“What do you mean by a guy like Mike? My brother is a good guy,” she told him.
“Your brother may be a good guy to you, but you have no idea what kind of man he is to the women in his life. How many women has he dated that you have met?”
Zelda was taken aback at the directness of his words.
“None, but there has never been anyone ringing the doorbell. I mean, if he did have someone over while I was away, you know women, and they will come back over uninvited. No one has ever come and rang that doorbell. So, he is not a bad guy,” she said.
“Yeah, but I have to see it for myself,” Scott said with his arms folded across his chest. More guests had begun to arrive as the music on the patio kicked up a notch. Couples paired off, plates were made as small talked commenced for the party.
“Come here, let me show you where they are in this mismatch of skill and naiveté,” she said, pulling at his arm.
Michael and Pip had worked their way to the kitchen, one to retrieve more ice, the other to add more beers to the cooler. The Pippi doll sat in the corner in a high chair Pip had purchased to hold the doll during her stay in Texas.
“Hey Pip, I am wondering what to do with that high chair when you leave,” Zelda said casually.
Pip didn’t answer, Michael did.
“We can save it for your kids, when you and Scott come out to visit. Heck, we may as well leave it here for our kids. My little ginger-headed son,” he said, grinning. He stopped smiling and frowned.
“What the hell did I just say?” Michael said, scratching his head.
Pip was facing him, “Yes, what did you just say? Are you pregnant? If so, it’s not mine. Well maybe, after last night, one of us should be preggers.”
“I just threw up some beer in my mouth,” Scott said, walking away.
The moment he did, Charlie made his move towards Zelda. Flashing veneered teeth, saturating her nostrils with too much cologne, and coming on strong. Politely smiling, she excused herself to the backyard, where Wilke Bautista had made an appearance, entering the yard through the back gate.
“Your former lover seems to miss you,” Scott said. “He couldn’t wait until I moved away from you.”
“Scott, I don’t know that ninja on an intimate level,” she said. “I met him last year for the first time at Michael’s office party,” she said.
“Okay. If you don’t know him on an intimate level, you do know this one who just came through the back gate,” he said.
“Him, I want you to meet,” she told him, pulling Scott by the hand towards Mr. Bautista.
“Poppa Bear,” she said to Mr. Bautista. “I would like you to meet Scott, the man I am going to marry. Scott, this is Wilke Bautista.”
“Nice to meet you, Scott. You are going to marry our girl here?” Wilke asked.
Scott’s eyebrows went up, looking at Zelda, questioning her relationship to the Pilipino man. His eyes. There is something about his eyes.
“Oh, silly me. Wilke is my dad,” she said.
Chapter 13 – Say What Now?
“Say what now?” Scott said.
“He’s my dad,” Zelda said.
Wilke was open-mouthed, gaping at her like a suffocating fish. He could not hide his shock that she was aware of her parentage. All of these years he’d wanted to say something, but deferred to Michael’s wishes, and Zelda knew.
“Poppa Bear, you want me to make you a plate?”
“N...No, I can get it myself,” Wilke said. “How long have you known?”
“Seriously, I look just like you. It wasn’t hard to figure out,” she lied, trying to address that stinky elephant and keeping it from taking a dump in the yard. Be strong, Zelda. You can handle this, Zelda. You are not fragile like Michael thinks you are. Big girl panties.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir,” Scott said.
“I will leave you two alone to chat,” Zelda said, wandering off to greet more guests.
Scott towered at least a foot over Wilke, which made Wilke have to look up to speak with his soon-to-be son-in-law. Instead of staying in the position of power, Scott led them to a set of chairs under a tree, a move which Zelda’s dad appreciated and showed some level of perception on Scott’s part.
“Scott, right?” Wilke said.
“Yes, Sir.”
“The first thing I thought when I saw you was that my five-year-old grandchild is going to be bigger than me. By the time the boy is eight, he will more than likely be taller than me, too,” Wilke said.
“Or he will be an average-sized kid who will just be happy to hang out and get spoiled by his Granddad,” Scott said.
