by D. A. Young
After Darby, Avery, and D.J. jumped the broom, it was time for pictures while guests noshed on appetizers of lobster rolls, cheeseburger sliders, and fish and chips. Then it was time for the couple’s first dance to Sade’s “By Your Side”.
You think I'd leave your side baby
You know me better than that
You think I'd leave you down when you're down on your knees
I wouldn't do that
I'll tell you you're right when you want
And if only you could see into me
Oh when you're cold, I'll be there
Hold you tight to me
When you're on the outside baby
Avery stepped into her husband’s arms and felt a euphoric state of bliss that was like nothing she’d ever experienced before. “Helloooo there, husband.”
Darby pulled her close as he stared down into her beautiful brown eyes and was overwhemed with so much emotion, he could barely speak. “Well hello, Mrs. Sullivan. Now doesn’t that have a nice ring to it, sugar?”
Avery laughed as he spun her around and dipped her elegantly. “Are you ever going to just call me Avery?”
“Tell you what: if you can get me to holler your name tonight in bed, I’ll call you Avery,” Darby proposed with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
When you're on the outside baby and you can't get in
I will show you, you're so much better than you know
When you're lost and you're alone and you can't get back again
I will find you darling and I will bring you home
And if you want to cry
I am here to dry your eyes
And in no time, you'll be fine
“I bet I can get you to holler more than my name in bed,” Avery whispered seductively, smirking as she felt his manhood swell against her stomach. “I love you so much, Darby! Thank you for sharing your life with me. I promise to be the best wife and mother to our children.”
Darby stopped mid-song and kissed his wife gently. It was the kiss of a man who knows how truly blessed he is to have his whole world in his arms to love and cherish for the rest of his life. Slowly, they broke apart and he whispered fiercely, “You already are, Avery Sullivan. I never dreamed I’d be blessed enough to meet a woman like you, and that you’d love me the way you do. You complete and fill all the voids in me that were empty for so long. You will never regret saying yes; that’s MY promise to you!”
You think I'd leave your side baby
You know me better than that
You think I'd leave you down when you're down on your knees
I wouldn't do that
I'll tell you you're right when you want
And if only you could see into me
Oh when you're cold, I'll be there
Hold you tight to me
When you're on the outside baby
“I wish everyone could be this happy,” Avery declared with a wistful glance around the room, taking in the happy scene in front of her. Everyone was having a good time, except for Nina who was scowling at Sidra as she spoke with Ella and staring at Casey across the room with his back to her as he spoke with friends and family.
Darby followed her gaze and frowned, “I still can’t believe that Nero Santos is Sidra’s father! That’s why you called me asking about the guest list, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Nero Santos is a narcissistic asshole,” Avery hissed, still pissed that his presence was a necessary evil at their wedding. “It’s not my story to tell, but he never gave a damn about Sidra or anyone else in his life.”
“It’s alright, baby. We won’t let anything happen to Nero or Nina tonight,” Darby said calmly as he rubbed his wife’s back comfortingly.
“Say what?” Avery asked with a raised eyebrow, and Darby chuckled at her incredulous expression. “So you’re not worried about what they could do to my friend?”
“Why would I be worried about Sidra? She can handle herself. Have a little faith in her; she’s just a little…free-spirited,” he explained with a smile.
“No, she’s crazy. There’s a really fine line between crazy and free-spirited, and she tightrope-walks it with a strong lean towards crazy,” Avery said bluntly, and Darby threw his head back and laughed his booming laugh. “And to be honest, with both her father and sister in the same room, I’m terrified they’re inspiring her inner serial killer to a “Criminal Minds” type of level.”
“Sidra will resolve the manner in the best way she sees fit. Stop worryin’. I love you so much, Mrs. Sullivan,” Darby said as he twirled her again.
“As I do you, husband,” Avery said tenderly.
Chapter Five
Casey watched his brother and new sister-in-law cut up the dance floor, pretending not to notice his girlfriend staring at him. But she wasn’t the only one. He could also feel Nero’s eyes assessing him as he laughed and smoothly mingled with other guests, and that was what really made his blood boil. Between Sidra, her ‘father’ and Nina smiling up in his face, he didn’t know who he wanted to strangle more, hence the distance he was keeping from all three.
While in law school, Casey and some other classmates had spent time at the Santos home and had even eaten dinner there with Nina and Nero. His wife Cecelia was always such a gracious hostess, and on their first visit to their home had offered them a tour. Nowhere in that house could Casey recall ever seeing any pictures of Sidra, nor had she ever been mentioned in any of his countless interviews, articles, and speeches. PURE. BULLSHIT.
