by Megan Alban
Pearl ignored the question. “Why a girl with your education is wasting her time doing crafts is more than I can understand. Don’t you want to amount to something?”
Celeste wondered if her mother could hear her grinding her teeth. “We’ve been over this, Mom,” she said with as much respect as she could muster. “I paid for my education, and what I do with it is my business. Furthermore,” she added as she opened the fridge and removed the milk and some quiche, “I’m happy helping people make quality items themselves instead of just buying stuff. I’m independent, I don’t have a commute, and I’m not making my man feel like shit.”
The women glared at each other, neither realizing how alike they were in some ways.
Pearl’s smile seemed as fake as the name on her handbag. “You make a good point, Celeste. If you want to go on with this pretense of working, you do need to keep your rich, white boy happy.”
Celeste leaned against the table, one fist on her hip. “When did you get like this, Mom? I don’t remember you being like this when we were kids. But then, with you at school a lot of the time, and then working your way up at the university, we didn’t get to see you much. We never blamed you for not being around for us. We were proud of you, and it was Dad that taught us to be proud of you. He kept saying you could do anything you put your mind to.”
“Well, I never managed to make anything out of him,” Pearl retorted, her eyes narrowing with each word.
“Maybe nothing needed changing,” Celeste snapped back.
Pearl turned and picked up her bag. “I’m not hungry, and you and I have nothing to talk about. You always were your daddy’s girl.”
As the door slammed, Celeste’s body released the tension, and she sank into one of the wooden chairs by the kitchen table.
She sighed and laid her head on her arms.
The argument hadn’t helped anybody. She had wanted to show her mom how hard the situation was for Dad, but when Mom was in the mood to strike sparks she was the perfect tinder.
The shadows cast by the dishes moved gradually across the table before Celeste sighed and contemplated her ring. “Sweet pea, if I can’t keep my temper and help my crazy family from ruining each other’s lives, I have no idea how long it will be before we can get married. Hell, I’m not even sure if you would wait that long.”
***
Celeste gazed around the light, airy room. Some French doors stood open, leading onto a red brick patio filled with container tubs of small trees and flowers. The stone trellis prevented anyone falling into the river, not far below, and the main gardens could be reached by exiting either side of the patio. She walked out into the late afternoon light and gazed down at the green waters, so smooth and calm here.
Footsteps crossed the polished floors, muted now and then by the carpets.
John came out onto the patio, stopped by her, and handed her the martini glass. “Stirred, not shaken.” He grinned.
She took the glass and swirled the clear liquid with the olive on a stick. “You realize this place is gorgeous, don’t you? It also screams old money, but that’s what you were before all the medical bills, so I guess this feels like coming home.”
He nodded. “The house where I was born is just down the road. In fact, it’s coming up for sale again.”
“Oh my word! Are you going to move back there?”
John seemed in no hurry to answer. He savored his drink before continuing. “We’re thinking about it. I was concerned that Sandra might not like to live where Mary had lived with me. She says the house was where I grew up. It would be lovely for the children to know their daddy climbed the same trees they climb, played in the nursery, fought great battles from the same tree house, that sort of thing.”
Celeste eyed him closely. “You don’t seem too sure.”
He regarded her thoughtfully. “No. It was hard enough leaving it the first time.”
Before she was able to puzzle that remark out, Sandra came in with a big smile, walking with the strange gait of women that are due to give birth.
“I’m told dinner is ready, and Laura helped make the dessert. I had nothing to do. It seems weird, somehow.”
John went over to his wife and kissed her tenderly. “I could mention you are busy making a whole new person, but I don’t think I’ll risk it.”
They were all laughing as they left the room.
In the long dining room, more French windows stood open. The delicate scent of spring flowers seemed to increase as the shadows lengthened. Over dinner, conversation swung round to Celeste’s father, Harry.
