Rockin' Her World

by Selena Illyria

  Antonio shook his head. “You don’t understand. I want to clear the air and assure you that no one was hurt or being disrespected. We also didn’t tell you children because your father didn’t want that, and we respected his wishes. I’m not sure why he didn’t want you to know, but that was what he wanted. I know things have been difficult between us because of it, and I’m sorry.” Apprehension filled his eyes. “Maybe we can meet when I’m up in Charlotte and we can talk it over, and you can get to know me properly? Would that help make things easier?”

  She shook her head. “Now is not the time to talk about this. Maybe after the New Year we can have lunch and talk.”

  “I’d like that. I’m bringing Carla down from New York to Charlotte in January, so maybe we can talk then.” Antonio gestured toward the family room. “Shall we?”

  She nodded, and Antonio guided her into the family room where everyone waited for them.

  Reggie joined Bax and Cliff by the tree. “Everything is OK. We may meet for lunch to talk it over. I’ll tell you more later.”

  Bax and Cliff flanked her, and each placed a hand on her back.

  Dana and Carla threw them speculative glances, and Bettina pursed her lips in disapproval. The rest of her family didn’t seem to notice anything.

  Each family member chose a gift addressed to them and opened them. Reggie carefully peeled back the tape on one of her presents, lifted the flaps, and wriggled the box loose. She passed the paper to Bax. Reggie lifted the top off the box. A silver necklace with a single turquoise at the center of a narcissus glittered up at her.

  “Oh my god, this is gorgeous!” She grabbed the paper from Bax and checked the tag. From Mom and Antonio.

  She glanced around until she spotted her mother and Antonio. “Thank you so much. It’s gorgeous!”

  She took it out of the box. Cliff helped her put it on. The tops of his fingers brushed the back of her neck. She shivered. Her nipples tightened and a wave of heat cascaded through her body.

  Reggie cleared her throat. “I’ll deal with you, later,” she murmured to Cliff, but he only chuckled.

  Her mother nodded, and Antonio grinned at her. “You’re very welcome.”

  The rest of the night went by smoothly. Everyone enjoyed their gifts and thanked each other. Reggie, Bax, and Cliff finally left feeling welcome and relaxed.

  She got into the car and let out a sigh. “That was actually nice. I know that Antonio got the present. I doubt my mother knows what my birthstone is or what December’s flower is, but still, I loved it.” She reached up and toyed with the trinket.

  “And you had a good time?” Bax asked.

  “Yup. I’m actually looking forward to my birthday dinner.” She couldn’t believe it. “And I know, I’m shocked too, but Antonio, he’s…he’s nice. Not the monster I dreamed up in my head.”

  “Good. I’m actually curious to see how your mother is going to act,” Cliff chuckled. “I mean, it was amusing to watch her being excluded. I know, childish, but for the first time in a while, I think she couldn’t control the situation or dictate how we should act. All because of Antonio. Looking back, I suspect most of the bad situations and tense standoffs were all from Bettina, not Antonio. In fact, he was rarely around.”

  Reggie nodded. “Yeah, I think having Antonio with us tonight has pushed her out of her comfort zone, but also helped her take a step back.”

  “Very true. I’m curious to see what tomorrow’s dinner will be like. We better get a lot of sleep to prepare. So no sexy time.” Something in Bax’s tone made Reggie glance over at him.

  A wicked spark filled Bax’s face.

  “But you’ll be teasing and tormenting us throughout, got it.” Reggie squirmed with excitement.

  “Be ready for anything.” Bax let out a maniacal laugh.

  “What have we gotten into?” Cliff laughed. “Maybe you should be the corrupting elf.”

  “Not a chance.” Bax beamed.

  * * *

  The next day, Reggie arrived at her mother’s house ten minutes before the start of dinner. Bax and Cliff had an errand to run before dinner and would join her shortly. She prayed that things would go smoothly. If they didn’t, this would be the last time she would willingly step into her mother’s house. Things had to change, that much she knew.

