Blue Diamond

by Dawn Umrie

  She pauses with her fork up to her mouth. “Really? You want me to meet them?” She says, then takes a bite. “Mm, these are good.”

  “Thanks, so would you like to?”

  She holds up one finger while she finishes chewing her toast. “I’d love to!”

  It’s at that moment, I feel a strange sense of… I’m not sure the word to fill in that blank, but it’s another first to add to the pile that is now stacking up like a deck of cards.

  “Oh, but, I don’t have any clothes here, and I’m sure I’d be overdressed in last night’s gown—not to mention I’d look like a psycho. Not the first impression I was going for.” She grabs our plates and puts them into the dishwasher.

  Her rambling amuses me while I watch her bend over, admiring her tanned, toned legs as my shirt rides up her thighs.

  “Merissa.”

  She turns around, “Yeah?”

  I curl my index finger for her to come over to me.

  She walks over, and I pull her arm until she falls across my lap, her fingernails digging into my neck. “Aren’t we very handsy this morning.” She says while giggling.

  My left palm runs up the length of silky smooth leg from her ankle up to the part of her thigh that’s hidden under the shirt. Her eyes half closed under my touch.

  “Let’s sort that out after the verification, huh?

  I scoop her up in my arms swiftly, while my chair tips over and lands on the floor.

  She places her hand over her mouth in surprise, then places it back around my neck. “It’s already been verified, but it doesn’t hurt to double check.”

  Merissa

  “No, Seth, I couldn’t possibly take your car! What if something happens to it?” I say to him after he tells me to take his car to my house, so I could go change.

  He puts his hands on my waist and nuzzles his nose along the side of my neck. “That’s what insurance is for.” He nips my earlobe.

  “You know I can’t think while you’re doing that. That’s your plan, right?”

  He backs away with his usual smile that looks like he’s up to nothing good and walks over to a glass bowl in the entry hall and pulls out a set of keys. “The only thing that matters to me is the precious cargo inside the car. “Here.” He says, placing the set of keys in the palm of my hand and closing it around them. “Unless you’d rather take the Land Rover?”

  Looking down at my fist holding his car keys, I decided to concede, since, they’re his freakin’ car keys. “Nah, I’m good,” I say, trying to hide my actual excitement.

  He laughs. “Good. Now get, so that you come right back to me.”

  “Thanks, I’ll take good care of her. See you in a couple of hours, maybe sooner.” I say while picking up my little clutch bag and heels.

  Seth lent me a pair of shorts that I had to roll the waistband down a few times, and I’m still wearing his dress shirt, only, now, I have it tied in a knot. I’m probably going to need to put my heels on in the car because I think there’s an actual law about driving barefoot.

  Darn.

  It’s definitely not the walk of shame, but more like the walk of fashion don’ts.

  I turn around and walk towards his door. “Ahem,” he says, clearing his throat loudly. His biceps are bulging as he crosses his arms over his chest.

  Hot damn, he’s a fine piece of eye candy.

  “What? Did I forget something?” My eyes dart around the space as I amble back over to him.

  “Yeah, you did. My kiss.” He yanks me into his arms, dips me theatrically, and kisses me until I’m lightheaded.

  He rights me with his hands braced around my arms while I try to gain some sense of composure. I run my finger across my lips feeling like a drug addict who needs another hit.

  As if he did nothing. “See you soon, sweetheart,” he says, then walks away.

  It’s as if he took a top, made it spin, then just walked away not paying attention to whether it’s still spinning in the same spot or turned onto its side, spinning out of control.

  The top is a metaphor for me this instant...

  * * *

  The car ride to my house was invigorating, a far cry from dear old Lucy. I drove with the wind sending my hair flying in every direction while appreciating the getup and go when Lucy has mostly the got up and went.

  Having showered at Seth’s, I quickly changed into a cute little pink chiffon dress with white polka dots that I got for a steal at a consignment shop and a pair of white strappy sandals. I styled my hair in a single braid, too warm today to wear down.

  Funny, I’m not nervous to meet his parents, which is an odd reaction. I realize this is huge, but my eagerness to meet them overrides any fear I might have. Plus, they must be pretty damn great judging by how wonderful Seth and his sister are. I’m really looking forward to seeing her again, too, especially knowing she isn’t the dreaded girlfriend.

  Brook called me while I was getting ready, so I gave her a quick rundown of all the events that transpired. I’m still slightly deaf in one ear from all her high-pitched Brook-isms.

  Shortly after that, Nathan sent me a text that said, and I quote. “Bitches be hatin’ you.’” I knew it wouldn’t have taken Brook long after we hung up to share.

  Pulling the car under Seth’s building, the car that I named, Egypt on the way here, not only because that’s what I do, but because this car looks like something that a Pharaoh would drive if they had cars in ancient times.

  * * *

  Seth’s parents live in a lovely gated community, and their home looks like something you might see in Spain, complete with arched windows, wrought iron, and rich wooden doors.

  The front door opens as we walk hand in hand up the brick paver walkway. Seth has on a pair of faded jeans, slung low on his hips and a tight black t-shirt looking every bit like a dark angel.

