FRIENDSGIVING
The smell of unused leather, plastic, and textiles in the silver AMG Coupe was fucking delightful. After spending an hour at Paramour Luxury Autos , I decided to switch vehicle manufacturers, and I couldn’t be happier with the selection. Without question, my BMW i8 didn’t hold a candle to the new Benz. After a week of driving in the new vehicle, the conclusion was impervious to debate.
Slowly and undeniably, winter was worming its way into the season. Dressed in an ivory wool trench paired with an ivory sleeveless cropped sweater and wide-legged pinstripe pants of the same color, I stepped appropriately.
This year, Friendsgiving was held at Robyn’s place. The small condo rarely saw my friend’s presence due to her busy schedule as a flight attendant. This year, she had time off, so she was hosting our girlfriend gathering.
As I approached the garage entry, only then did I recall that my visitor’s pass was still inside of the i8. Currently in repair, I had no immediate access to Robyn’s condo’s garage. Pulling off to the visitor’s side, away from waiting traffic, I dialed Robyn’s code to be buzzed in.
“Why don’t you have your pass, heaux?”
“I have a new car,” shrugging out of my coat, I revealed the news as I entered her home.
“A new car? Bitch where? You didn’t tell anyone anything,” Barbie fussed.
“She sure didn’t. Miss Ma’am has been tight-lipped and out of touch,” Blair fussed.
My friends pulled me into a hug, promising to interrogate me further over dinner. Scanning Robyn’s place, I noted the intricate details of an elegant setup at an elongated dinner table. Candles lit the entire table, along with chargers and custom acrylic nameplates. Toasted orange and burgundy comprised the color scheme. A devil for details, she’d done her thing. The aesthetics for our evening further heightened the vibe.
“Robyn, this is really cute!” I squealed.
“ Yeah , yeah . Let’s head downstairs to see this new car before big-belly Sae arrives.”
Victoria and Sadie were both on their way. Timing our entrance into the parking garage perfectly, we anticipated their arrival once we made it downstairs. My trio of friends headed back in the direction I’d recently come from as I followed behind them. In the parking garage, I chirped the AMG, directing their attention to the beautiful silver vehicle.
“Damn, sis! This had to have cost at least a hundred racks. It’s brand new, right?” Blair asked.
“It is brand new, and I didn’t buy it.”
“Early birthday present from the bros?” Robyn asked, which I ignored. It wasn’t that I was hiding Duke from them. I just didn’t want them bitches in my business. Duke and I were happy. Most of my friends couldn’t say the same romantically. I didn’t need their misery spilling over into my bliss.
Barbie opened the driver’s side door and peered around the interior. “This shit niiiiice Reni!”
Spotting our group in the garage, Victoria and Sadie pulled up and parked nearby. After heaving Sadie from the front seat, they maneuvered in our direction, with a wobbling Sadie following behind Tori.
“What y’all over here fussing about?”
“Serenity’s new car,” Robyn chimed, opening the trunk. “I want one of these.”
“Maybe you can tell Gray, and he’ll get you one,” I smirked.
Robyn didn’t respond to that.
“Did Duke buy this?” Sadie asked, forcing me to shoot her a look. How the hell did she know?
“My bad,” she shrugged while palming her belly. “You know Pre doesn’t keep secrets from me.”
At the mention of Duke, three sets of eyes fell on me expectantly. Robyn, Barbie, and Blair were all waiting for an explanation.
“ Mmh hmm . I knew I noticed some coziness at the auction,” Victoria teased.
Resembling a jack-in-the-box, Robyn popped her head from the trunk. “Duke? As in Stepford ? Uh uh! Upstairs now ,” she pointed. “It’s time for us to get cozy at the table and talk.”