“You aren’t what I expected,” Wilke told Scott.
“I didn’t know you existed, so color us both surprised,” Scott replied.
“Life is a tree which bears strange fruit,” Wilke said, looking into his beer bottle. “You met Lula today?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Iris, that’s Zelda’s mom, basically ran from Lula’s house to this one, marrying a man she didn’t know to escape a life she hated. He wasn’t a good guy,” he said, looking off into the distance.
Scott didn’t speak or fill the air with questions. He could tell Wilke’s speech had been rehearsed and he would not rush the man.
“Zelda has been through a great deal but between Michael and me, her childhood stayed a childhood. I shared custody with him to keep Zelda out of Lula’s hands. We have worked hard to ensure that she didn’t feel like she had to accept any man’s hand to escape her life.”
“I am not any man,” Scott said.
“That I can see. However, I am letting you know, right here, right now, Scott, that I am her Daddy. If the thought has entered your mind of lording over her, trying to rule her and treat Zelda like you are her Father, that will never happen. She has a father who has taught her well,” Wilke said.
“I hear you,” Scott said.
“Also hear this. I plan to remain a part of her life as I always have been,” he said.
“Yes, Sir. I will have a guest room ready any time you wish to visit,” Scott told him.
Wilke looked at Scott again, shaking his head as he stood up. “I am going to be broke as hell,” he said.
“Mr. Bautista, there are discounted flights we will be able to secure for your travel back and forth. We will help with the travel costs,” Scott offered.
“No, I am talking about money for your kid’s orthodontia and laser hair removal. You are hairy as hell,” Wilke said.
“Seriously?” Scott said.
“Sorry. I had to get that off my chest, but I bet it was kinder than what Lula had to say about you,” Wilke said with a crooked grin.
“That woman wiped chicken grease on my forehead with a gnarled-up chicken foot as she prayed over me in tongues. I’m still freaked out by all of that,” Scott said solemnly.
Wilke threw his head back in laughter. “Welcome to the family, Scott Berger,” he said shaking Scott’s hand.
“I have to ask you, Mr. Bautista, I am old school that way. I would like your permission to marry your daughter,” he said.
“How soon?”
“Excuse me?”
“How soon are you planning to marry her?”
“In a year or so. We have to spend some time getting to know each other, work out some kinks, smooth over some edges,” Scott answered.
“Fair enough, but promise me you will be good to my baby,” he said.
“Sir, you will never have to worry about that,” Scott promised. “Zelda will be in excellent hands and loved.”
“She deserves that,” Wilke said. “And a whole lot more.”
CHARLIE WAS NOT GOING to let the opportunity pass him by to get a date with Michael’s sister. He slithered his way over to Zelda, handing her a cup of lemonade.
“I have been asking Michael about you since the Christmas party,” he said.
“Was there something in particular you wanted to know, Charlie?”
He was smoother than talcum powder on a baby’s bottom. Zelda didn’t like him when she initially met him and liked him even less now. The lemonade, she had no intention of drinking.
“A beautiful woman like you is probably used to being chased,” he said.
“I am not an animal, Charlie, so being chased holds no appeal to me.”
“Gotcha. However, I wanted to know if a brother like me would have a chance with a fine lady like you. Maybe I could take you to dinner,” he said, moving closer to her. Zelda took a step back, bringing her left hand to her chest.
“Sorry Charlie, but I am engaged and getting married next year,” she said. The twinkle in his eye made her want to upchuck Grandma Lula’s chicken foot noodle soup.
“Who? That guy?” he asked and pointed at Scott. “He must be rich.”
She was offended by his assumption. “No, but he does have a really big one,” she said with a wink and a click of her tongue. “That man is a beast in bed. I hate to say this, and I should be ashamed, but it was so good that I proposed to him. Excuse me, Charlie, but this fine lady has to go and mingle. Enjoy the party.”