  “Hey, there he is. How are you, son?” A man, who Seth looks very much like, envelopes him in a bear hug, while I smile at them. “Who’s this gorgeous lady with you?”

  “This is Merissa, dad.” He says while putting his hand on my back.

  His father gives me a warm hug. “Nice to meet you. Come on in, you two. Your sister is in the kitchen helping your mom.”

  “It’s so nice to meet you as well. You have a beautiful home.” I say as I step in and look around the living room.

  “Thank you. We like it. Has a little character, like this one over here.” he says while grabbing Seth by the back of the neck.

  I laugh at his action, like that of a dad to a small boy. “I could still take you, old man,” Seth says to him.

  “Who do you think taught you to fight? I may be older, but this old man still has some moves.”

  A sweet voice comes from the kitchen. “Is that my son and his girl?”

  His girl.

  Seth looks down at me, his eyes searching my face trying to find— I’m not sure what. And all that I’m trying to do is gauge his reaction to his mom’s comment, which I can’t decipher.

  We walk into what I would imagine heaven’s perfume must smell like. “It’s about time you brought a girl home to meet your mother.” She says while hugging him, her head landing below the middle of his chest.

  “Jesus Christ, Ma, are you trying to scare her out the door?” He says after kissing her cheek.

  Her hands fly to her hips as she stands in front of him with a flowered apron on. “I know that you have the mouth of a truck driver but quit using the Lord’s name in vain.” She whacks him on the arm, then turns to me.

  “Merissa, so nice to meet you. You are as pretty as a picture.” She hugs me tightly and I feel a pang in my chest. I haven’t felt a motherly hug in a long time, and I didn’t realize how much I truly needed it.

  I clear my throat to try to tamp down the sadness. “You, too, Mrs. Vastola. Thank you for having me.”

  “None of this Mrs. Vastola, you call me, Sophie,” she says while going over to the stove to stir something. I smile at her; my first impression
is that I like his parents already. Sylvia walks in through a back door.

  “Oh, hi you guys!” She waves. “Here, ma, I cut you some basil.”

  Sylvia walks over and embraces me. “Merissa, I am so happy to see you. How’s the house, everything alright?”

  “It’s great to see you too, Sylvia. Yes, thank you. I love it there.” I say with animation.

  Sylvia looks at me with a genuine smile gracing her beautiful face, and now that I really look at her, I feel foolish to have believed that they were boyfriend and girlfriend when they clearly look alike. Crazy how the mind plays tricks on you when it sees fit.

  “I’m so glad. I hope Mr. Suit over here is treating you well.” She says while he lifts her petite form slightly off the floor in a hug.

  “Mr. Suit most definitely is. You, on the other hand, need a Mr. Suit of your own to tame your crazy ass.” He says while chuckling.

  Sylvia calls to her mother, “Ma, he says I’m a crazy ass.”

  I’m laughing at how juvenile they’re acting and loving every second of it. These people are a real family, one who laughs, and jokes… and loves each other deeply. I didn’t have a father or a father figure for that matter growing up, so my mother did her best to be both… and she was.

  Until she was neither.

  “Seth, stop calling your sister a crazy ass… even if it’s true, it’s not nice to name call. Now help me carry all of this food into the dining room.”

  Seth leans his arm over the back of my chair, his hand gently playing with my long braid. He might as well pour honey all over my skin and lick it off, since even the simplest touch sends my mind into a frenzy of possibilities…

  Like honey and licking.

  “Dinner was beyond delicious, thank you, Sophie,” I say rubbing my stomach.

  She beams at me. “Thank you, Merissa, so glad you enjoyed it. Let me ask you, are you Italian because you sure look to be?”

  “So, I’ve been told. I’m actually half Italian, half Greek.”

  “Ah, yes.” She says with a wave of her hand. “Neighbors just across the sea. I’m so glad my son finally found himself a nice girl.” She loud whispers as if no one at the table would hear. “He’s never brought one home before. I’m so hap, hap happy.” She says while clapping her hands together lightly.

  Seth closes his eyes and bows his head down and it’s a good thing because I’m sure the look on my face matches the shock I feel at hearing that. Thank God, his dad pipes in, although I’m not sure how much it helped the situation. “Now, don’t go planning grandchildren just yet, Soph.”

  Seth lifts his head up. “For Chri…”

  His mom bangs her hand on the table. “Don’t you finish that.” She says with a smile that defeats the purpose.

  “Alright, Ma. You win.” He grins at her. “So how was the cruise?”

  “The king of diversion prevails,” Sylvia says in a deep voice

  I’m sitting back, enjoying the show and laugh when he scratches his chin with his middle finger back at her.

  His mom shakes her head, “The cruise was great, and your dad even won two hundred dollars on the slots.”

  Seth looks at his dad, “Nice dad. Glad you guys had a good time.”

  Seth’s father laughs. “Yeah, we did, but that two hundred went to some seaweed facial for your mother.”

  His mom just waves him off.

  “Listen, Vee,” Seth says with a more serious tone, so I’m curious as to why. “I have something important to tell you, but it needed to be done said in person.”