Empanadas started our Friendsgiving along with ropa vieja over rice with maduros. With Thanksgiving a mere week away, our band of ladies was grateful the chosen dish wasn’t a traditional one. After filling our bellies with an array of Cuban food, everyone was laid out in Robyn’s living room. She had the type of place that made you feel like you should live there. Peace and comfort reigned in her home. Wholly stuffed and content, no one wanted to leave.
At some point, our conversation floated along the lines of available men.
“Hook me up with Sin. I’ll hit ,” Blair confessed. Her ass had been drooling over Sincere’s ass since we were younger. She’d never approached him because of his reputation as a lady’s man in the city. Too late now.
“Girl, Sincere is far from available. He’s busy running behind loony Luna.”
“Don’t bad mouth my friend,” Tori clipped. “Luna has some sour history with Sin.”
“Where is Luna anyway?” Barbie asked. “After redoing her silk press, she just disappeared .”
I hadn’t seen Luna in a while, either. “Where is she, Tori?”
“Still in town. I think she’s just laying low. She hasn’t really been outside since that incident between them.”
“In other news, somebody landed Duke Stepford!” Blair called out. “That nigga is disgustingly rich, Reni. You got you one.”
“I wasn’t trying to get one . I just wanted someone authentic and unlike these weird niggas, and I found it in him.”
Awws erupted around the room. It wasn’t the response I was expecting from Blair, Barbie, or Robyn, considering that they were either single or miserably married like Barbie.
“You’re in love,” Tori gushed.
“Hell yeah, she’s in love. Look at her face,” Blair teased.
“Duke is… him ,” I blushed.
“So, no weirdness with the age difference?” Robyn probed.
“Not at all. Twelve years was outside of my comfort zone, but that doesn’t bother me at all. It’s not like I wake up every day and say, ‘ Oh my God, he’s so much older than me .’ It barely crosses my mind until someone brings it up.” I cut my eyes at her for emphasis. “I was worried about how other people might receive us, but the cat’s out of the bag now. I don’t think my family cares as much as I thought they would. I couldn’t find another man like him if I scoured the earth.”
“You deserve it, boo. It looks like you’ve finally found your person.” That was Tori.
“Supreme and I are twelve years apart. A decade doesn’t do much for these men aside from bringing them up to our speed. Giving them a level of maturity they might need to meet us where we’re at,” Sadie said, adding her two cents. “ Sometimes .”
“Yeah, I can’t attest to that. I didn’t know the younger Duke. He likes to enjoy himself just as I do. We love to travel. We’re both workaholics. We have a lot in common.”
“You don’t have to make me a believer, love. I’m happy for you. He sounds like he’s exactly what you need,” Blair gushed.
“Wasn’t he married to that washed model chick?” Robyn asked.
Of course, she had to sprinkle her dose of negativity. Maybe shit hadn’t gone as well between her and Gray since that night at the auction.
“I know he’s divorced. I didn’t do much digging into his ex-wife.”
“You should,” she countered. “Knowing a person’s romantic history can be enlightening. Especially in a new relationship.”
Robyn was doing her damnedest to play devil’s advocate, but I wasn’t going.
“I know he caught her cheating. I don’t need to know anything else. She fumbled. Her loss. My win.”
A thousand times, I’d walked the high-contrast halls of my parents’ house. It never ceased to amaze me how wonderful the décor of their home was. Well into their sixties, they maintained the home, keeping it clutter-free and beautiful with the help of housekeeping staff. The black and white fixtures adorning their home rivaled the most contemporary gallery. I stared at them all, marveling at the collection as if I’d never seen the shit before.
It was Thanksgiving Day. After slaving with a seemingly endless amount of flour, butter, and cream, I cleared the counters of the inevitable mess. The distinguished buttermilk biscuits known to be Sarah Miller’s recipe were slowly being plundered into something of my own creation.
“Anything else, ma?”
The traditional fixings had long since been prepared with the assistance of my mother’s kitchen staff, but I’d be remiss not to assure any remaining necessary tasks were complete. Helping in the kitchen on Thanksgiving was a given.