  Her mother met her at the door. After Reggie stepped inside, her mother grabbed her arm and pulled her into the unused parlor. “What did you think you were doing bringing them to family dinner last night?”

  Reggie blinked. Was she really going to have explain Bax and Cliff’s attendance last night? No happy birthday wishes? Not even a hello before this attack?

  Reggie pulled her arm out her mother’s grip and took a step back. “I don’t have to explain anything to you. Bax and Cliff are family. My family. Where I go, they go. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to greet my sisters and brother.”

  She stepped around her mother and headed to the front hall.

  “Don’t bother. Leave now. I’ll give them your apologies,” her mother hissed from behind her. “If this is how you’re going to act, I was right not to have a birthday celebration for you all these years. You’re still a spoiled, ungrateful child.”

  Reggie whirled around. “You’ve never liked Bax or Cliff. Never. No reason given. I really don’t want to think this is about class or money because they’ve come a long way from where both of them started out. They have fame and money, but that can’t be why you don’t like them. So. Is it their relationship?” She tapped her foot and held her breath, waiting for the blow.

  “How dare you!” Her mother took a step forward and got in Reggie’s face. “Don’t you dare make me into something I’m not. I don’t approve of them because of their wild ways. Oh, I read the tabloids. I’ve heard all about them. I won’t have them corrupting your siblings with their sex and drugs, their fast cars and irresponsible lifestyle.” She sniffed.

  Reggie blinked. She stared at her mother for a few long seconds. “I…” A laugh rumbled up and spilled out of her mouth. “Oh my god, you really think… No!” She shook her head. “The hardest thing they’ve ever willingly taken is aspirin. They go to bed by ten at night and get up at around five or six in the morning. They’re so healthy it’s disgusting. Yes, they have sex but nothing tabloid worthy.” She knew the last part was a lie but refused to go into detail with her mother. Not to save her sensibilities. She found herself not caring one bit about her mother’s delicate sensibilities. But because it was part of their private life, and she would keep it that way.

  “They’re harmless,” she continued. “When they get here you can ask them anything you want.” She waved her mother away.

  Her mother studied her face, her lips pursed. “I still don’t approve of them.”

  Reggie shook her head again. “Look, this is a short dinner. I just want to celebrate my birthday with my family. Can we do that?”

  She waited. Reggie had a childish wish that her mother would cave to her this once and say OK.

  “Not if you want Baxter and Clifford to join us.” Her mother crossed her arms. “I don’t trust them and I don’t approve of them. They may have been well-mannered last night, but I’ve heard all about these celebrities and athletes, and I won’t go into their family's lives either.”

  Reggie pulled her coat back on. “No. Enough of this. This is absolute bullshit, Mother. This is about my birthday. Mine. Not yours. They are my best friends. They are a necessary part of my life. I will not leave them out because you want to be classist or believe everything the tabloids tell you rather than your own daughter. You can tell Antonio whatever you want. I’m going.”

  “Spoiled child. Your father should’ve taken a firmer hand with you,” her mother grumbled.

  Reggie stared at her mother. “Oh, yes, all of this is father’s fault. You just gave birth to me, and then father took care of me and did everything else. I’m sure you’ll figure out what to say to all your friends. When I visit—if I ever
do—I’ll make sure to steer clear of you. We’ll act as if we don’t exist to each other. Just like we usually do.” Reggie made her way to front hall.

  “Don’t you walk away from me. We have gone to great deal of trouble and spent a lot of money over your birthday obsession.” Bettina followed her to the door. “We hired a caterer. I invited a few members of our church.”

  Reggie waved it all away. “I didn’t tell you to do that. Bring up any grievances with Antonio. He wanted this to happen. You know, to bring together family.” She stopped in front of the door and faced her mother. “I just realized. I got it wrong all these years. I used to think Antonio was the home wrecker. It was you all along.”

  Her mother reared back and gasped. Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. “How dare you!” she shrieked.