He couldn’t believe how much he’d worshiped Nero, a self-made man who’d pulled himself out of poverty in Chicago and made it all the way to Harvard. He was a brilliant defense lawyer and had gotten his big break twenty-eight years ago when he defended an NFL quarterback who moonlighted as a drug kingpin. Somehow, he managed to convince the jury that the quarterback was a victim of society who was so overwhelmed by his sudden success, that his fear of failure made him retreat back to what he knew and was comfortable doing. After the quarterback was acquitted, Nero was catapulted into a stratosphere of fame and fortune where he only accepted celebrity clients. Once Nero had told him, “It’s all about perception, my friend. You only show people what you want them to see.”
Like a fangirl, Casey had hung on his every word and then threw himself into his studies while Nina threw herself at him. Sidra’s words came back to him, and now he understood what he’d mistakenly misinterpreted as jealousy.
“Case…the woman in your office…did you sleep with her? Or have an intimate relationship of sorts?”
Now, he was thanking his lucky stars that he’d never taken Nina up on her offers. His relationship, as fucked up as it was and appeared to be getting by the minute, would never have happened. This afternoon, he’d seen firsthand how dysfunctional Sidra’s relationship with Nero, and clearly anyone with the last name Santos, was. But who wouldn’t want Sidra for a daughter??? She was everything you could ask for: smart, beautiful, and kind to the people she cared about. She didn’t believe in holding grudges but liked to…store facts. Extremely creative, she’d once offered forty ways to kill someone when they were playing the game Clue with D.J. Sidra was also fluent in English, sarcasm, and profanity. An efficient multi-tasker, she could go from sweetness and light to “hold my purse because I’m about to do some real ignorant shit” in a two-second span. Hmmmm…okay so maybe he was slightly biased…
“Don’t overthink it, Case,” Noelle said gently as she offered him a small plate of appetizers. “She’s still the same ‘hot-mess’ woman you fell in love with before you really found out how hot that mess was.”
Casey took the small glass cylinder filled with fish and chips from the plate. He popped a fish stick in his mouth and chewed slowly, savoring the taste while pondering Noelle’s words. No, Sidra wasn’t the same and neither was he. She’d refused to trust him, and now he couldn’t trust her. “I would have used the term ‘walkin’ disaster’ myself. Who’s the girl with her?”
“That
is my office manager Ella Kemp,” Noelle said with such satisfaction that Casey shot her a suspicious look, that she fidgeted under before finally confessing waspishly. “Fine! If you must know, she’s running interference in case the Santos family dares to approach her.”
“You have someone babysittin’ Sidra?” Casey asked with horror. “What did that poor woman ever do to you? Christ, that’s a lawsuit waitin’ to happen, Noelle!”
“Don’t take that tone with me, Casey Sullivan! I didn’t know how shit would go down, and couldn’t take the chance of the wedding being disrupted,” Noelle retorted defensively. “I’m not just here as a guest. Tthis is also an On A Whim event that I’m responsible for ensuring runs without a hitch against unforeseen disasters like…oh, I don’t know maybe…murder?!”
Jack walked up, holding Ruby’s hand with an inquiring look on his face. “Y’all look real cozy. Dare I ask?”
“Nah, man. Just let it go,” Casey said grouchily as he stooped down to kiss Ruby’s cheek. “Hey, punkin; how’s about you and me do a little dancin’?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Ruby agreed, readily taking Casey’s hand, and he led her away. But she turned around quickly and ordered, “Daddy dance with Mommy!”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jack said lovingly and held his hand out for his wife, “May I have this dance?”
Noelle set her plate on a nearby table and took his hand eagerly. “Yes, kind sir, you may.” Jack pulled her close, and they danced to Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do”
“Why’d you push Sidra off on Ella?” Jack inquired as he pressed his cheek to hers. “Do you not like her or somethin’? She got a death wish?”
“Because Ella and Sidra are very similar to each other,” Noelle answered mysteriously. “She won’t let Sidra get into any trouble. Right now, things are kind of rocky between us, and it’s best if everyone keeps their distance. I said some things to Sid earlier and was kind of rough. I don’t want to make it worse.”
“I see…so two Sidra’s are better than one?” Jack drawled sarcastically. “Darlin’, a scenario like that only works in Game of Thrones. Whatever you are paying her, I suggest you double it.”
“I suppose you’re right—Jack!”
Noelle pulled away from him, and he spun around looking for Ruby who was still dancing with Casey. His eyes next went to baby Jack being held by Kat. “What’s the matter, love?”
“Nina and Sidra are gone!” Noelle said with an alarmed expression, trying to quell her rising panic as she stared at Nina’s empty seat.
***
“Stop following me, Ella,” Sidra ordered as she walked to the bathroom. “Contrary to what the homie thinks, I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Time will tell, and I’m not following you. I have to use the facilities as well,” Ella replied as she followed Sidra into the empty ladies’ room.
“Fine. I’ll allow you to follow me if you tell me who that big hunk of burning love you were talking to is,” Sidra conceded, looking at the other woman. There was something about the other woman that seemed familiar, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Ella’s personality was so calm, that Sidra wondered if Noelle had slipped her Prozac just to get through the day with her. But Sidra could see there was so much more beneath the tranquil surface…
“Sorry, I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Ella countered blandly, and Sidra chuckled to herself. Yeah, she was definitely onto something with this one.