John used his napkin before saying, “Celeste, please understand I have the greatest respect for your father. He’s in a situation every man has feared at some point. The reason I bring this up is that I know someone with an opening. He would take Harry on my recommendation, so there would be no interview as such. However, Harry’s far too good for the job. The salary is probably one-third of what he was getting, and frankly, if it wasn’t for your mother I wouldn’t even be mentioning it!”
Celeste caught the concern in her two friends’ faces. She put her cutlery down on her plate and reached for her white wine. After a sip, she lowered it. “Dad called me this afternoon. Really upset. Mom told him if he didn’t get a job she was leaving him.”
Sandra looked aghast. “She wouldn’t! Not when he needs her the most.”
Celeste shook her head. “Sandra, I just don’t know what’s gotten into her. She’s never been anything like this bad before. Always bossy, yes. Opinionated, yes. Full of drive and ambition, yes. But never... never like this. It’s killing Dad.”
***
“You know my family, Rayse, they mean a lot to me. They need me too, ‘cause right now, I think I’m the only thing holding them together.”
Rayse could see her eyes glisten with unshed tears. He ran his hand up and down her arm, trying to comfort her. “I know that, Celeste. It’s one of the things I love about you. You are so loyal, so loving, and yes, you are strong too. But why do you have to do it alone? Why can’t you let me help?”
She turned to him and he slid his arms around her, holding her gently.
“Beloved, right now they are so mean and ornery I don’t want you in the line of fire. Words once said can’t be unsaid.”
Rayse nuzzled the top of her head. “They can be forgiven, even forgotten.”
She turned her head to look up at him, into his eyes. “Yeah, under that slick business like exterior you have a heart of…pure golden honey.”
He loved the way she was looking at him. He lowered his head and brushed her lips with his. It had been two flights, and a drive that seemed longer than it was, but his body was responding to her closeness, to the scent of her skin and hair.
“Sweet heart, is there anything I can do to help?” He knew how independent she was, but watching her struggle tore at his heart.
“Sweet pea, you spend your life working on things to save people’s lives and help them have better lives, you can’t be Captain Let me Save the World all the time. These people need to work on their own stuff, and I’m part of that. I’m strong, Rayse, and I take pride in that. Doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate you, or that I think you couldn’t help. I know how much you put up with when I get on my high horse…”
Rayse bent and scooped her up.
“And where do you think you’re taking me!”
“To the bedroom, my love. To prove that I am a male who loves his mate, not a saint!”
His body responded to the smile she gave him. He carried her to the bedroom, kissing neck, lips, eyes with increasing passion.
“And supposing I don’t believe you?” she said breathlessly.
His tongue swirled around her ear as he laid her on the bed. “Then I will have to convince you, and it could take a very…long…time.”
She held up her arms as he slid the t-shirt over her head and dropped it to the floor. His voice rasped as he said, “I can’t wait for us to be together all the t
ime.” Her bra followed the shirt. His mouth dropped to cover the peak of her breast, his tongue flicking the tense dark nipple, causing her to groan with desire.
He stopped and looked down at her. “Couldn’t we just live together till the wedding? You could come with me to Switzerland and…I could fuck your brains out every single day.”
She laughed, “Aww, puddin’, I know this sounds old fashioned to you, but my family couldn’t handle that. Dad just couldn’t take any more upset, and mom is ultra-strict about things like that. There were a lot of things our friends did we weren’t allowed to do, or dress, or say. She didn’t want us to grow up like ‘those’ kind of girls, and I’ve gotta tell you, she hasn’t changed any!”
Rayse looked down at her. His knees on each side of her thighs, his hands on each side of her shoulders. “What about when we are married, Celeste, will I have any say in anything then?” He waited for a moment, and saw her expression change, as she saw he was serious. Before she could speak, he added, “Will there ever be a time when I come first with you, or even on an equal level with your family’s needs? Not all the time, but sometimes?”
“Rayse, honey. I love you, you know that.” She looked hurt, but also defensive.
