After dinner, I went to my room with a tummy ache.
“Stella!” Rosalina barged into my room without knocking. I was sitting in my room painting a picture. My mama was an artist, and when I grew up, I was going to create masterpieces like hers.
My door swung open, and Rosalina walked in without me even saying she could come in. Kevin and Grams never barged into my room without asking.
“Hey, Stella. I think it’s time you and I have a heart-to-heart conversation. Kevin is plating dessert for us to celebrate, even though your chunky self doesn’t really need it.” She walked over to my art desk and pulled up my other chair to sit right in front of me. “It was rude how at dinner you didn’t speak.”
I shrugged.
She grimaced. Her hair fell in her face, and she combed it behind her ears. “You do know that Kevin loves me, right?” I didn’t say anything. She cocked an eyebrow. I was shocked when he said he adopted you. Then again, he loves a good charity case, and you, Stella, are a charity token. But I’m the love of his life, and he made it clear to me that if he had to pick between you and me this time, he’s choosing me, his wife. Do you understand?”
“Kevin wouldn’t leave me!” I shouted, feeling angry.
“Oh, but he would. Maple, too. They both told me already. They said even if you bring it up to them, they will pack your bags and send you off. So, how about you and I make a deal? We will create a way for us both to live in the house together.”
I didn’t feel good. The more she talked, the more my tummy hurt.
Rosalina smiled, but it didn’t feel like a nice smile. It felt mean. Everything she did felt mean to me. “Stella, you need discipline. Since I am married to Kevin, you are who I will raise. So, you will be perfect in every way. You will do your chores without being asked. You will dress like a proper lady. You will not be this wild child. You will not raise your voice. Your job is to be as invisible as possible to make others comfortable. You will speak only when spoken to. Otherwise, you will be punished. Three strikes and you’re out. Do you understand, Stella?”
“But!” I exclaimed.
“Ah, ah, ah!” Rosalina said, holding up a finger. “No raising of your voice.”
I lowered my head and stared at my fingers.
I wanted her to go away.
Rosalina placed her finger beneath my chin and lifted my head up to lock eyes with her. “And no slouching. Only sloths slouch, darling. Be more of a lady. Less of you.”
I didn’t even know what that meant. But I didn’t want to argue because I didn’t want Kevin to send me away. I’d miss him and Grams too much.
“Now, remember, I’m doing this for you. So, Kevin doesn’t get sick of you and send you away. This has to be our little secret, okay?”
I nodded slowly, feeling my body tremble as she said those words.
Her hands landed against my cheeks. Her eyes almost looked like tears were about to fall from them as she cradled my face. Her mouth parted, and she whispered, “I’ve seen pictures of her, you know. You look so much like your mother.” Then she pinched my right cheek and shook her head. “It’s a pity you’re so ugly.”
“Knock, knock,” Kevin said, tapping on the door from the outside. Unlike Rosalina, he didn’t barge in.
“Come on in,” Rosalina stated. “Honestly, I think it’s odd that you knock. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to enter any room in your own home.”
“Yes, well, we believe in safe places. This is Stella’s space,” Kevin mentioned. “Dessert is ready.”
We all headed to the dining room and sat down at the table. In front of me was a slice of my favorite apple crumble pie and vanilla ice cream. Kevin and Rosalina dived right in. I pushed the pie around and didn’t eat much. I couldn’t stop thinking about how Rosalina called me chunky and said I shouldn’t be eating dessert.
Rosalina cleared her throat and shot me a look. She then sat up straighter and rolled her shoulders back, echoing how I should’ve been sitting. I sat up straighter and moved my elbows off the table. She smiled, pleased.
“Stella, aren’t you going to eat?” Kevin asked.
“Not really hungry,” I muttered.
“Hmm? Speak up, sweetheart,” Rosalina said. She said it in a sweet way, but it seemed mean, still.
“Not really hungry,” I repeated, louder.
