lot like me when it comes to these things. She could handle herself in any social setting but she was far from the social butterfly that Melody was.
“Hey!” I greeted the beautiful woman with the short curly honey brown hair. Susan takes the term ‘exotic’, sprinkles diamonds all over it and then releases it back into the dictionary. Just like Melody’s other associates, friends, and colleagues, she is drop-dead gorgeous. Tonight she’s rocking a tasteful black slit dress with peep-toed heels. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to greet you when you came in. You seemed busy.”
“Yeah, there are a lot of people here.”
I understood the sentiment.
“Where’s your husband.”
Susan’s cheeks reddened and it was the sweetest thing to watch.
“He’s over there.” She pointed to where my tattooed and whiskered older brother spoke to his mom and father. Archie’s beard had actually gotten shorter during the four years that he’d been gone. It wasn’t even a beard anymore. It was more like scruff.
“You convinced him to cut the beard?”
Susan widened her eyes, “No way. The beard is his decision. I don’t get in the way of that relationship.”
I laughed, “Smart girl.”
Susan relaxed into the chair next to me, “So how have you been?”
I didn’t mind discussing my life with Susan. She’s a part of my family and I hadn’t seen her in a really long time. I went over the highlights.
Graduated from NYU
Came back home and opened my own freelance business
Produced manga on the side.
Susan listened with interest only being pulled away when Archie’s mother led her away to introduce her to Archie’s step-brother. I sunk into my chair and watched my friend waltz away with a frown. Archie’s mom was kind of stuck up. She didn’t even acknowledge me when she came up. I didn’t think that she intentionally snubbed her nose at us. Still, her wealth was not an excuse for her behavior. Spencer and Peyton and even Archie were ridiculously loaded but they were all supremely humble and genuine people. Mrs. Lowry, or whatever her maiden name was, could learn a thing or two from them.
“What are you doing hiding out back here?” Melody popped into my face, blocking my view of Susan and her new family. I glanced up and down, admiring my sister’s outfit. She was wearing a short green A-line dress and brown stilettos. Melody could wear really short dresses and never seem smarmy.
Curse her and her short self.
“I’m hiding.” I said obviously.
“I know.” Melody rolled her eyes, “But I’m not going to allow you to hide. Even Eryn is moving around and enjoying herself.”
My gaze searched the crowd until it landed on my tall, pretty fifteen year old sister. She indeed was surrounded by young men … and my father, whose frowning countenance is still not enough to drive the teenage boys away.
“Well, I’m comfortable right here.”
“Come on,” Melody persisted and pulled at my arm, “At least come and stand with me and Spencer.”
“Did you bring Alexis?”
Melody rolled her eyes. “You have such a one track mind when it comes to that kid.”
“She’s the perfect child. Why would I think of anyone else?”
Melody frowned. “Look around. There are a bunch of eligible men here. Why don’t you get up talk to someone? I’m sure one of these guys loves anime as much as you do.”
I narrowed my eyes at my beautiful but clueless sister. One does not simply get up and introduce the topic of anime. That’s weird.
“Just give me Alexis and let me live my life.” I groused and followed her through the mass of people to where Spencer held baby Alexis in his arms.
Uh-oh. Prying that baby from him should be fun.
“Babe,” Melody stepped up to her husband and commanded, “Lexi wants to hold the baby.”
Spencer arched an eyebrow. It’s a really nice looking eyebrow. In fact, everything on Spencer is good looking from the smooth straight cut of his hairline to the tips of his fancy shoes. Sometimes, I wonder how a guy as calm and cool as Spencer survives with a personality as energetic as Mel.
“Give me the child, Braden.” I stepped closer and held my arm out to baby Alexis. “Ally wants to come to Aunty. Yes, she does.” I said in a baby voice.
Alexis responded to my cooing and arched her back toward me. I cut Spencer a victorious glance and he reluctantly handed Alexis over. My little niece was so cute in a ruffled blue polka dot dress and pink shoes with white socks. That bombastic color coding was definitely her mother’s idea. Spencer would have put his daughter in black. That’s his favorite color.
“Let’s go say hi to Mr. Baxter, babe.” Melody tugged on her husband’s arm so that I could have more than a second with Alexis. Glancing back at his baby, Spencer allowed Melody to drag him away.
“You look hungry, Ally. Wanna go get some cheesecake. Yes? Yes you do.”
We turned toward the buffet at the back of the hall. I surveyed the mass of Belizean fare. There were cartons of rice and beans, stewed chicken and salad along with escabeche, an onion soup, and tamales. I skipped the main meal and headed straight for the dessert table.
I was young. This was the time to eat dessert first.
I gazed upon mini lemon pies, cheesecakes slices, and chocolate cake topped with creamy chocolate mousse which waited on small white glass plates as the hallelujah chorus played in the background.
