Bernadine set her icy glare on me just like Aura had, but she spoke, which surprised me.
“You known my sister long?” She asked.
I cleared my throat. “Not really. No.”
She stared. “So… are y’all seeing each other?”
I didn’t know how to answer that. It seemed like it’d be overstepping my bounds to explain anything to Lissette’s family. She’d probably want to do that on her own.
“Mind your bees wax,” Aura interrupted. “Maybe that’s what this dinner is about. Lissette might wanna tell us about him herself.”
Relief washed over me when I sensed I’d been let off the hook. Bernadine rolled her eyes at Aura and tossed a bright green throw pillow at the side of her head, prompting a brief stare down that ended in laughter between the two sisters.
“Momma and Daddy coming?” Delia asked.
“S’posed to be,” Lissette answered from the kitchen. “We can start without them if you all want, though.”
“That’s bold,” Darren weighed in. “I’m hungry, but we can wait.”
Brooklyn looked down at the time on her phone. “I’ll wait, but not forever. They’ve officially entered their fifteen minute grace period.”
Everyone laughed and as soon as Brooklyn finished speaking my phone vibrated. Without even having to check, I knew it was Matt fawning over her again.
The door buzzed and they all sighed with relief. “Thank God. I’m starving,” someone said under their breath.
Lissette rushed to let her parents in herself. While she waited for them to get to the door, she straightened her dress. At that moment, with that one simple gesture, I realized how much she cared what they thought of her. A broad smile crossed her face when she saw them coming down the hall.
“Hey, Ma!” She said as she squeezed her mother around the neck. Next she embraced her father tightly, and then pushed his chin-length, brown hair behind his ears like she’d been in the habit of mothering him.
I stood there, almost frozen in fear. But if there was one thing I learned in business, it’s to never let them see you sweat. So, I forced a smile and moved up when Lissette beckoned for me.
“Momma, Daddy…. I’d like you both to meet Luke.” She smiled easily, like we’d known each other for months and she was completely sure it was time to let me meet the family. Her mother stared—a beautiful woman with a rich, dark-brown complexion that offset the inky black of her lengthy dreads. Her eyes were kind, but staring into them didn’t calm my nerves at all. That is until she smiled warmly and spoke.
“Luke? I don’t think I’ve heard Lissy mention you just yet, but it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Rochelle.”
I smiled back and nodded. “Nice meeting you, too.”
Lissette’s father was only slightly more hesitant than his wife. He shook my hand hard, much like Aura had, but it seemed fitting coming from him. It’s a dad’s job to strike fear in the heart of the man in his daughter’s life, let him know there’d be hell to pay for messing up. I wasn’t offended. He gave a tight smile, not hiding his protective nature. I imagined he’d done this quite a few times, seeing as how he had five girls to look after. “Dave,” he said, introducing himself.
“Nice to meet you, sir,” I replied respectfully.
He didn’t linger long, which I was grateful for. Everyone moved on to the dining room. I glanced up at one of Matt’s hidden cameras and shot him a look. This, meeting the entire family of a woman I barely knew, a woman who I’d be marrying soon, was insane.
Lissette saved me the seat beside her. I took it and listened to the boisterous conversation that had already started buzzing around the table as her family passed large serving dishes, fixing their plates. I imagined they’d shared many dinners like this growing up, everyone talking all at once, laughing.
“How’s your book going, Aura,” Brooklyn asked. A lot of the chatter settled down to hear Aura’s answer.
She shrugged. “Eh, it’s going alright, I guess. Grace is almost done editing the first few chapters. I’ll probably be done with everything before the baby gets here. At least that’s my goal.”
“You researched any agencies to represent you?” Dave chimed in. The look of genuine interest in his girls’ lives was refreshing, especially seeing as how he had so many of them to keep up with.
Aura shrugged again. It was obvious to me from her expression and forced smile that she didn’t have much confidence in her ability to get her work published.