“It’s probably for the best. You ate a lot of supper,” she commented, going back to her dessert.
“Can I go to my room?” I asked Kevin.
“Sure, of course. It’s been a long day. I’ll stop in to say good night soon, okay?”
“Okay.” I pushed myself from the table and started dashing toward my bedroom.
“No running in the house, sweet Stella,” Rosalina said. “Walk like a lady.”
I slowed down my speed and began tiptoeing, afraid to get a strike from Rosalina.
A little while later, there was a knock on my door. “Stella, can I come in?” Kevin asked.
“Yeah.”
I was already under my blankets, and my night-light was on as Kevin walked in. He smiled over to me and pulled up a chair beside my bed.
“Today was a big day,” he mentioned.
I shrugged, not sure what to say.
He frowned. He still looked sad, even though Rosalina was supposed to make him feel better.
“I feel like I haven’t been the best for you, Stella. Like, I’m not enough for you,” he confessed.
I felt like crying. It sounded like he was going to give me away, like Rosalina said. “You’re my best friend,” I said. His eyes got watery, and he leaned forward and gave me more ocean kisses.
“You’re my best friend, too, kiddo.”
“Why are you sad, Kevin?” I asked.
He tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
“You’re crying.”
He touched his cheeks as if he didn’t even notice his emotions. “Oh? I don’t know. Just a crazy day. I think things are going to get better, though. You like Rosalina, right, Stella? She said you two had a good talk.”
I tugged on the blanket and thought about our talk. I wanted to tell him how I really felt, but I didn’t want him to get rid of me. I also didn’t want him to be sad anymore, and maybe Rosalina could make him happy again. So, I did what I was told, and said, “Yes.”
Kevin smiled a little and patted his hand on top of mine. “Okay. Good. I like her, too. But you?” More ocean kisses. “You are my universal blessing.”
16
Stella
Present Day
* * *
When Damian came home from his night out with Rosalina, he appeared disdained. I couldn’t blame him. She wasn’t the easiest one to spend a day with. I remembered what it was like being around her. It was as if she sucked everyone’s energy away.
“Hi there,” I said, offering him a smile as I paused my romantic comedy of the night.
“Hello,” he replied, with a bag in his hand.
“Are you okay?”
He grimaced and lowered his brows. He looked down at the bag in his hand. “I got some mint chocolate chip ice cream if you want some.”
My eyes widened as my hands landed against my chest. “Mint chocolate chip is my favorite ice cream!”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. When I was a kid, I used to eat it all the time.”
“I can scoop some in a bowl for you.”
“Um, I’m not going to turn down that offer. You can join me for a movie tonight, too, if you want. Seeing how our last one didn’t work out.”
“No, thank you.”
I felt a bit disappointed as if I messed up the chance of us building a friendship of some kind. “Okay.”
He went and got me a bowl of ice cream, and I smiled when I saw he even added rainbow sprinkles. “I love sprinkles!” I remarked. He almost smiled. He stared at me as if his mind was overthinking something. “What is it?” I asked.
“Nothing. You just…” He muttered something an
d shifted around nervously. “You look nice today.”
My cheeks flushed as I looked down at my sweatshirt and sweatpants. I also had zit cream sitting against my chin. “I do?”
“Yes. You do. You look beautiful.”
Where was this coming from?
“Thank you, Damian.”
“Maybe a rain check. On the romantic comedy?”
“Oh, yes, of course. I’d love that.”
“Good night, Cinderstella.”
“Good night, Beast.”
He left me with a whirl of butterflies that were interrupted when Jeff texted me.
Jeff: I was thinking, maybe we could do a double date with Dillon.
Stella: Damian.
Jeff: Right. What’s the name of the girl from your job that you get along with? The girl you brought to Thanksgiving? Kelsey?
He got her name right at least. Which he should’ve, seeing how Kelsey had been spending birthdays and holidays with us for the past three years. She moved out to Los Angeles from England on her own years back to try to start her acting career, and I instantly connected with her. She needed a family, and I was more than happy to invite her into my little world.
