Aphrodite's Stand

by Sandra Scott

  “Stop it,” she said, admonishing herself. “You are a strong, confident black woman. Deal with it!”

  Arriving at the staircase, she took a cue from Lady Andra and held her head high, took a deep breath, and ascended the stairs, heading left across the Spanish-tiled circular foyer toward closed double doors painted in brilliant white.

  The brass doorknobs were cool to the touch, and she welcomed their cold against her warm, moist palms. Simultaneously, she grabbed both knobs and squeezed them tightly, pausing again to suck in another fortifying breath. Her hands trembled; however, she chose to ignore them and pulled open both doors. Regally, she stepped inside.

  “Hello. I’m Andra.”

  She gasped. Across the room, two women rose from facing couches and turned her way.

  “I know your name. I’ve said it since I could talk.” Racine grinned mischievously, while Al stared with tears in her eyes, one hand covering her mouth.

  “Mama! Racine!”

  At her exclamation, all three took off running and crashed into each other at the sitting room’s midpoint, hugging, kissing, and slobbering over one another after the collision.

  “I can’t believe it’s you!” Andra stepped back to wipe tears and snot from her face. “What are you guys doing here? It’s been so long since I’ve seen you two.”

  “Yeah, we know,” Racine said. Her voice took on a scolding quality. “The last time we got a real good look at you was at your wedding. Since then, you, being a doctor and married and all, haven’t had the time—”

  “Enough, Racine,” Al said. She took a moment to smile at Andra, placing a loving palm against her wet cheek. “This is a time to celebrate, not bicker.”

  Racine reconstructed her expression into reluctant remorsefulness. “You’re right—I’m sorry, Mama.” Racine grabbed Andra’s hand in a tight grip. “I’m sorry, Sis. It’s just—well, I’ve missed you, even though you’ve managed to cut us out of your life.”

  Another quelling glance from their mother shut Racine down.

  Andra laughed with delight, which caused both women to stare at her in astonishment. In the past, Racine’s immature tirades hadn’t been met with such forgiving gaiety.

  “I’m so glad you two are here, Mama,” she said, grinning at their surprised expressions. She then grinned harder, looking directly at Racine. “Yes, even despite our baby girl’s thoughtless rebukes.”

  “Um hum, that proves it,” Racine said. Her eyes studied Andra for a moment before turning to Al. “Mama, I told you she needed us here. Something’s definitely wrong in Grecian Candy Land.”

  Andra shifted uncomfortably as the waiting blank stationery upstairs came to mind. “Who said anything was wrong?” she demanded despite the mental image. “Who?”

  It took every ounce of inner strength for Andra to maintain eye contact with her family. She mentally chased away her guilt at her deception while swatting the air at her sister.

  “A little defensive, aren’t we?”

  “Oh, be quiet, you,” Andra said, admonishing Racine. “Besides, if you thought something was so wrong with me, why didn’t you simply call—and not spend hard-earned money to travel overseas?”

  Racine snorted. “Please! You never responded to my texts or voice mails.” She shrugged conclusively. “So I figured if Muhammad won’t come to the mountain—”

  “Then the mountain should’ve just stayed put!” Andra said.

  Effectively blocking out Racine’s put-upon expression along with her indignant “Humph,” Al stepped forward to look into Andra’s eyes. “Baby, we’re here for you. But if you don’t need us, we have open tickets. If you want, our butts will be on the first plane back to the States.”

  Andra beheld her mother’s face, one of calm and concern. Hers was a kindly face that she’d looked to for support many times while growing up. The thought of her leaving was frightening. “No, I want you to stay!” She threw her arms around her mother and hugged her tightly. Looking over Al’s shoulder to Racine, Andra forced gathering tears not to fall. “It’s just, well, I wish I would’ve known, you know, to prepare Jayson and his family.”

  “But it’s okay, because now that you’re married, we’re family too,” Racine said, her face defiantly smug. “Right?”

  “You are correct.” The male voice crossed the room with bold confidence yet managed to be coldly subdued.