“A little, but it seems like they all want clients who already have a following… and I don’t have that. Aside from you five,” she said, gesturing toward her sisters and mother. “No one’s had their hands on it other than Grace, but that doesn’t really count because she’s editing, not reading it because she wants to.”
Her father seemed hurt. “Well, I told you I’d read it, but you–”
Aura patted his hand and gave a smile. “Daddy, I know. But I told you, it’s kind of a book women would read. I haven’t even let Darren read past the first chapter.”
Darren nodded to confirm.
“What’s your book about?” I asked in between bites.
Lissette looked at me strangely, like she was surprised I was involving myself in the conversation without being dragged into it. Aura had the same look.
“It’s a romance/horror,” she explained.
My face went blank, not realizing anyone had ever combined the two genres. Then again, I’d never cracked open a romance novel in my life, so what did I know?
“I figured the two extreme emotions—love and fear—would create an interesting element. On the one hand you have the main character and her love interest, and then this creature that’s terrorizing their town as the underlying conflict.”
I nodded and creased my brow, hoping she’d misread the confusion for intrigue. “How does that play in as the conflict?” I asked.
She cleared her throat. “Well… the primary storyline is the romantic aspect, but then at night, there’s this looming presence that’s made it very difficult for the town’s people to lead normal lives.”
I was still confused, but didn’t ask any further questions. Instead, I nodded as if I suddenly understood what she was trying to say.
“It’s a really good story,” Lissette assured me. She looked sincere when she spoke.
I cocked my head to the side. “What if you made it where the beast and the main character’s love interest were one in the same? You could put a spin it where he didn’t even know it was him.”
Everyone was quiet when I made the suggestion. Perhaps Aura wasn’t appreciative of criticism and suggestions and I was the only one at the table who didn’t know that. A lump formed in my throat and my mouth went dry as the family stared my way. Aura placed her fork down on her plate and met my gaze. I breathed a sigh of relief when she smiled. “Where were you a year ago when I started this book? I actually like your idea better,” she added.
Beside me, Lissette smiled a little and then continued eating her food.
The chatter picked up again and I found myself lost in about three different conversations. Bernadine was talking about the finalization of her divorce and not liking that she had to let her ex have the kids every other weekend. Delia complained about her husband, Cal, being gone two out of four weeks a month driving big rigs. Brooklyn was getting last minute requests from Aura for her baby shower. Lissette’s parents sat listening to it all, just like I did.
“You doing okay?” Lissette asked quietly.
I nodded to reassure her. “I’m cool. Your family’s very… interesting,” I replied only loud enough for her to hear, hoping she took what I said in the positive way it was meant. The gentle expression on her face let me know she had.
My eyes were on her a moment longer and then just as I was about to take another bite, Bernadine called Lissette and I out, making a second attempt at figuring out why I’d been invited to this dinner.
“So, ok… since I didn�
�t get an answer from Luke, I’m gonna ask you, Lissy; what’s going on? Y’all dating or something?” Bernadine grinned at me slyly and then set her fork down on her plate, directing her attention toward Lissette next as she waited for an explanation.
You could’ve heard a pin drop. Mr. and Mrs. James chose to keep their eyes down on their plates to seem less curious than the rest of the bunch concerning my relationship with their daughter. However, it was hard to believe they didn’t have their own questions about the stranger at the table—me.
“That’s so tacky, Bean,” Brooklyn said under her breath, silently scolding her sister’s lack of discretion.
Bernadine shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. “Quit actin’ like I’m the only one wondering,” she reasoned.
Lissette cleared her throat and seemed to search within herself for the right answer to give. “Well…” she began nervously. “Luke and I are… well… we’re together,” she finally choked out. If our relationship had been a more solid one, I may have been offended by the tone of her response; however, I wasn’t bothered by the shaky admission. In fact, I pitied her at that moment. This couldn’t have been easy.
Bernadine wasn’t satisfied with that answer. “Together, together? Or… what exactly?” she asked, clearly asserting herself as the oldest while still keeping her tone lighthearted. Yeah, she was giving Lissette a hard time about me being there, but it was clear she didn’t mean any harm.