“Mm,” I spoke to the child in my arms, “Let’s get one of each, Ally.”
I leaned over and allowed her to grasp a cheesecake. She smiled.
“Pepsi, like cake.” Alexis quipped.
“Yes, cake.”
This was a Reyes girl for sure. She grasped the cake with one hand and then patted me on the cheek with the other.
“Pepsi, like cake.”
“Go ahead and eat it.” I urged her.
She stuffed the cake into her mouth. She grabbed for another one and then another. I let her because she’s adorable and I’m a first
-time aunt and a pushover.
“She really shouldn’t eat anymore of that.” A deep voice muttered from behind me.
I whirled around, immediately on the defensive. A tall man with broad shoulders encased in a cream shirt under a brown sports coat bore down on me.
He’s definitely an American. No self-respecting Belizean man owns a sports coat.
His raven black hair was fashioned in the latest hair trend with the front kind of messy and the sides shaved low. He smelled like something expensive. I tried not to enjoy the scent but my sinuses insisted on sniffing. His piercing blue eyes fixed on my cheek and then returned to meet my eyes.
“I’m not sure how what I do with my baby is any of your business.” I pushed back.
“It is my business when I see questionable parenting.”
I gasped, thoroughly offended.
Did this man just call me a bad mother?
Who did he think he was?
“I’m sorry. Are you a pediatrician? A social worker? Doctor Phil?” I asked sarcastically.
“No,” He shook his head, “I’m just a guy that can read.”
He pointed to the card describing each dessert and their ingredients and then walked away. I glared after him and bent down, grumbling about stupid men who come from America and think they own Belize. My eyes caught a word on the list in black and white.
VODKA
Oh Lord have mercy.
I grabbed the fourth cheesecake in Alexis’ hand and threw it down. I squeezed my eyes shut as her eyes begin to tear up.
“Don’t cry, Ally,” I bounced her up and down, “And don’t tell mommy and daddy about this.”
Ally began to cry anyway and Melody, drawn by her innate Mommy instincts suddenly appeared before me and took her baby, drawing her out to the balcony so that she didn’t disturb the party inside.
“She’s probably just sleepy,” Melody announced after Alexis continued to bawl. “Maybe it’s time for us to go home.”
“Yeah,” I nodded, “By the way,” I let it all out in one breath, “Alexisatevodkacheesecakes.”
“What? I didn’t get that.”
Spencer interrupted my confession, “Babe, is she fussing?”
“What?” Melody turned distractedly to her husband while Alexis raged on. “Oh yeah. I think we should go home. It’s probably time for her bed.”
Alexis wailed even louder.
Great, I may have just sown the seeds of alcoholism in my baby niece. I’m certainly not winning aunt of the year.
“Let’s go home.” Spencer insisted, accepting his baby daughter from Melody’s arms and walking toward the exit.
“Okay, let me just say good night to mom and dad.”
Spencer nodded and waved at me as he turned with Alexis, trying to calm her screams. Melody left as well.
I stood in the center of the balcony feeling like scum and wishing the floor would swallow me up. Quickly, taking out my phone I googled the effects of alcohol treats on three year olds. According to the articles, the alcohol was cooked out of the pastry and so had little lasting effects on a child. I felt a sigh of relief.
Stupid Sports Coat Guy, making me feel guilty about nothing.
It wasn’t like I’d be going around feeding three year olds baked goods with alcohol in them but at least I didn’t kill my niece.
“Lexi!” A familiar voice called while I was in the middle of berating myself. I spun around and smiled weakly at Archie.
“Hey you,” I said, scrounging up a smile.
He hugged me and stepped away. “Wow, Mr. Rey must be having a field day with all the men running after you. You look great. Even with that cake face.”
I rolled my eyes. Archie was always teasing me. Plus he knew that I wasn’t as boy crazy as Eryn.
“Haha,” I laughed dryly at his cake joke. “And no. I’m still single and still enjoying not being chained to anyone.”
Archie winced. “That’s a harsh picture of marriage.”
I laughed.
“Hey, have I introduced you to my new step-brother?”
A few years ago, Archie’s mother married a new man. Archie didn’t talk about his mom or her new family much so I was surprised at his enthusiasm to introduce me. I could smell the matchmaking fumes.
“Uh, no. Not really.”
“Come on.” He pulled me along to the center of the room where his mother and her new husband sat nursing glasses of wine. The man with his back to me looked eerily familiar. I recognized that head of black hair.
But from where?
“Hey, Drew.” Archie patted the man on the back and he turned around and stood, drawing closer to us and away from the table.
I gasped.
Him.
He regarded me coolly and I stared right back without flinching. He was taller than me, but I was still tall enough to drill holes into his head and convey my regard… or in this case disregard.