“Yes, I think you do. But I’ve been trying to talk to you about us for a while now, about things I want, scratch that, things I need to talk to you about…and it never happens. I just need to know that at some point you will make time for me.”
He saw her face soften. Her hand reached up and touched his cheek. “Rayse, just let me get them through this. Then we can get on with our lives. This too shall pass.”
He turned his head and kissed her palm. “That’s a promise?”
“Yes love, that’s a promise,” she whispered.
He knelt back and began to undo his buttons, grinning possessively down at her. Her curls spread across the pillow, her eyes doe-like and soft for him, her lips curved in the sweetest smoldering pout. His body reacted, as men’s bodies do, and he moved to undo his zip to free it.
A door banged violently and Monique’s sobs were loud, rending the silence and the mood.
Rayse looked at Celeste and sighed, closing his eyes and mustering all of his control. “You are so worth it, but we will never get those six kids till your family is settled. So what are you waiting for, sweetheart? Get on out there and work a miracle, because I think we’re going to need one!” He moved off her, and began redoing his buttons.
She leaned over and kissed him tenderly. “You know Rayse, the way you react to stuff like this, that’s one of the reasons I love you.”
When eventually Rayse came out, he had showered and grabbed clean clothes from his travel bag.
A very red-eyed Monique looked up at him as he came out of the bedroom. A bunch of tissues scattered the floor around her. He was tempted to ask her if she had a cold, but resisted. He knew it would only get him an old-fashioned look from Celeste.
“What’s up, little one?” he asked. He couldn’t interpret her mumble, so glanced with raised eyebrows at Celeste.
She was looking pretty annoyed, but it was Monique she was giving the eye to. “It’s no use trying to hide it, sugar. In a couple of months anyone looking at you’ll know!” She turned to look into his eyes, a cocktail of emotions there. “She’s about three months pregnant and her boyfriend, who hasn’t been giving her any straight answers, showed up missing tonight. His friends say he got a job outside the country.”
Rayse frowned a moment. “Why would anyone employ him?”
Her fists went to her hips, each side of that tiny waist. “Is that all you can say? My sister is knocked up and abandoned and you’re querying his resume?”
He hung his head, abashed. “Sorry, Monique. Sorry, Celeste. Is there anything I can do to help?”
His love rose to her feet and came over to him. Her arms slid around him, and she sighed as she gazed up at him. “Sweetheart, I don’t think there is a thing you can do. Except pray. ‘Cause when Mom and Dad find out, well, things ain’t going to get any better.”
As Rayse clattered down the stairs he couldn’t help wondering if there would ever be a good moment to tell her about the nanites. Or any of the other ‘out there’ things she needed to know if she was going to make a life with him.
***
Celeste stepped out of the car and gave Rayse a quick once-over.
She liked the way he still came round to open the door of the car for her, even though they had been dating for over five months.
“You know you don’t need to keep doing this, sweetpea. I already know you’re a fine man.”
He smiled thoughtfully down at her, then replied, “There are a lot of things in life I won’t be able to help you with, this seems a small thing in comparison with some of them. Besides, this is a guy’s low-slung sports car. It isn’t easy for a woman in a tight skirt and high heels to get out of. I’m glad to offer a hand.”
She brushed a nonexistent bit of lint from his shoulder, just so she could touch him. White cashmere turtleneck sweater, classic black jacket, black jeans, cool belt. All designer stuff. He looked great.
Blue eyes surrounded by dense black lashes gazed down into hers. He ran his fingers through his thick, slightly wavy brown hair, in the way he had when he was thinking how to say something.
“Celeste, love, this seems to be stressing you out. Why?”
She knew he was talking about the visit to her parents’ house. “Honey, you aren’t getting it. These are my mom and dad—they are hurting and they are hurting each other. They will split up if they go on this way, and I don’t even understand why. I’m trained in this stuff, but I don’t seem to be able to help at all.”