  In sync, the women turned toward the parted study doors. Stefano, tall and straight, stood inside its threshold, his face unreadable. Only the tic over his eye alerted Andra of his inner struggle to maintain a calm, objective demeanor.

  The room remained silent as he strolled toward them, stopped a few feet away, and presented them with a stiff, abbreviated bow. “The young lady is correct. Any family of the doctor’s is ours as well. You are most welcome to stay.”

  Andra swallowed. She hated the fact that she was the only one who knew he was lying through his perfectly straight white teeth.

  26

  “Oh really,” Racine said, her eyes narrowing as she watched Stefano. “You don’t mind that we’ve invaded your mansion unannounced and without prior permission?”

  “No, of course not,” he said coolly. “As I stated before—”

  “Save it,” Racine said. With a smirk, she returned to her place on the couch. Leaning back, she plopped her feet atop the coffee table and clasped both hands behind her head, leisurely locking them in place. “See, y’all?” she spat. “Massah’s given us permission to stay on his property. Call off the hounds.”

  Andra knew if she’d been sipping on a drink, it would’ve sprayed in a wide arc past astonished lips.

  “Racine!” Her mother gasped.

  A fleeting smirk appeared on Stefano’s face. “I do not understand your meaning,” he said, one eyebrow lifting arrogantly.

  Lowering her arms, Racine shifted to sit ramrod straight. “Oh, I doubt that. You appear to be a worldly man with a fair amount of intelligence and business sense, I suppose.” At Al’s continued glare, Racine reluctantly pulled her feet off the coffee table. “I’m pretty sure you get the reference.”

  Unable to intervene without feeling she had to take one side or the other, Andra remained in awestruck muteness.

  Leisurely, Stefano made his way to the elegant bar area on the other side of the room. After reaching for a brandy container sitting on the countertop, he turned and lifted it in offering.

  Andra and Al shook their heads; Racine simply scowled at him.

  “Yes, unfortunately, I did get your reference,” he said. He dropped ice pieces into his brandy glass and poured a hefty amount of liquor over them. “However, I felt it would be more polite to simply feign ignorance at such a comment.”

  Racine jumped to her feet. “Why, you arrogant piece of—”

  “Hello, everyone!” Jayson breezed in, strolled over to Andra, and gave her a brief kiss. His grin broadened as he walked past her to quickly envelop Al in an enthusiastic hug. “Helena gave me the news my in-laws were here. What a wonderful surprise!”

  “Jayson,” Al said, smiling. “So nice to see you again, boy.”

  “Hello, Mama!” he said, placing a wet one on Al’s cheek. “It’s good to see you too. You’re looking as breathtaking as ever. Lucky me!”

  Inadvertently, Andra’s sights swung across the room to Stefano. His back now to them, he faced the bar, his spine so rigid it appeared as if it would snap in two from the strain.

  She deduced that Jayson referring to Al as Mama had to be a contributing factor. Not knowing whether to be gleeful or wary at his undue anger, Andra dismissed him to return to her husband and family.

  “Jay, you flatterer,” Al said, her face radiant as she beamed up at him. “So tell me—how’s my beauty lucky for you?”

  “It bodes well for me, given Andra has exceptional genes to follow later on down the r
oad.”

  “Oh, you!” Al tapped him playfully on the arm. She smiled at Andra. “Looks like you’ve been taking excellent care of my girl.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I’m trying my best!” Jayson gave Al another squeeze, grinning harder. “But I can’t take all the credit. Like I said, those genes.”

  “I don’t know, Mama—looks like she’s lost a few pounds to me. And her face appears peaked.”

  At Racine’s words, Jayson looked over Al’s head. “And there you are!”

  He hurried over to his irate sister-in-law, picked her up off the ground, and twirled her around. A second later, she burst into breathless, restrained laughter.

  “Still both beautiful and obstinate,” he sang, lifting her higher. “I hope you know that’s a sexy combination to most men!”

  Dividing her attention between both sides of the room, Andra could’ve sworn she heard a disagreeing snort come from her brother-in-law’s mouth.

  Or maybe she’d only imagined it.

  “Boy, put me down!” Racine giggled, rebuking him at the same time. “You are shoveling so much crap I’m gonna need rubber boots to walk through it all!”