Oblivious to the tension, Archie clasped a hand on Drew’s shoulder, “This is Andrew Darcy.”
I narrowed my eyes at the name. Archie misinterpreted my glance as some kind of hero-worship. Melody practically force-fed the Pride and Prejudice novel to Eryn and I. Each of her friends knew the story from cover to cover. Still, a fancy surname didn’t blow me away.
“I know right.” Archie chuckled, “Don’t tell Melody his last name.”
Drew’s thin lips are a flat line on his face. I don’t think I’m getting any love from him either.
“This,” Archie introduced us, “is Alexi. But we call her Lexi to distinguish between Melody and Spencer’s baby girl.”
“Hello, Lexi.” His voice is calm and deep. I don’t like that he’s using my pet name already.
That privilege should be earned, buster.
“Hi, Drew.”
Archie finally realized the strange tenseness and his grin became awkward.
“Uh, okay then. I think Susan’s calling me. I’m coming, dear!”
With one last appraising glance at the both of us, Archie ran off to locate his wife. I wanted to pretend my parents were yelling for me too, but something about Drew’s arrogant demeanor stayed my feet. Running away never stopped a pompous pimplehead.
“Well,” he said softly, “Is your baby okay?”
“She’s my sister’s daughter.” I spat, “and she’s fine.”
“That’s good to hear.”
He glanced at me and for some strange reason, I felt my temper flare.
“This was a good talk.” I said sarcastically, “I’ll just go stand over there.” I pointed toward my old hideout and walked away.
In this instance, moving away was necessary for the sake of my own sanity.
I really couldn’t stand haughty people.
When I was twelve, there was this guy in my class named Judah Nindinsow. He was a Nigerian boy whose father owned a chain of smoothie stores. Judah thought that the kids at Faith and Grace Primary School should bow before his superiority. I used to ignore him, until one day, he said that my juice smelt like stinky toe. Today, I’m a fierce advocate for non-violence, however, back then I didn’t take smack about my juice boxes. The day that Judah Nindinsow made fun of my juice was the first and last time I ever slapped a person on the face. That was also the first and last day I got a spanking from my teacher with a ruler.
I’d taken the beating like a man and even got a few fist-bumps from my classmates for standing up to Judah.
Andrew Darcy was lucky I’d matured since then. He definitely deserved a smack across the head.
“Oh, by the way, Lexi,” Drew called to me.
“What?” I said, exasperation lacing my tone.
“The next time you eat cheesecake… try using a napkin.”
I huffed and stomped away. When I was once more sequestered in my corner, I whipped out my little mirror and checked my face.
Cracker jacks.
A smudge of tan and creamy cheesecake was smeared on my cheek, like I’d stuck my face in a pan of pi
e. I groaned. Alexis must have messed up my face when she touched it earlier. I cleaned the cake pieces and seethed.
Uh, stupid Andrew Darcy.
Hopefully, he didn’t plan on coming around my family too often. I couldn’t promise that what caught Judah Nindinsow wouldn’t eventually happen to him too.
CHAPTER THREE
The next morning, I sat in “the pew” at the Holy Ghost Gym. Spencer, Melody, Alexis, Mia and Peyton filled the seats next to me. Archie and Susan hadn’t yet arrived. It had always been a dream of mine to sit in “the pew”. When I was younger, I usually went to the nursery or I sat with the younger girls near the back of the building. When I returned from university, Melody invited me to sit with them. Feeling like I’d been invited to the ‘cool kids’ table, I did. Alexi Elizabeth Reyes might as well have been inscribed on the aisle seat.
The worship team struck up a chorus to test the system and I smiled and clapped along to the instrumental. I liked coming to the Gym. Pastor Stanley made sense to me and he spoke the truth in a way that kept my attention.
“Morning.” I recognized Persia’s voice and little Joshua hopped into my lap. Persia and Joshua joined our little cluster a few years ago when the Reyes family and friends along with the Gym members had built her a house from the ground up. Susan had spear-headed the project. Persia’s been coming to the Gym ever since and she’s an honorary member of the Reyes family. Persia’s opened her own practice since she graduated from law school and she’s doing quite well. I heard through the Melody grapevine that she may even be dating again.
Good for you, Persia.
“Hey, little guy.” I planted kisses all over Joshua’s handsome face. He’s going to be a killer with the ladies when he grows up. His smooth cocoa brown skin and handsome features are already garnering the attention of the nine year old girls in his class.
“Hey, Lexi.” The large boy hopped out of my lap and stood beside me as I turned my knees so Persia could scoot into the pew, “Guess what?”
“What?”
“Mama’s taking me to Disney Land this summer.”
“Oh, that’s so cool!”
Persia rolled her eyes and explained, “I scored an amazing price for a plane ticket so I figured I could take the kid to see Disney World or something.”