Stella: Yeah, that’s her.
Jeff: You said she was single. How about a blind date setup?
Stella: Oh gosh, no. I don’t even know what type of guy Kelsey’s into.
Jeff: I’ve seen that guy. Any woman would be into him. Besides, you said he’s not seeing anyone. What’s the big deal about inviting Kelsey, too? Unless there’s a reason you don’t want him to be dating someone else.
What in the world did he mean by that? I could feel the odd attitude from his message, but I hated arguing over text messages. Things could always be taken the wrong way. So, I rolled it off my shoulders until we’d be able to talk about it in person.
Stella: Of course not. I’ll have to see if it’s something he’d be interested in.
Jeff: I’ll make a reservation for four.
I told him to hold off on the reservation until I asked Damian if he’d be okay with the plan, but Jeff went ahead and set it up anyway, saying he’d change it to three if need be.
Jeff: I’ll pick you all up on Wednesday night. Then you’re coming home with me.
I didn’t say anything in response because I could tell he was in an odd mood.
“Hi there,” I said, crossing paths with Damian as he was about to wash a load of clothes.
“Hello.” He glanced down at the basket of laundry in my hands. “I can remove my stuff if you want to wash yours first,” he offered.
“Oh, no. It’s fine.” I waved him off. “I can wait. Actually, I’m glad I crossed paths with you. I was hoping I could ask you something.”
“Shoot.”
“Will you do dinner with Jeff and me? He wants to reintroduce himself formally. Soberly. That way, you’ll see that he’s not as awful as he presented himself to be that first time.”
“First impressions are hard to forget.”
“Yes, but a lot of people are bad at first auditions. That’s why there are callbacks.”
“Okay.”
I arched an eyebrow. “What?”
“I said okay. I’ll do it.”
“Really?” I asked, shocked. That was much easier than I thought it would be.
“If that’s what you need to be comfortable in this situation, then I will do it.”
“It’s mostly for his comfort, which is important to me. So, yes. His comfort makes me comfortable.”
“What makes you comfortable outside of others?”
I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Never mind.”
“No—”
“Never mind, Stella,” he said in a definitive tone. That gave me enough reason not to push, especially since I was already preparing to ask for another request.
“Right. Okay. Also, there’s one more thing.” I clasped her hands together and prayed Damian wouldn’t snap at me. “It’s kind of a double date if you’re okay with that?”
“I’m not okay with that.”
“I knew you wouldn’t be. Okay.” I began walking away but turned back toward him. “It’s just… Jeff thinks there’s something going on between us.”
“There’s nothing going on between us.”
“I know that, and you know that, but Jeff doesn’t know that.”
“He doesn’t trust you?”
“No. He doesn’t trust you.”
“What do I have to do with your relationship’s trust?”
“Nothing.” I shook my head. “He’s insecure, that’s all.”
He kept quiet, but I could tell his mind had many, many thoughts. I wasn’t certain I wanted to hear them because they probably weren’t positive.
I bit my bottom lip. “I’ll pay you ten dollars if you do the double date,” I spat out.
He let out a huff. “You think I’m that easy?”
“No. I’m just that desperate. Jeff seems to be really upset about you and me living together and—”
“Okay.”
“What?”
“I said okay. I’ll do it.”
“Really?” I asked, stunned.
“If it gets this conversation to end, I’ll do it.”
“Okay. Yeah. Awesome. Thank you, Damian.”
He held his hand out toward me. I raised my hand that wasn’t holding the basket of laundry to my side, and I slapped his hand, as if he was asking for a high five. Well, a low five more so.
“No. You owe me.”
“Owe you what?”
“Ten bucks.”
“Oh. Right. Of course.” I glanced around, realizing I didn’t have the money right at that moment. “My purse is in my bedroom and—”
“Stella.”
“Yes?”