  Setting her on her feet, Jayson chuckled. He placed a solid kiss on her forehead. “One day, my dear little sister, someone’s going to capture your heart, and you’re going to be as docile as a kitten with him.”

  Jayson’s smile quickly vanished when Racine abruptly jerked from his embrace and said, “No way! I’m gonna give any man that kind of control over my life! Not ever!”

  Al immediately appeared at Racine’s side. “Please calm yourself, child! Jayson didn’t mean anything.”

  His face bewildered, he shook his head as mother calmly embraced her livid daughter. “I’m sorry,” Jayson said, taking a step back. “I was attempting a joke, nothing more.”

  Feeling sorry for him, Andra moved to his side, linking a supportive arm through his. “Jay, it’s okay,” she whispered. “What’s happening is not about you, so please don’t take Racine’s outburst personally.”

  Jayson nodded uncertainly. “Racine, I meant no harm. We’re all family here.”

  The sound of throat clearing echoed loudly throughout the room, causing all eyes to swing in its direction. Stefano, his face lit with a sarcastic smile, lifted his glass. “To family.”

  Andra’s glare traveled across the room to Stefano’s. Yanking free from Jayson’s arm, she marched over to her brother-in-law. She stood before him, her all-consuming anger stoking an inner fire, and all she could do was glower at him.

  Behind her, the room exploded into silence.

  Her fury shot to the next level when Stefano’s sardonic lips widened into a mocking grin, taunting her.

  She snatched the brandy goblet from his hand and threw the fiery liquid and ice cubes in his face. Upon the liquid’s contact, he gasped with surprise, stunned into immobility. She gladly took advantage of his paralysis to rear back her other hand and slap him hard across the face.

  Her satisfaction rose as a hand-shaped welt materialized across his cheek.

  Suddenly growling in rage, Stefano grabbed Andra’s hand and bent it backward, forcing the glass from her hand. With a small cry, she released it to him and watched in horror as he flung it against the wall, shattering the crystal into several pieces.

  Her lips agape, she tore her disbelieving eyes away from the shimmering mess running the length of the wall to stare wide-eyed at Stefano. His previous growl deepened, becoming more sensuous as he forced both her wrists behind her back.

  “You have been asking for this since the day we met,” he whispered.

  With her imprisoned hands, he pushed her lower body forward to mesh with his, and without preamble, he quickly descended upon her mouth, his lips drinking deeply from hers.

  Her involuntary moan must have covered the gasps from those inside the room, because she heard nothing except the explosive pounding inside her head.

  “Doc! Doc?” Jayson’s voice traveled from a great distance until it gradually echoed loud and clear. “Baby, take your own advice, and don’t let Stefano bother you. He too has his issues.”

  Andra blinked. Across the room, Stefano’s stony face zoomed into view. Unable to tear her eyes away from the man who stood as if on the opposite side of a great chasm, she absentmindedly murmured in indecipherable accord with Jayson.

  Just then, Stefano graced her with a knowing look, forcing her to believe he too had envisioned the scenario she’d just created concerning him.

  Only when Stefano turned his back did she feel she’d been given a much-needed reprieve from the imprisonment of his magnetic glare.

  27

  “So I take it you’ve met my brother, Stefano?” Jayson asked. Looking at Andra, he wrapped his arm about her waist, pulling her close. “Do we need formal introductions?”

  “Well,” she said.

  “Yeah, right,” Racine spat. She stared hard across the room at Stefano. “Whatever.”

  Jayson’s left eyebrow lifted in worry, causing Andra to quietly shake her head.

  “Okay, babe, allow me. Al, Racine, this is my brother, Stefano Theonopilus.” Jayson waited for his brother to look their way. “Stefano, this is Andra’s mother, Alexandria Williams, and Andra’s sister, Racine.”

  Al bobbed to Stefano’s short, stiff bow. Saying nothing, Racine looked on.

  The sudden silence grew uncomfortable until several approaching footsteps echoed beyond the door. In a noisy flurry, George, Sly, and Paulo entered the sitting room.