The scent of yams, greens, mashed potato, and an array of meats seasoned the interior of the house. It smelled like heaven.
“I think that’s it, Reni. Go and get yourself cleaned up. I intend to do the same,” she announced, dragging an apron from around her hips.
The family would all be joined together for the holiday. The illustrious three Dukes would also be in attendance. With expanding feelings and a budding relationship, it was only fitting that we spent the holiday together. After the run-in with Supreme at Greek Geek , it had been settled. Duke would be present for Thanksgiving. It would be the first of many, I hoped.
Formally, it would be my first time meeting Duke’s grandfather and father. Needless to say, I was nervous. Deep breaths easily combated the anxious energy. The long shower I’d taken immediately after was a godsend as well. Dressed to kill in a rust McQueen number paired with Jimmy Choos, I strutted my way out into the living room. Saint, Tori, and their daughters had yet to surface but were undeniably en route. Already, Pre and Sadie had arrived with the kids. Nerves went rampant and rabid thinking of my initial introduction to Duke’s family.
Breathe, Serenity . Deep breaths. Breathe . Closing my eyes, I inhaled.
“Teach me some of that yoga shit.”
Dragging me from my thoughts and breathing exercises was a moping Sincere. Plopping his husky ass down beside me, the scent of Brandy or whisky snitched of his overconsumption. The unpleasant odor forced my features into a frown, issuing him a sobering look.
“What’s wrong with you?” Cutting my eyes in his direction, I floated the question. Seldom had I seen my brother become irresponsible with his drinking. His current behavior was uncharacteristic and alarming.
Glancing at me, he redirected his gaze as if his world had begun to dissipate before his eyes.
Sincere’s face collapsed into his hands. “This shit with Luna. It hasn’t gotten any better.” Solemnly, he made the admission, shaking his head full of untamed locs.
Unkept was unusual for my brother. Handsome and manicured were his defaults. Maintenance of his appearance was a constant. The rift he was experiencing with his ex was worrisome, taking a toll on his self-care routine. Taking the seat beside him, I placed a hand on his knee.
“You ever think about giving her distance?”
A response wasn’t required. The quizzical look on his face read, “ hell no .” The sun was rising in my romantic world and setting in his. His skepticism was warranted.
“I mean, just some time to collect herself. Sin, she had to put her hands on one of your jump-offs publicly. If it were me, I would never speak to you again. That’s embarrassing as hell.”
Truth, no matter how transparent, how welcoming, how warm, could be difficult to embrace. The heaviness of his exhalation was near felt as I spoke.
He stiffened, turned toward me, and gritted, “You mean as embarrassing as your little sister getting piped down by an old nigga?”
Within seconds, my mood shifted. He was hitting below the belt because of his unmet emotional needs. Still, he was my brother. Moving to disrespect was beneath him. I couldn’t believe my ears.
“Now, why am I catching strays? And where the fuck did you purchase your audacity? Was it on sale? I was just trying to offer your silly, sad ass some advice. Don’t project your bullshit on me. Duke is damn near the same age as Pre. I didn’t see you all berating him for being with Sadie. She’s damn near the same age as me.”
“Sadie is thirty-three!”
“Nigga, I don’t give a fuck !”
I didn’t. Age was a mere number. Sadie and I were three years apart, yet somehow, in Sincere’s mind, it was enough to grant her a pass.
But not me. Never me.
This was the exact reason I didn’t want my family in my business. Despite my reservations, all had been going well until the present moment. So far, everyone in my family had warmed to the idea of Duke and I together. Everyone except this nigga.
Lowering his voice, Sincere pressed on.
“What does a forty-two-year-old want with a barely thirty-year-old?”
“None of your motherfucking business!” Forgetting our surroundings, I shouted. His unprovoked attack left me heated and seething. Fluidly, unkind retorts cycled through my head. Suppressing the urge to spew them spared my brother’s feelings and my parents’ home. Though he may have started the shit, wholly and unreservedly, I was prepared to end it.