“It was a joke. I don’t want your money.”
“Oh. Yeah, cool. A joke.”
A joke?
A joke?!
Damian Blackstone just joked with me?
With me?!
Well then. That kind of made my day that much brighter.
17
Stella
* * *
The night of the double date, I packed with nerves. Jeff wasn’t making it any easier for me, either, when he arrived at the property.
“Where did you get that car?” I blurted out as Jeff stepped out of a decked-out, extremely out of budget BMW. My jaw was pretty much sitting on the sidewalk as I walked over to him and the vehicle that was clearly not his fourteen-year-old Honda.
“I got an upgrade,” he said, tossing his hands in the air in bliss. “Tell me this isn’t dope, and I’ll call you a liar.”
I narrowed my eyes. “But… how? You don’t have money for this kind of thing. And your new DJing equipment…” My mind was spiraling as Damian and Kelsey were inside, finishing up their glasses of wine before heading out to dinner. The two appeared to be getting along so well.
Why did it bother me that they were getting along so well?
I cleared my throat and my mind and focused back on Jeff. “Is that a designer suit, Jeff?”
“I think what you mean is ‘you look ridiculously striking, Jeff,’” he stated, walking over to me. He glanced toward the house and then leaned in and kissed me. Hard. For a freakishly long time.
“What’s gotten into you?” I said, pulling away. He glanced back at the house, and I turned to see Damian looking out of the window at us. Damian disappeared, and Jeff shook off his shoulders.
“Nothing, just marking my territory,” he said with a smug look.
“I’m not a tree, and you’re not a dog pissing on me,” I remarked. “Besides, it seems like things are going well between Damian and Kelsey.”
“No shit? Really? She likes him?”
“You seem surprised.”
“I just didn’t know if she was into that kind of guy.”
I laughed. “You said any woman would be into him.”
“Right. Of cours
e, I just mean, from what you’ve told me, he’s a bit cold.”
“He is, but…he can be warm, too, once he gets comfortable. Besides, you’re the one who wanted this to be a double date. But, back to the real issue. Where did you get all of this stuff?”
Jeff popped a few mints into his mouth. “I took out a few loans.”
“What?! Jeff, we don’t have the income to pay back loans at this time.”
“Yet,” he added. “I mean, honestly, we’re pretty much already multimillionaires, baby. We might as well start acting like it.”
“That’s a bit premature. Besides, I don’t want the money to change us with materialistic things.”
“Don’t do this, Stella,” he said, lowering his voice.
“Do what?”
“Be a wet blanket. Honestly, we have a lot to celebrate. I’ve been getting more gigs. You’ve been getting more money. We are on the up and up! And nothing and nobody is going to dampen our moods—including you.” He kissed me again, hard and long, which made it clear that Damian must’ve been watching once more. Jeff wasn’t truly one for kissing often. He was more reserved in that way than I was. I was the lovey-dovey one out of the two of us.
“You look cute,” he mentioned.
Cute like a puppy, not mesmerizing like the sea.
Stop comparing them, Stella.
To my surprise, dinner went well. Damian communicated a lot more than I thought he would, and he engaged with Kelsey and Jeff on a remarkable level. He even laughed a few times, too, which shocked me. He wasn’t one to release chuckles at all, so when he did, the sound vibrated within my system. I liked his laugh. I wished he’d done it more.
During the meal, my phone dinged, and I picked it up to turn off the sound but gasped when I saw what was written on the screen. “Oh my goodness!” I screeched, opening the email quickly. “I got in!” I exclaimed, shocked as ever. “I got in!” I said again.
“In what?” Kelsey asked.
“The art show at Mateo’s Gallery. They had a last-minute person drop out, and I was on their waiting list to be a featured artist. Oh my goodness!” I was freaking out. I couldn’t believe that a dream of mine was coming true. I was going to have my artwork, my passion, showcased in a gallery in front of hundreds of people.
Western Waves Page 14