He nodded. She slipped her arm through his and turned him toward a stone-and-glass rancher squatting in a fenceless yard of immaculate grass at the identical height of the neighbor’s lawns. The suburb was maturing, which meant the view you thought you bought was long gone, as randomly chosen trees in the backyards towered above the houses.
They walked up the path, Celeste slipping her hand out of his as she pressed the bell.
Harry Williams opened the door to them, and she stepped forward to give her father a hug. “Love you, Dad. I just realized this is the first time Rayse has been to this house. Considering we’re engaged, it’s pretty amazing.”
Harry grunted as he hugged his daughter back and glanced at Rayse over her shoulder. “We don’t mix much with your boyfriends, Celeste, you know that. We’ve been out to dinner with you a couple of times, so we’ve met who you’re going around with.”
She stepped back and stared at her father. “Going around with? Boyfriend? Rayse is my fiancé, Dad. We’re going to get married, and you better get used to the idea.”
She moved off down the wide hall leading to a large, bright room with floor-to-ceiling windows and varnished wood beams that seemed to be placed more for design than for support.
Pearl came through a square arch on one side of the room and added some more plates of finger foods to the ones on the low wooden table. It was made of a section of tree trunk, with a deep glossy finish.
Scattered around were white fabric upholstered sofas, armchairs, and faux rustic seats with bright cushions.
“Mrs. Williams, you have a lovely home,” Rayse said as he gazed around, and then paused before one of the wooden chairs. “Wow, is this a ladder-back Shaker rocking chair? I’ve always loved Shaker furniture; beautiful and functional.”
Pearl had her arms crossed, in the way she did to hide the small rose tattoo, but she smiled a little at Rayse.
“I got that at a yard sale for Harry’s workshop, but Celeste asked to use it as a demo in one of her classes and it came back so fine I thought it would do for in here.”
No one was touching the food.
“Mom, is Monique here yet?”
“She’s doing something in her room. No idea why she still calls it that since she seems to be moved in with you.”
At t
hat moment, they could hear a door open and close and Monique’s voice drift along a passage. “Is that Celeste, Mom?”
“Don’t shout at me, Monique, and yes, your sister is here. With her boyfriend.”
Celeste eyes apologized to Rayse.
Monique sauntered into the room with mock bravado and a style faintly reminiscent of a Goth and grunge face-off. She came over to her sister and slotted herself between her and Rayse. She scowled at the food. “So, is that for show or do we get to eat some?”
For someone who had begged them to be there when she told her parents about the baby, she didn’t seem to be trying to humor them in any way.
Harry disappeared into the kitchen and returned with some cold beers.
Pearl’s lips compressed. “I got some other drinks for Rayse. I bought some wine, and whichever he wants will be in a glass.”
He glared at her as he handed Rayse an open bottle. “A cold beer hits the spot with any man, isn’t that right, Chase?”
Rayse grinned, but didn’t correct her father on mispronouncing his name. “I like all sorts of things, Harry, and beer will do me just fine. Thanks.”
Celeste turned to her mother. “You want me to offer things around, Mom?”
Pearl’s arms remained crossed, but with a bit of attitude added. “I think folks can reach for themselves, don’t you?”
Celeste sighed and made the first move for the food. She didn’t feel she could eat a thing, but someone had to be first.
Rayse took a couple of chips.
“So, Dad, did your old job have a vacancy?”
Pearl swung around to Harry. “You asked for your job back? I told you I’m not leaving here.”
Harry looked at Celeste. “No vacancies. They were sorry. I waited too long.”
Rayse glanced at him as he reached for a small carrot. “My brother-in-law said he has a few contacts who may be looking for good people. He’d be happy to put the word out. He asked me to tell you that.”
Harry grunted and turned, leaving the room for more beer. Pearl glared after him, but then turned to Rayse. “He could get one easily if he wanted to. He just doesn’t like change. Stayed at the same place the whole of our married life. Never cared to better himself. Besides, we don’t need charity. We give to them.”