Pouring the contents of the drink in the trash, she walked over to Scott, placing her arms around his waist, raising her face with pouted lips for a kiss. He returned the affection with a soft pressing of their lips.
“So he made his move, huh?”
“Yep, turned him down like he was a high interest loan. You know that joker had a twinkle in his eye when I told him I was getting married next year. As if I would give him a chance to be a last-minute fling before our nuptials,” she said.
Scott tried to pull away from her to go punch Charlie’s lights out, but Zelda stopped him.
“That guy lives by his sexual prowess and good looks. He isn’t worth the effort. Let’s dance and get this party moving,” Zelda said, pulling him by the hand.
The patio transitioned into the dance floor as the music started and he and Zelda began to dance. Pip didn’t want to be left out, dragging a reluctant Michael to the dance floor, moving as if she were having an epileptic fit. To her brothers’ credit, he wasn’t embarrassed by Pip’s inability to find a beat nor to stay on rhythm. Zelda’s eyes were drawn to Charlie, who had huddled up with a well-dressed man who arrived, but she didn’t recognize.
The song ended as Michael excused himself to say hello to the guys. Margo and Jinny also arrived at the party just as Pip, hot and sweaty from her self-proclaimed awesome dance moves, came to stand by Zelda.
“I swear, Zee, I don’t know if I am hot and bothered from the dancing or watching your sexy ass brother move. I think I may need to go back your Grandmother’s and have her pray for me and my fornificatious thoughts,” she said, fanning herself.
Zelda laughed loudly, her arms going around Pip. “I don’t know if I thanked you for coming out, but you being here may have saved my sanity,” she said.
“It worked out extremely well for us both. I think your brother wants to marry me, Zee. Would you be okay with that?”
“I am more than okay with that, Pip,” Zelda said.
“Don’t take this the wrong way– you are pretty and all, but my door doesn’t swing but one way. I truly love you Zee. I always wanted a sister,” she told Zelda.
“Lucky me, I get a sister and a new best friend,” Zelda replied.
“Oh really,” Margo said, walking up on them. “A lot has changed in a month hasn’t it, Zelda?”
“Not really. You are still a bitch,” Zelda said with a smile. “Hey Jinny, this is Persephone, we call her Pip. Pip, this is Margo and Jinny.”
Michael came over to the group, followed by Charlie who had the new guy in tow.
“Zelda, this is Kenny. He and Charlie are my fraternity brothers,” he said. Michael very seldom spoke of his fraternity, although he was active in a few of the mentoring programs. Charlie’s eyes were on Scott, and Zelda immediately knew something was up because Chandler suddenly materialized at Scott’s side. He was like a silent ninja, always ready for a fight. If he sensed something was amiss, there would be little for the men to do to harm her Scott.
“I see you have a few moves on the dance floor, Big Man, but do you think you can hold your own against me and Kenny?” Charlie asked.
“Excuse me?” Scott said in disbelief. “Are you challenging me to dance off or something?”
“Or something,” Charlie said, his eyes moving to Zelda, who was shaking her head no. It was a bad move which would make her think even less of him than she already did. He misread her cues, taking it another way. He told Scott, “I mean, unless you are afraid to get out there and show what you really have.”
“Like a dance battle?” Scott asked for clarification.
“Exactly like a dance battle,” Charlie said.
“I would laugh if I didn’t know you were being serious,” Scott said.
“If you are scared, say you are scared,” Charlie added, puffing up his chest.
“You sure you want to do this?” Scott asked, his face expressionless.
“DJ, give us something we can dance to,” Charlie called.
Michael tried to prevent it, but Scott placed his hand on his shoulder. “We got this,” he said with a crooked smile. “Chandler, let’s school the fellas on how we do it Kentucky style.”
The music started as Charlie and Kenny kicked it off, old school with dated pop locking moves. Scott and Chandler watched, unimpressed, waiting their turn. As soon as the men finished striking a pose, Chandler moved out front, with very slow, deliberate incremental moves of his hips joined by Scott as they went into the Kid and Play dance moves, transitioning into modern exchanges and ending with a bit and whip followed by some Nay-Nay. The battle raged on as Scott pulled out moves even Zelda didn’t know he had, bringing the small crowd into a fevered pitch in cheers and chants for him and Chandler.
