Chapter 14 Kiss at Midnight
fourteen
Kiss at Midnight
Istudy my reflection in the mirror. The outfit Michael gave me looks like something that Laini, Jacob’s snobby ex-girlfriend would have worn.
Except it’s not all white. I’m not sure I can forgive Michael for that.
He guessed my size pretty closely, or maybe Mom helped him.
It couldn’t have been Matthew, he’s clueless about women’s clothes.
My hair is up so I can see Jacob’s earrings sparkle when I turn my head. I can’t get rid of the stab of guilt in my chest. I picked up the phone to call Michael and tell him I'd changed my mind, or I was sick, or I had to work late, but I couldn't do it.
I hear a knock, then Michael’s voice comes from the living room.
“Jess, your date is here,” my roommate, Nichole, says. To Michael, she says. "It's about time someone got her to leave the apartment."
The word ‘date’ makes me cringe. It’s not a date; it’s a favor.
“You look stunning,” Michael says when I walk in the room.
“Thanks.” I’m suddenly self-conscious. “And thank you for the outfit. You have great taste.”
Michael makes a face. “I know. It’s a curse.”
I laugh. “What’s wrong with that?’
“I have three older sisters. They taught me more about clothes and fashion than any guy needs to know.”
I laugh again. “Maybe I should get you to go shopping with me. Nichole is convinced I don’t know how to dress myself.”
“I hope I didn’t offend you with the gift.
Matt told me that you weren’t sure what to wear.
I know that’s a big deal for women. I didn’t want you to worry about being underdressed.
” Michael sounds sincere, but as he helps me with my coat, my thoughts go back to my ex-boyfriend, Brad.
He always had an opinion about what I should wear.
Michael’s parent’s house is just off campus.
It looks like the college buildings around it—red brick exterior, wide front porch, and white balcony over the front door, but it stands out, a notch above everything around it, bigger, somehow more elegant.
The lights around the pillars and in the trees, and the decorations and wreath adorning the door all look like they were done by a professional decorator. They probably were.
“You've never lived in this house?” I ask as Michael helps me out of the car.
“No, I grew up in Colorado. Dad took this job after I left for the Army. It’s kind of a compromise.
Mom is from Washington, the Bellevue area.
She wanted Dad to retire here, but he’s not quite ready to stop working.
She was hoping for UW, but that didn't pan out. She didn’t want him to take the job at WSU.
She thinks it’s cow college, no offense. ”
“None taken. Actually, that’s what I like about it. It still kind of has that small college town feel.”
Michael holds my arm as we go up the long sidewalk, past the fountain, and toward the ornate front door. “Did you order this?” I indicate the snow. There’s a couple of inches of snow on the ground, and a few feathery snowflakes are falling against the lights.
“Oh no, that order came from a much higher power than me.”
“And who would that be?”
“My mother, I’m sure God himself would have to answer to her if something wasn’t perfect at this party.” He rolls his eyes. “Silvia has got entertaining down to a science.”
“Silvia is your mom then.” I realize how little I know about Michael and his family.
“Yes, and Ronald is my dad.”
“And you have three sisters, but no brothers, right?”
“Yep. Karen, Kelsey and Kandice are my sisters.”
“Shouldn’t you be named Kory or Kevin or something like that then?”
“You would think so, but Michael is my grandpa’s name he was a lawyer for the Army for a lot of years. I guess I’m supposed to live up to it somehow.”
“Tell me about your family.” I slow my steps, feeling like I need to be prepared.
“Karen and Kelsey are married to Will and Thomas, respectively.
Karen is a neurologist and has twin girls, Andrea and Gracey.
Kelsey graduated from Stanford with a degree in communications.
She has her own PR firm and two little girls, Emma and Katie.
And she's pregnant; this one is actually supposed to be a boy.”
My head is spinning with the credentials he spouted off for his family. I focus instead on what I feel qualified to talk about. “That sounds like a lot of estrogen for one family”
“It is. Y chromosomes run when they see our family. My mom has all sisters and my dad has all sisters. I’m an anomaly. My mom didn't know what to do with me when I was a kid.”
“So what about your third sister?”
“Kandice just graduated from UW. She’s engaged to Jeff. They’re getting married in June. That will be Silvia’s crowning achievement. The third daughter’s wedding is her chance at absolute social perfection.”
“Is there anyone else I need to know about?”
“I could get started on my aunts and cousins. Most of them are girls too, but I think we’ve crammed enough for now.”