Lissette seemed shy when she replied, “I don’t know what else you want me to say, Bean.”
Poor girl.
Bernadine let out a breath. “Like… where’d you two meet? How serious are you?”
Brooklyn let out a heavy sigh, but it was Delia who spoke up first. “Ohhhh, just wait ‘til you start dating again and bring a guy to dinner. We are all gonna let you have it. Watch,” she interjected, threatening her oldest sister.
Bernadine was struggling to hold in a laugh. “What’d I do? I just asked the girl a question.”
“Whatever. Just be prepared,” Delia warned.
Mr. James cleared his throat and his girls quieted down right away. Next, his gaze fell on Lissette. “Sweetheart, just ignore your sisters and finish your meal.”
Bernadine sucked her teeth and was getting ready to say something else when Mr. James spoke again. “And Bean, I’m sure when your sister is ready to tell you more than she already has, she’ll do just that. In the meantime, leave her be.”
He rubbed the back of Bernadine’s hand with just enough tenderness that she’d know he didn’t mean any harm by chastising her, and then went back to eating. With a smile, Bernadine mouthed the words “Daddy’s girl,” to Lissette and even sent a slight grin my way, too. The James family certainly wasn’t short on entertainment.
No other awkward questions were asked during dinner—not about me and Lissette’s relationship, anyway. In fact, it was almost like they’d forgotten I was a newcomer and started including me in their side conversations. Darren had asked me to weigh in on his debate with his wife about who gossips more, women or men. And Delia decided to chat with me about my career in marketing with occasional input and inquiries from Mr. and Mrs. James. It was nice being somewhat accepted into their circle. While I was sure I still had a ways to go until they actually put any stock into me personally or my relationship with Lissy, I felt like this dinner was a step in the right direction.
“Excuse me,” I whispered into Lissette’s ear when Matt’s texting got out of control. A pair of the most hypnotic brown eyes I’d ever had the pleasure of gazing into, were now trained on me.
“Everything okay?” Lissette asked, genuine concern set on her face. When I placed a hand on hers, her eyes went there and stayed there until I finished explaining.
“Yeah, I’m just gonna check on Matt—make sure he isn’t getting into any trouble in there.” I rose from the table, staring curiously when she did the same, letting those who noticed know that she’d be right back. I was two steps behind when she motioned for me to join her in the kitchen first before heading to her bedroom where Matt sat, observing.
Her hands went to the microwave where she removed a small plastic container of the dinner she’d just served.
“I fixed this earlier for Matt, but I wasn’t sure how to get it to him. I’m sure he’s starving.” Before I even responded, she went to the drawer beside the fridge and grabbed out a plastic fork and spoon, wrapping them in a couple napkins. She handed the set over and a can of pop, too. If I had to guess, Matt was in the room singing her praises as he watched and listened from the monitor.
“Thanks,” I said, finding it hard not to stare at her. There was just something about this girl that I couldn’t put my finger on—something good, something I had to admit I liked. “And I’m sure my brother thanks you, too,” I added. Lissette smiled graciously and I eventually turned to head down the hall toward her bedroom.
I hadn’t even reached the door yet when Matt flung it open and immediately relieved my hands of the container. He tasted what was inside first, and thanked me second.
“Tell Lissette she’s the best,” he mumbled while chewing.
I smiled at him scarfing down his food as I went over to his laptop where he had it set up on Lissette’s dresser. There were six different angles that Matt’s cameras were recording from—two of each room where the family would most likely convene: the living room, dining room, and kitchen. I watched Lissette and her family interacting without me present in the room.
“Dude, if I were you, I would totally pick up the headphones and listen in,” Matt suggested. “I’m about ninety-nine percent sure they’re talking about you. What better way to find out what they really think?”
My eyes went to the padded headphones resting on the dresser, tempting me to eavesdrop, but then I talked myself out of it. Whatever the James’s were discussing in my absence wasn’t any of my business, even if it was about me. Matt watched as I turned away from the computer screen altogether.