“Your man can really move for such a big guy,” Jinny said.
“Yes Lawd, he can,” Zelda responded, feeling proud touching her fingers to her chest as she searched for pearls to clutch. However, she lost a little faith in his ability to win the battle when Charlie and Kenny began to add in the trademark stepping moves from their fraternity.
The crowd went wild as the two men added signature steps used by the fraternal order of brotherhood that she knew Scott and Chandler wouldn’t be able to replicate. Shock covered her face when Scott raised his arms in a python like viper flex, barking loudly, followed by Chandler. They both began stepping, making a syncopated rhythm with their hands and feet, moving on the beat to the music, ending just as the music stopped, in a symbolic pose famous from the same fraternity. The group clapped whistled and chanted, proclaiming Scott and Chandler the winner.
Michael’s mouth was wide open as he stared in shock.
“Man, you are full of surprises,” he told Scott. “I had no idea you were an Omega.”
“Chandler wanted to pledge in college, so I pledged with him. I didn’t get branded though,” Scott said.
“So, we are brothers,” Michael said with a smile.
“Until we die,” Scott added with a bucked tooth smirk.
“Wow, just plain wow. You are some dancer and an interesting character to say the least. You have loads of layers,” Michael said. “My sister is going to have a good life with you, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, she will. I look forward to you coming out to the house to hang out with me and Chandler taught me to dance. We didn’t have much else to do in high school and he loved Kid N’ Play,” Scott repeated to him, sweating and panting a bit from his efforts on the dance floor. The small victory over Charlie also helped. Having his stock rise a bit in Michael’s eyes also felt good. “This is a great party. I feel so alive! Zee, come dance with me Baby!”
“On my way, Scottie Too Hottie,” she said, throwing her arms around his waist.
Wilke stood beside Michael. “So, both little birds are building a nest,” he said softly.
“I am okay with him b
eing my brother-in -law. Are you good with him being your son-in-law?” Michael asked Wilke.
“She has made a good choice in him,” Wilke said. “It looks like you have chosen someone as well. A redhead to boot. I would have never guessed in a million years that someone like that little woman would pique your interest.”
“That little fireball of a woman was chosen for me by a higher power much stronger than myself. She walked in this house and turned my life upside down, Wilke, and all I can think about is some red-headed children running around this place,” he said. “I am worried that I am feeling this way so fast, you know, like it is not real.”
“Take it from me, please don’t wait. Waiting ruined my life, it ruined your Mother’s life and almost Zelda’s. If you love her, marry her. Make that woman your wife before someone else does,” he said walking away.
Wilke Bautista had never given him bad advice. He was a better father to Michael than his dad had ever been. His counsel was always on point and he had guided him most of his life in the care of Zelda, their home, and their finances.
I’m going to do it. She is so special. Full of life. She has brought joy to my world in just three short weeks.
When Scott leaves in two days, she is leaving, too.
She will be leaving me.
I’m going to ask Pip to marry me.
“What the hell did I just say?” he asked, looking around as if someone had heard his thoughts.
Chapter 14 – Closing the Book
All of the guests departed the Fitzsimmons house at a little past 10:30 pm, with Wilke staying behind to help with the clean-up. Zelda, filled with gratitude that the party goers were not slobs, sorted through the trash, arranging it into the bins for Michael to put out for the garbage truck pick-up in the morning. She found her brother to be extremely adorable, taking the time to explain how the trash collection system worked in Texas to Pip.
"Scott, one thing is bugging me. How did you know to send Pip again?" she asked.
"I got a bad feeling that Monday, all the way down in my gut. When I couldn't reach you, I was worried, then finding out that you’d fainted – I figured whatever it is that is troubling you must be heavy," he said.
A Saucy Sunday (The Zelda Diaries Book 4) Page 9