“Is there going to be a test?”
“Usually our last party game involves a quiz about the Stephen’s family.
Anyone who fails it has to clean up after the party.
” I must look panicked because he squeezes my arm.
“Don’t worry about it, Jess. They’re all so giddy that I’m showing up with a date that I found on my own that they would love you even if you only had one eye and an extra arm. ”
“That’s encouraging.”
He stops at the base of the stairs and looks into my eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. They will love you because you’re beautiful and you’re wonderful.”
I pull away, embarrassed. “Thanks. You obviously don’t know me very well. Besides, I don’t buy that you couldn’t have come up with a date on your own.”
“Oh really? Why would you say that?” Michael doesn’t move. He’s still looking at me.
“I assume you own a mirror. And I’m pretty sure you’ve noticed the effect you had on my brother's date when I went skiing.”
He laughs, tucks my arm closer into his side, and starts up the stairs. “Thanks, but I’m not into girls who are still in high school.”
“What about girls who are barely out of high school?” I ask. Then I realize it sounds like I’m flirting, or at least expressing interest.
“You seem a lot older than eighteen. I forgot you just got out of high school.”
“Well, I am very mature for my age.”
“I've noticed,” he says. “But to answer your question, when you were a social pariah in high school, it’s hard to remember that you're not that person anymore. I guess I can’t imagine anyone would be interested now.”
“Ski racing team? The red hair and those eyes?” Money too, I add to myself. “There’s no way you were as big of an outcast as I was.”
“That sounds like a challenge. Maybe later we can compare yearbook photos and see who was the bigger geek, but I’m sure I’ll win.”
“Don’t count on it,” I laugh, but there's no way I'm showing Michael pictures from my long awkward stage.
The door swings open before we reach it. Standing in the doorway is an attractive dark-haired girl who looks a little older than me. I assume she’s one of Michael’s sisters.
She turns and yells over her shoulder. “Mike's here, and he actually has a girl with him. A pretty girl.”
Michael glares at her jokingly. “Jess, this is Kandice, Kandice this is Jess.”
“Hi, Jess, nice to meet you.” Kandice has the same green eyes as Michael. They dance with mischief. “How much is my brother paying you to go out with him?”
“Kandice.” An older redheaded woman walks towards us.
She has a slim figure and is wearing a fitted blue silk blouse, dark skirt, and a gold coiled necklace.
I’m suddenly grateful that Michael picked out my outfit.
“Don’t be so rude to your brother’s guest.” She turns to me.
“It’s nice to meet you, Jessica. I’m Michael’s mother, Silvia Stephens.
Thank you for coming.” She leans over and kisses me on the cheek—literally something I’ve only seen done in movies.
“You have a beautiful home, Mrs. Stephens.” I try not to sound overwhelmed. It’s an understatement.
The inside of the house is ornate on its own, but it’s covered with elaborate garlands, lights, and flowers for the party.
Music floats through the large room from a white grand piano.
Tables loaded with elegant food are sit at either end of a huge great room.
Adorable blonde twins in frilly white dresses are chasing each other between the legs of the guests.
They look like part of the décor. The whole scene feels like something from The Nutcracker.
Michael introduces me to a dizzying array of relatives, friends, and faculty from the college. I meet his dad, Dean Stephens. He’s quiet and polite, but he spends most of his time talking with other members of the faculty.
I like all of Michael’s sisters. Karen, Dr. Nelson, is professional and formal–like her mother. Kelsey is sweet and very pregnant. Kandice is closest to my age. She’s fun and mischievous. I think if we had the chance, we'd be good friends.
Beautiful, professional family photos fill a smaller room off of the main room. A picture of a baby with curly red hair catches my eye.
“Which sister is this?” I point to the picture.
Michael grimaces. “That one is actually me.”
“Wow, you were a beautiful baby.”
“I guess so. My sisters used to love playing dress-up with me, makeup, nail polish, everything.”
“Hats, frilly dresses,” Kandice is standing to the side of Michael. “He was adorable. We have pictures. I’ll show you later.”
“No, absolutely not.” Michael steers me out of the room. “Now do you see why I never bring girls home?”
An hour into the party, Kelsey approaches Michael with a guitar. “Mom wants you to play.”
“You’re much better than I am.” Michael pushes the guitar back to her.
“I can barely get my arms around my belly, much less actually reach the strings to play,” she hands it back to him.
“This is embarrassing,” he mutters. “You have to sing, Kels.”