“Well,” Pike pretended to be put out. “Since you guys know everything, can I just have my hug now?”
The girls eagerly obliged, giggling madly when Pike picked them up. He turned to his wife who received the same recognition from the twins. “Can you make doll clothes too, Aunt Bella?” Layah asked.
“Well I,” Belle ordered her emotions to simmer down. “I never have, but I’d like to try if you guys know a doll who needs some.”
“Yaaay!” The girls clapped and leaned in to hug their aunt.
Similar scenes played out as the remaining guests arrived to be stunned and elated by the small sisters. Leeya and Layah had subtly taken over the role of hostess from their grandmother. It was clear that they’d completely charmed their aunts and uncles.
Persephone couldn’t help anticipating a wave
of resentment to arise from Hill’s brothers. Instead she felt
nothing but the most sincere welcome.
~~~
“We won’t bite if that’s what you’re expecting.” Roman said when he found Persephone in the dining room setting out bread per Imani’s instruction.
Persephone managed laughter. “I just keep waiting for everybody to wake up and realize they should hate me.”
Roman nodded, slipping his hands into the pockets of the nylon jogging pants he wore and moved into the room. “Do you think no one here has done things they aren’t ashamed of? You’re among people who’ve felt the same self-doubt and unworthiness that you’re torturing yourself with. You’ll probably torture yourself with it for a very long time to come. Just know, that none of us here tonight are gonna let you get away with it for long.”
Roman spread his arms to offer a hug that
Persephone was all too willing to accept.
~~~
“Is science ‘spose to be fun, Uncle Smoak?”
After a filling meal, the family returned to the den to enjoy hearty slices of Imani’s homemade fruit tort. They had dined on a fragrant chicken stir fry on a bed of wild rice with a side of buttered yams and wheat rolls fresh from the oven.
Leeya; having finished two slices of the dessert, poised her serious question once she was seated on her uncle’s lap.
“Well yeah, science is loads of fun,” Smoak said after he’d pretended to think over the question for several seconds.
“I like it,” Layah called from her spot on Caiphus’ lap. She giggled when Smoak sent her a wink and Caiphus pulled her close for three quick kisses to the cheek.
“I still don’t like it,” Leeya decided in a manner that said the issue was settled as far as she was concerned.
“Jesus, she’s all you,” Pike whispered to Hill where they sat in matching plaid recliners across the comfortably furnished room.
“Mommy said we have to learn it. Do we?” Leeya was asking Smoak.
“Well it’s really important.” Smoak tried.
Leeya looked to Persephone. “That’s what Mommy said.”
“She’s right. Listen,” Smoak gave Leeya a bounce on his knee. “Before I leave we’ll do an experiment. How’s that sound?”
“Will it be fun?” Leeya wanted to know, before she committed.
Smoak gave a trustworthy nod. “It’ll be a ton of fun.”
“Can me and Uncle Cai come too?” Layah called.
“We’ll all go. It’ll be great.” Smoak assured.
“Hey Lee?” Sabra called to her niece. She was seated along with Persephone, Belle and Bill on one of the two matching merlot colored loveseats. “Your Uncle Smoak knows what he’s talking about. He always has fun when he does his science in Vegas.”
“Sabra!”
Persephone had burst into laughter as did Belle, while Bill had cried her cousin’s name and smacked a hand to her knee. The girls giggled wildly at the display.
“Aunt Sabi can we come to Vegas?” Layah asked.
“You sure can, sweet girl. Mommy and me will make a plan.”
The girls clapped and then returned to continue the conversation with their uncles. Sabra, meanwhile fixed Persephone with a look of innocent expectancy.
“Do you want to set up a visit before or after your wedding?”
All amusement was kicked aside to make way for shock.
“Sabi,” Belle was the one to chastise her cousin that time.
“What?” Sabra defended her innocence with a shrug.
Bill rolled her eyes. “They probably aren’t even thinking about that right now.”
“Well why the fuck not?” Sabra challenged in a hushed tone. “You say Hill’s name and I’ll bet her panties get wet. He looks like he’s ready to carry her back to whichever room they’ve already christened in this house, not to mention the fact that they’ve never stopped loving each other and have two living dolls who need their parents to wake up and make them a real family. How does all that not lead up to marriage?”
Persephone was covertly studying Hill across the room where he and Pike held a private conversation. If only Sabra’s simple truths could put them on the road to that ultimate commitment, she thought.