  “No, how dare you.” Reggie pointed a finger at her mother. “For years you lied to your children. We played happy families for everyone but were miserable. You made us do that for fear of what people would think of a divorcee in love with her husband’s partner. You broke our home, our trust, our happiness. All you wanted to do was salvage the tatters of a reputation that you would never lose because you were a Samson and that meant something in this town. People looked up to Father and to you for being his wife. But the most important thing, the thing you don’t realize, is that you earned all that admiration and respect. Divorce or no, you were a Samson and that meant that Grand-mère Ebony would’ve had to protect you if anyone said a cross word to you. She still would, if you hadn’t pushed her away. But no, you had to live your life in Grandmother Virginia’s image and all the hell that brought with it,” she hissed.

  Her mother took a step back. “Don’t you dare! You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Reggie shook her head. “Nope. I do. When Antonio stepped in last night, you backed down. If Father had done that, you would’ve fought him. You allowed Antonio to take the lead and you stepped back. You never stepped back before. Ever. You want to pretend that everything is the same, but it’s not. You fought Father because Grandmother Virginia wanted him for you.” Reggie stepped forward. “And Antonio is someone you chose. Grand-mère Ebony approved of your new marriage, despite how short your mourning period was. Encouraged it, but you took no heed.”

  “You need to stop—”

  Reggie ignored her and pressed on. “You’re trying to force something on me that I don’t want because that’s what Grandmother Virginia did to you and what Great-Grandmother Myrna did to her. You’re not pissed because it’s my birthday. You’re angry because Antonio wants this and you don’t.” Reggie snorted and moved backward. “Until you know what you want, don’t call or write or e-mail or text me. Just don’t. I refuse to have someone in my life who doesn’t want to be there or won’t accept me for who I am and who I love. Bax and Cliff are everything to me. Everything. They can’t be here, then I won’t be here.” Reggie spun on her heel and headed out the door. She rushed down the path to the curb.

  Bax and Cliff were just emerging from their car, arms loaded down with gifts.

  Reggie rushed toward them. Tears streamed down her face. “Don’t ask, just take me home.”

  The men scrambled to put the packages back. Bax opened the door and ushered Reggie into the backseat. Cliff got into the driver side, and Bax joined Reggie.

  She snuggled into Bax’s embrace, not bothering to buckle up. Reggie shuddered while she sobbed into Bax’s shoulder.

  “It’s OK, baby, it’s OK.” Bax rubbed her back in slow circles. “We’re here and we’re not going anywhere.”

  “We’re here for you, Reg,” Cliff called from the front seat, his voice firm and uncompromising.

  Bax hugged her tighter. “Yup and when we get back to our place, we’ll have all the chocolate you can manage to eat. And cake. Lots of cake and ice cream.”

  She let out a wild laugh. “Thank you,” she whispered. “God, I could use all the chocolate, cake, and ice cream right now. I think I just left my family for good.”

  The words tumbled out. She couldn’t stop them either. When her phone vibrated in her pocket, Reggie ignored it. She couldn’t talk to her sisters or brother or stepfather. Only Bax and Cliff could help her right now.

  “No,” Cliff assured her. “You didn’t leave them for good. Nothing is forever, and anyone can change. But it’s clear you could use some space from them right now.”

  “Cliff’s right,” Bax added. “Like he said, we’re here for you.” He planted light kisses on the top of her head. Anywhere he could reach.

  A slight calm settled over her. “Just keep them all away, OK? I just want to spend my birthday with you. My real family.”

  “Anything you want, baby,” Cliff echoed.

  Yet another year and another disappointment for her birthday, courtesy of her mother. Thanks universe. At least she had Bax and Cliff.

  She snuggled deeper into Bax’s embrace and shut her eyes.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Cliff carried Reggie into the house while Bax parked the car in the garage. He savored the weight in his arms. He took care to not jostle her too much. The dim lights along the top and bottom of the walls guided him to the bedroom. He laid her on the bed. With care, he took off her jacket and shoes and tucked the sheets around her.

  Bax joined him in the bedroom. “How is she?”

  “Exhausted.” Cliff shook his head. He walked out of the bedroom into the hall and waited for Bax to follow. “What the fuck happened?”