  With an energetic gait, the older Theonopilus moved toward the group gathered at the room’s center. “Welcome!” he said, smiling. He deliberately bypassed Andra and Jayson, his sights on Al. “Andra, I was just informed your lovely family had arrived.”

  “Yes, sir” was all Andra said.

  Gallantly, George procured her mother’s hand and bent over it, bringing it close to his face. “I am Jayson’s father, Georigios Theonopilus. But it honors me if you would call me George.” He pressed gentle lips against Al’s flesh. “And you must be Andra’s sister?”

  Al laughed delightedly, while Racine rolled her eyes and muttered, “Oh brother!” under her breath.

  “You’re too kind, George,” Al said. She removed her hand from his and placed it on her chest. “But as you can guess, I am Andra’s mother, Alexandria Williams—Al for short.”

  Grinning, George made a quick bow, acquiescing to her friendly rebuke. “A mistake I am sure is made quite frequently.” Upon receiving Al’s affable smile, George turned to Racine. “And you must be—”

  “Andra’s mother, I guess.” Racine allowed polite chuckles to die off before she reluctantly stretched her hand toward George. “The name’s Racine, and please don’t do that kissy thing to me. My mother may like it, but it’s a little too medieval for my taste.”

  At Andra and Al’s gasps, George smiled. He then enveloped Racine’s smaller hand within his larger one. “Yes, yes, I understand!” George quickly aborted the handshake and nodded. “Today’s youth is a marvel. I totally understand.”

  Racine’s expression went from defensiveness to contrite wariness. She shifted nervously in place. “Well, uh, okay. Thanks.”

  Clearing her throat, Sly gracefully stepped to center stage. Her colorful bodice drew attention to her upper frame, while her bouncy skirt swished prettily about her tan legs. “Good afternoon, everyone,” she said, her tone airy. “Welcome!”

  Andra’s neck muscles tensed upon hearing the voice; she wanted to copycat Racine’s eye roll and “Oh brother!” at Sly’s “I’m the mistress of this house” presentation. Instantly unclenching her jaw, she rearranged her expression into a more neutral one; however, before she completed her task, she sensed a weighty stare upon her.

  Not wanting to look but doing so anyway, she glanced over at Racine. Annoyed, she took in he
r little sister’s inquisitive gaze.

  As she rebuked herself for showing her true emotions, guilt forced her eyes across the room, where they clashed with Stefano’s. Now feeling claustrophobic at being sandwiched between Racine’s and Stefano’s penetrating stares, she thought it safer to focus her attention back on the annoying Sly.

  “Yassou. It means ‘hello’ in my language. I am Sylvia.” She gave a short, happy giggle. Gracefully, she stepped to Al. “Sly for short, as you say, Dr. Andra’s mother. It is pleasant to finally meet family.”

  Al smiled as she shook hands with Sly. “Yassou, young lady. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “The pleasure is yet all mine.” She hesitated before pivoting toward Racine. “Yassou. I am Sylvia—Sly for short.”

  “I heard you before.” Racine’s eyes gave Sly the once-over before they crash-landed on her face. “So who are you?”

  Sly frowned as her green eyes briefly circled the room. A question mark now imbedded within them, they returned to Racine. “Signomi?”

  “Gesundheit,” Racine said.

  Smiling, Paulo eagerly stepped forward. “No, no, beautiful lady. My sister did not sneeze. Signomi means ‘Excuse me’ in our language.”

  “Whatever,” Racine said, her shrug dismissing him. Her blazing mocha-colored eyes locked in on Sly. “Excuse you for what?”

  Sly’s emerald eyes narrowed. “I do not understand why you ask who I am. I said my name is—”

  “I know what your name is,” Racine said impatiently. She jerked her head Jayson and George’s way. “I want to know who you are. To them—my in-laws.”

  “Oh, Racine.” Andra sighed. “Come on!”

  With a nervous laugh, Jayson quickly stepped forward. “Race, Sly grew up with us—she and her brother, Paulo, are like family.”

  “Really?” Racine did another vertical scan of the Grecian woman who now stood in stiff agitation before her. “Hmm.”