“So, how come Jenny’s not following me? Let me guess: she got ghost when Noelle asked, didn’t she? With her scared ass,” Sidra scoffed, pissed and embarrassed that everyone thought she was so unstable that she needed a sitter. She looked at herself in the mirror and was relieved to find that she still looked normal on the outside, even if her cray-cray was bursting at the seams to get out. The coral-colored chiffon bridesmaid’s dress was a simple sleeveless V-neck that complimented her dark complexion, and her new lobbed hairstyle was styled in sexy beach waves.
"Being scary is looking pretty good right now," Ella mumbled and went into a stall, and for a brief moment, Sidra contemplated locking her in the bathroom. That would just be so jacked up, though, and Noelle would never forgive her. The door opened again, and in walked her half-sister Nina. Judging from the conniving expression on her face, she’d followed Sidra and Ella here on purpose. Fan-fucking-tastic. Today was just getting better and better. Sidra sighed with acceptance of the inevitable when Nina made the mistake of opening her mouth and the venomous words came spilling out.
“I was wondering when your little bulldog would disappear,” she said with a nasty smile. “How are you, Sidra? It’s been such a long time since we got together for a little girl time. Let’s play catch up, shall we? Is my father still screwing your mother?”
Sidra shook her head at Nina’s ridiculousness. The other woman was older by five years and very pretty when she wasn’t being so vicious. They’d never had a civil exchange despite Sidra’s attempt in the beginning. But they were far from the beginning, and Sidra was no longer an excited and cautiously hopeful fourteen-year-old girl finding out she had a sister for the first time. She remembered how scared, anxious, and nervous she’d been hoping they could possibly be friends. Nina had soundly crushed that dream on their first exchange.
“Uh-oh, looks like someone took a bad bitch pill this morning,” Sidra observed mildly. “And just when I was thinking it was a beautiful day to be left alone! Don’t bring your triflin’ ass in here talkin’ shit, Nina,” she cautioned serenely because this was a place she felt comfortable and the one thing she and Lena saw eye-to-eye on. Nobody was going to disrespect her and get away with it ever again. “Not unless you can back it up, which we both know you can’t.”
Nina laughed harshly, “What does Casey see in you? You’re so ghetto and classless-”
“Tell you what; I’ll keep it real classy and beat your ass with my heels on if it will make you feel better,” Sidra taunted softly as she walked towards her half-sister. “So, I guess I know what this is about, huh? You want my man. Don’t bother denying it; I saw you with my own two eyes, pantin’ after him like a bitch in heat. But he didn’t want you, did he?”
“Now that’s where you’re wrong!” Nina countered maliciously as she tucked her bob behind her ears and looked Sidra up and down contemptuously. “Casey and I were lovers, and he couldn’t get enough of me. I turned him away, and apparently, he settled for slumming-”
Her words were cut off as Sidra’s hands closed around her throat and squeezed tightly. It was killing her injured hand, but she was beyond rationality as she enjoyed the way Nina’s eyes were bulging from her reddening face. “So, you think you’re just gonna come up in here and lie on my man?! Casey Sullivan is the finest man I have ever met, and I’ll be damned if you disrespect him like that! As a matter of fact, I think you need your lyin’ mouth washed out!”
Sidra dragged her to the sink and pumped soap into her hand as Nina screeched and wiggled, trying to unsuccessfully evade Sidra who smeared it on her mouth. Then she went back to strangling her as she hissed, “You feel like talkin’ some more shit?! Answer me!!!”
The stall opened, and Ella walked out calmly toward the sink, washing her hands as if she didn’t see Sidra choking the life out of Nina who was sliding to the ground as she attempted to unsuccessfully break the hold. Then she dried her hands and tapped Sidra on the shoulder politely.
“Not now, Ella! Can’t you see I’m busy?!” Sidra growled as Nina flopped around.
“I can see that, but I just want to tell you that if you kill her at your best friend’s wedding, I could lose my job,” Ella pointed out rationally as she watched Nina’s face turning redder and redder. “Your other best friend will fire me. Now, any other day, I’d say a ho gets what a ho deserves if she opens her mouth, but I really need this job, Sidra.”
Considering Ella’s words carefully, Sidra reluctantly released Nina, watching dispassionately as the heightened color receded
from her sister’s makeup-smeared face. Part of her was elated to get the best of her, but the other part felt nauseous that it had come to this. Breathing heavily, she stepped back. “Stay the fuck away from me, Nina. I won’t say it again.”
Sidra walked over to the sink again and washed her hands, keeping her eyes on the other woman who was busy spitting hand soap out and swiping at her face as she struggled to catch her breath and get up. Their eyes met, and Sidra saw the burning hatred for her in Nina’s narrowed eyes. Sidra tossed her used paper towel in the trash and walked around her towards the exit, with Ella following behind her.