  “Not sure. Antonio keeps texting me, but I haven’t had a chance to read through them yet.” Bax took out his cell and unlocked it. He tilted the screen toward Cliff.

  Cliff read the messages. Antonio explained the confrontation between Reggie and Bettina had been spurred by talk about him and Bax. Anger churned in his gut. “Fuck. It’s Reggie’s birthday! Her fucking birthday! She doesn’t deserve this shit. Why the hell couldn’t Bettina just have swallowed whatever bile she had and pretended to be happy?”

  Bax shrugged. “Because she’s not in control. Notice that Antonio told us what she said. Which tells me she told Antonio all. Can you believe Reggie called Bettina a home wrecker? Damn!”

  “I don’t know where she got that, but if that’s how she feels…” Cliff shrugged.

  The door to the master bedroom opened and Reggie stood there, yawning and looking grumpy, disheveled, and yet completely beautiful. “You know I can hear you, right?” she said. She padded toward them. “Jesus, this floor is cold. Why isn’t the heating on?”

  Bax grinned. “Because you just got in and the heating is on. How are you, baby? Hungry? We have cake.”

  Reggie’s stomach grumbled in response. “I think that answers the question.”

  Bax laughed before turning and heading toward the kitchen. She slipped her arm through Cliff’s and guided him after Bax.

  “So, I called my mother a home wrecker for not being true to herself by getting a divorce. Instead she made everyone’s lives miserable because she was miserable in her marriage and because of Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, she was so obsessed with image and how things looked that she tried to micromanage our lives to get the right result for her own happiness rather than ours. I just let it all out. It took me years and willingly meeting Antonio to see it all.” She settled down on a stool. “I told her that you both are integral to my life. If she doesn’t accept you, then I don’t have a place in her life either.”

  Cliff sat down next to her while Bax worked to cut into the two-tier, specialty ice cream cake they had commissioned Biddie to make for Reggie’s birthday. “She tried to un-invite us, didn’t she?”

  Reggie nodded. “And when I got there too. Not hours before, but when I arrived. Also, she thinks you two engage in lots of questionable behavior and live like crazy celebrities.” She snorted.

  “Jesus, she could’ve just asked us,” Cliff growled. “Either of us. She has our number. I’d be straight with her.”

  Bax shook his head.
“It would require her to stoop down to engage with people she doesn’t think belong in her social strata. Why would she do that? The most important thing is how are you doing, baby?”

  Reggie shrugged. “I feel lighter, freer, happier since I walked out that door. Dealing with the stress of engaging with my mother had weighed me down. I put everything on myself and how it should all go. Walking on eggshells around her and not pissing her off was my main goal. Now? I can talk to my siblings without caring about what she’ll think. I can come home and see friends and family without fearing her wrath. I’m willing to talk to Antonio and his children if they want a relationship with me, but I’m not playing the games anymore. Maybe that’s why we haven’t talked so much, because we all feared Mom’s reaction.”

  “Good.” Bax placed a plate of cake before her. “Fuck, I forgot to put in some candles and light them.”

  Reggie held up a hand. “No need. I got my wish already.” She bestowed a wide grin on them, one that lit up her eyes and filled every dip, curve, and line of her face.

  Cliff leaned over and pressed a quick kiss on her mouth. “I love you, Regina.”

  Bax reached across the island and squeezed her shoulder. “I love you too, Regina.”

  She beamed at them. “I love you guys. A lot. I can’t wait to figure out this new aspect of our relationship.”

  The doorbell rang. Bax placed the knife on a plate and headed to the door. “This better not be carolers. It’s fucking Boxing Day. Christmas is over.”

  “Uh oh, someone’s grumpy,” Cliff teased.

  “Not grumpy,” Bax called back. “It’s late.”

  Cliff and Reggie smirked at each other.

  “He’s grumpy,” Cliff leaned over and confided. “He was really hoping there would be carolers this year.”

  Reggie chuckled. “He grouses, but he loves them, the Christmas freak. I bet you had to talk him out of decorating the house to high heaven.”