“So… are you getting what you wanted?” I asked. “Good footage?”
With a mouthful of food, he nodded. “Definitely. I mean… I’m sure it’ll get a whole hell of a lot more interesting when you two actually make the wedding announcement, but, you know, this stuff is good, too.”
I smirked at how cavalierly he was speaking about all of this, as if it wasn’t my life we were discussing.
“Is it as tough as it looks out there?” he asked.
Bernadine’s line of questioning came to mind again and I answered Matt honestly. “At least.”
He got a good laugh out of that, probably revisiting Lissette’s sister’s interrogation, too.
“Well, I just came to check on you. I should get back out there before they notice I’m gone.” I took a step toward the door when Matt stopped me. My eyes went to him as he pointed at one of the camera angles recording in the kitchen. We both stared as we watched Lissette discreetly open a prescription bottle of pills and place one of the tiny capsules in her mouth, downing it with a glass of water.
Matt cocked his head to the side. “She mention anything about being sick?”
I shook my head. “No.” But then again that didn’t surprise me. We’d known each other for all of two days. It wasn’t like there’d been time to unearth any secrets.
I continued to stare at the screen as Lissette placed a hand to her side, wincing just a bit in discomfort, but not dwelling on it long. In fact, she took two very deep breaths, poured the remainder of the water into the sink, and then rejoined her family as if nothing was amiss. My interest was piqued, but whatever her ailment, I’d have to wait until she was good and ready to talk about it.
From the looks of it, I wasn’t the only one who’d eventually have to come clean about some things.
Chapter Five
Lissette
With that awkward dinner behind us, I imagined Luke was ready to get the hell out of my apartment, to run screaming for the hills. My parents had taken off already, so
only my sisters and Darren remained other than Luke and Matt. If he thought tonight was crazy, he would’ve been in for a real treat if my niece and two nephews had shown up—Aura’s son, and Bernadine’s son and daughter.
I stood by the door with Luke where no one could hear but the two of us. “So… was it terrible? Being in the hot seat, I mean?”
He leaned against the door frame and I watched his lips as one corner of his mouth hitched upward. “I actually had a good time,” he replied and surprisingly enough, I believed him.
I gave a thoughtful nod and eventually forced myself to look down at the ground instead of Luke’s light-green eyes.
“Is Matt already outside?” I asked.
Luke tipped his chin twice when I let myself look at his face again. “Yup… said it was kinda touch and go climbing down that fire escape, but he made it.”
We both laughed quietly, imagining it. “Good… apologize to him for me again for not being able to use the front door. It’s just that–”
“It’s cool. He understood.”
Luke checked the pocket of his jeans for his car keys when we ran out of things to say and I unlatched the door for him. From the corner of my eye, I caught Bernadine’s curious expression, only then noticing how the others too had eyes on Luke and me. It took me a second, but it eventually dawned on me; they were waiting to see how we said goodbye to one another, a way of gaging the seriousness of our relationship, the depth of our connection. Now I felt awkward again.
I don’t know if it was the pressing stares of my sisters or my nervous expression, but Luke paused—he paused and his eyes went to mine as a sudden look of understanding hit him. The first step he took in my direction made me quiver and I think he noticed.
“Ok, don’t freak out,” he mumbled with his back to everyone in the room but me, a slick smile on his lips. “…but I’m gonna hug you. I’m pretty sure your sisters are expecting at least that.”
Discreetly, I nodded and gave him my permission. With my eyes trained on Luke’s chest, he came closer. The space between us disappeared as he leaned in and slipped his arms around my waist. I hugged him back, trying to make this, our first embrace, look as natural as possible. And surprisingly? It was. It felt like we’d done this a thousand times before, aside from the fact that holding him like this gave me butterflies. My eyes fluttered, almost closing. He ran both hands up the material of my dress and then down to their original position at the small of my back, drawing me in closer. His body heat radiated all through me.
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