Rising to stand, my face colored with frustration. He’d clipped a nerve. I couldn’t believe the turn our conversation had taken so swiftly.
“Aight, Reni. Keep laying up with that elderly nigga.”
The slap awarded to Sincere’s face caused the tips of my fingers to go numb. The nail sliding across the marble floors of my parent’s living room further heightened my temper. Duke had paid for the set. Rife with pearls, gemstones, and iridescent polish, it was one of my favorites to date. Now the shit was ruined. I’d blamed Sincere’s silly ass.
“Worry about the bitch who doesn’t want you!” I gritted, unbelieving how swiftly we’d gone from zero to one hundred. As two fire signs, we could never simply let shit go. If he gaslighted, I was burning the shit to the ground.
Sincere stood, his glare colder than the fall temps outside. Temples throbbing, face stiffened, he massaged the place of my attack.
“Don’t you ever call her a bitch again.”
“Watch your mouth about mine, too, then,” I warned. “Don’t let your fucking tongue demote you from family to a relative.”
Shifting my hair, I blinked my annoyance. Sincere had my blood simmering. The heated fluid raced through my veins, spiking my entire body temperature.
“Really, Reni?”
Teeming with anger, my thoughts fumbled as composure sought to evade me. Quickly and diligently, I regained my decorum, lacerating my brother with my eyes.
“Nigga, do I ever speak things I don’t mean? Were we not raised by the same man who taught us the power of words? Duke will be here soon. Don’t let your ageist bullshit seep from that big ass dufus mouth of yours.”
Huffing, I stalked away from Sincere and toward the den where everyone else was. This motherfucker had some balls on him. He acted as if I’d met Duke in high school and was being groomed by a pedophile. I didn’t like that shit one bit. The insinuation. The lack of respect. The snide commentary anytime he’d seen us out on the town. It was fucking unacceptable.
Whether transient or eternal, what I felt for Duke was real. I’d be damned to permit anyone to disrespect him or us because of a narrative they’d settled upon for me.
Thankfully, I had some time before Duke and his family arrived. I spent that time smoking on the patio outside in my parents’ backyard. Though not a frequent occurrence, the weed helped to calm my riled nerves. Putting the fire out, I reentered the house and prepared to welcome my man and his family.
Daddy Duke was fine. So was Granddaddy Duke. More than that, D3 was breathtakingly fine. Dressed in a rust sweater and black slacks, he’d coordinated perfectly with my dress. Already, a plan was rooted in my mind for a photo shoot after dinner.
Silence blanketed the table in favor of the clink and clank of silverware against porcelain. As everyone present focused on their rations, I studied the three generations of Stepford men. Absolutely beautiful, they all were. All bore the trademark of those cinnamon eyes that weren’t quite hazel or dark brown. All bore the same caramel complexion. All resembled one another. Each was a representation of what D3 would look like as he grew older. All were aging magnificently. To be awarded such splendor was a gift from the firmaments.
My God, was I a blessed woman. A really blessed woman.
“What do you think about that, Bee?”
“Huh?”
Misplaced in my thoughts, I hadn’t realized I was being addressed.
“I’m sorry. What were you asking, babe?”
Across the table, Sadie and Tori were giggling at the way I addressed Duke, smiling concurrently.
“I said The Pianist is in town for the holiday. I have an orchestra VIP box. Everyone is welcome to attend. Do you want to go?” Duke asked again.
Pierre Hermès, formally and professionally known as The Pianist , was a world-renowned piano extraordinaire. Frequently, he toured the country, though his home base was here in Paramour. As with every celebrity of note, anytime he was in his hometown, he brought the city out. A concert on Thanksgiving day was sure to produce a similar effect. The outing sounded like the perfect post-holiday event to attend.
“Yeah. Sure.”