  Sylvia’s face looks puzzled. “Okay, I’m listening.”

  “I’m turning over South Shores to you.”

  “I don’t understand, I already run it.”

  I look back and forth between them like a ping pong tournament trying to understand what he’s talking about and what he has to do with South Shores other than Sylvia working there.

  He sits up taller in his chair and places his hand on my shoulder. “As in turning it over to you as the new owner, instead of me”

  I watch as Sylvia’s eyes gloss over. Their mom gasps out loud, while his dad says what great kids he has.

  Sylvia runs across the table and practically throws herself at Seth. “Oh my God! I love you! Thank you!”

  “You’re welcome. The papers are being finalized as we speak.” He says while hugging her.

  I’m at a complete loss for words as my mind presses a rewind button to when I was offered the house to rent.

  After we all said our thanks and goodbyes, I stepped into Seth’s car. Today was a wonderful day spent with equally wonderful people, but it doesn’t change the fact that something didn’t sit well with me upon hearing that Seth is… was, the owner of South Shores. I’m trying my very best not to jump to conclusions, but it’s proving impossible when everything begins to come together like evidence at a crime scene.

  Seth had to have had something to do with why I’m in the house—and here I thought it was because of some divine form of intervention. Maybe even a sign that my mother was sorry and found a way to help me. As twisted as my thinking might be, it was much easier to accept.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Seth

  Merissa is uncharacteristically quiet as we drive back from my parent’s house. Having her there with me amongst the people I love the most in this world should have scared the shit out of me, but it didn’t. Just the opposite, in fact. Now, the way she seems to be deep in thought with her head turned to the passenger side window, has me wondering if she’s not the one who got spooked.

  I reach my arm over the center console and touch her open palm that’s resting in her lap. “Hey, you, alright?”

  She looks over at me without any kind of reassuring smile on her face, her expression almost blank.

  “Honestly, Seth, I’m not really sure how I’m feeling.” She looks back out the window.

  “Sweetheart,” I say squeezing her hand gently to get her attention. “I know my family can be overwhelming sometimes and my mom’s teasing about grandkids and what not…”

  She turns and places her other hand on top of mine to stop me. “Your family is fantastic. They made me feel so welcome. I had the best time today.”

  Feeling confused. “I’m glad. So, what’s on your mind? Did I do something?” I weave my fingers through hers to let her know that if I did, I had no intention of doing so.

  “I just need to ask you something, okay? Maybe I have it all wrong.”

  Her head looks down at our hands before raising them back up. I see her eyes fill up before she focuses her attention back outside. I switch lanes and pull my car off to the side of the road, hating that I could be the reason she’s upset.

  She turns her body in the seat and I do the same. The look on her face makes me want to kick my own ass if I’m the one responsible for putting it there.

  “Ask me anything.” I look directly into her eyes and place my arm behind her seat… to comfort her, or maybe myself.

  “I didn’t know that you owned South Shores until today, and I could feel it in my gut that you somehow made it possible for me to be in the house. Did you?”

  Fuck.

  You fuckin,’ dumb ass.

  I hang my head down and swear this time under my breath, not at her, but at myself.

  “I take that as a yes,” She says, and I see a tear roll down her cheek.

  I wipe it away with the pad of my thumb and she doesn’t stop me. “Baby, please hear me out. I am so fuckin’ sorry I didn’t tell you. When I arranged it so that the house could be yours, I had only run into you at the coffee shop, that’s it. I saw you get turned away that day at the agency and it bothered me, it bothered me a lot. I don’t even know why, but I felt the inexplicable urge to help, so I did.”

  In her soft voice, which feels more impactful than if she yelled at me, she replies. “That’s it, Seth? Were you ever going to tell me? I can’t even be mad at the fact that you did such an incredible thing for a st
ranger, no less. But what really saddens me? Is that you had every opportunity to tell me and you chose not to. How much of my rent are you paying?”

  I rub my hand over my face. “I’m not sure if I was ever going to tell you. I never wanted you to feel like… this.”

  She tilts her head to the side. “At least that was honest, I’ll give you that. How much, Seth?”

  “Does it really matter what I’ve been contributing. I bought the house, so now you’re paying the rent that I’m charging—which is exactly what you’re paying.” I try a small smile.

  She gives me a small smile in return after shaking her head. “You make it impossible to be upset with you.”

  I lift her braid and run my fingers up and down it. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I’m not sorry that I helped you.”

  “Sell the house. I’ll find another place.” She says like she came up with a brilliant idea.

  “No.”

  “Seth—” She lets out on a breath.

  “The house is now an investment, think of it, as such.”

  She looks up as if praying for patience. “A lie by omission is still a lie… don’t do it again, please…. and thank you.”

  My shoulders relax now that we’ve cleared the air. I place my hands on her upper arms and bring her closer to me. “You’re right, I won’t,” I whisper against her lips. “—and you’re welcome baby,” I say before kissing her slowly, telling her with my actions how sorry I really am…how much she means to me.

  How much I fuckin’ love her.

  I stop kissing her as the revelation hit me harder than a heavyweight fighter’s punch ever could.