Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Saturn
“Do you need me to come over and help set anything up?” Ava asked as we walked through the aisles of the grocery store.
As badly as I fought against having a small party, Mccoy and my parents convinced me that it would be nice to have one.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had a gathering and the idea was starting to grow on me.
I’d gone from not wanting to do anything to now wanting to prepare this enormous feast and getting card games ready.
Aaron and Mccoy wanted to cook something on the grill, but I told them they could do all of that if I won the competition.
All the support from my family and friends had lifted my spirit, but I wouldn’t get too excited until the competition was over.
“If you have the time, it would be appreciated. You make the best potato salad and I could use the help. I told everyone dinner would be done at six, so I’ll be prepping tonight and starting tomorrow morning,” I replied.
“Girl, you actin’ like my momma on Thanksgiving. I was thinking some finger foods, a few drinks, then everybody get out. But you cooking everything from fried turkey to collard greens.”
“If I’m gon’ do it, I might as well do it big. Plus, this is the first and maybe the last gathering I’ll have for a while.”
“Okay.” Ava shrugged. “Do you have paper plates and plastic silverware?”
“No. I need to get that and some Solo cups.”
For a while, Ava and I continued through the aisles in silence. It wasn’t until I noticed her staring off into the distance that I inquired about the sudden change in energy.
“Something on your mind?”
“Yes…but I don’t know how to come out with it.”
“Just say it. You’ve never been the type to bite your tongue, so don’t start now.”
“It’s about Aaron,” she blurted.
Confused, I halted my steps and stared at her to continue. What my brother had to do with anything was beyond me.
“I…uh, didn’t know he was moving back to Pleasant Springs.”
“None of us knew he was moving back home. But even if we did, what does Aaron moving back have to do with you?” I inquired.
From the way she fidgeted with her hands, unable to keep steady eye contact, I knew I was in for some information I wasn’t expecting.
“Remember when I came back for Grandma May’s funeral?”
“Yes.”
“Remember how I went back to Cali without so much as giving you a goodbye?”
“Ava, stop breadcrumbing me and say what you have to say.”
“Aaron took my virginity that weekend,” she stated, shocking the hell out of me.
Part of me knew Ava wouldn’t lie about something like that, but my brother had very well been with his now ex-girlfriend at that time.
Not to mention, the only reason she hadn’t been here for the funeral was because she had her own family issues going on.
Whether her family issues were severe enough for her not to be here for my grandmother’s funeral was an answer I’d never get. Nevertheless, Aaron was committed.
“It was a little after eleven when Aaron came by the house, looking for you. He said you weren’t answering your phone and he was starting to get worried.
I knew he wasn’t lying because he’d even called your sister to tell her you weren’t with me.
Not thinking, I jumped in the truck with him to look for you.
Saturn, we drove around this small ass city for two hours and still didn’t find you.
Absentmindedly, Aaron drove to his hotel room and we were there until Tiffany said she spoke with you.
“Naturally, we started talking and he vented a little bit about his relationship and living in Arizona. Shit wasn’t going well and he had suspicions about ol’ girl cheating on him.
He didn’t go into detail about it, but I think not having his woman there at a time like that to console him messed him up.
He was already in his head about Grandma May.
Not knowing what to do, I gave him an innocent hug and he never let me go.
One thing led to another and it happened. ”
I didn’t know how to feel about Ava telling me this right now.
It was bad enough we were in a public place having this discussion, but for her to wait years to tell me this made me feel indifferent.
It made sense for her to tell me now since the opportunity presented itself, but I never would’ve thought of them being intimate.
“Are you mad at me?”
“I’m not mad… Just trying to process everything you told me.”
“I wanted to tell you back then, but we were so far removed that I thought it was pointless. I never thought I’d see him again honestly.
I never came home to visit, and from the looks of things, Aaron didn’t either.
There were so many emotions involved that I thought being quiet about it would be for the best. Plus, he had a whole woman. ”
Although anger wasn’t one of the emotions taking over me, I could see why Ava’s mind drifted there.
I’d always thought the way she left for Cali after my grandmother’s funeral was questionable.
However, I respected her point of view. I agreed that our friendship was so far removed that knowing this situation would’ve only made things worse.
My mind was all over the place back then and there was truly no telling how I would’ve reacted.
“I need a damn cigarette.”
“Saturn, please!” Ava busted out in laughter.
“I’m serious. You and Aaron are giving the people a run for their damn money.
I won’t lie and say I don’t have questions, because I do, but I don’t wanna talk about it in the snack aisle.
I’m not mad, but I do think it’s a crazy coincidence that the two of you ended up moving back home around the same time.
I still don’t know the reason behind my brother’s decision, but yours was out of your control,” I vented honestly.
“Are you trying to rekindle or something?”
“No, not really. I don’t know if that night was real or if Aaron was just grieving. It felt real to me, but no conversation was had after it happened,” Ava explained.
“Well, maybe you should try having a conversation about it. I can’t see Aaron being an asshole and not giving you that at least.”
Just before she could respond, a toddler came running in our direction in an attempt to get to a box of honey buns. Smiling, Ava and I went about our day.
“Saturn, where are the cards? I thought you said we were playing Spades?” Aaron quizzed with hiked brows.
My “small” gathering had quickly turned into something much bigger than intended.
Aaron had taken it upon himself to invite a few of his childhood friends.
When my sister caught wind of that, she invited one of her close friends as well.
Aside from my parents and Mccoy’s family being here, Sapphire and Ava had just gotten here.
My house was full, but I had to admit I was enjoying myself.
Everyone was in good spirits, and so far, no one complained about my choice of playing old school R&B music.
“The cards are on the kitchen counter. I was gonna bring them out after I set the fruit down,” I answered as I placed the bowl of mixed fruit on the table.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll grab them.”
Nodding, I walked around the food tables to make sure everything was still in place.
Thankfully, I’d taken Ava up on her offer to help with everything.
She’d gotten up at seven this morning and helped me decorate and cook.
During that time, she told me more about the situation between her and my brother.
From the tone of her voice, I could tell Ava was stuck on everything that went down that night.
I still felt indifferent about it, but I knew it was weighing on her to speak with Aaron.
She’d just gotten to my house not long ago.
Outside of a friendly hello, the two hadn’t conversed.
“Saturn.”
“Yes, Momma,” I answered without looking her way.
“You need to come enjoy your party, baby. Everyone is here to celebrate you and you keep finding things to fix.” She chuckled.
“I am. I’m just trying to make sure everything is good.”
“Everything is good. Hell, no one has done anything to mess it up yet. Go enjoy your guests and I’ll keep an eye out.”
My shoulders relaxed after letting out a deep breath and I listened to my mother.
She was right about me finding things to fix and pick at.
As badly as I wanted to enjoy my own damn party, I was nervous about the competition and this big rebrand.
Everyday felt like a rollercoaster since I decided to make the changes.
Part of me was proud of myself for taking the shop in a different direction.
On the other side of the coin, I was nervous about how everything would be received by consumers.
Yes, at the end of the day it was still a flower shop, but people gravitated to specific features.
Mccoy had given me a lot of good advice that seemed to check out when I did my research.
Aside from him being the best man I ever dealt with romantically, Mccoy was knowledgeable and made it his mission to help me whenever he could.
He was far from a graphic designer, yet he took the time to design my flyers for the competition as well as flyers and thank you cards for the shop.
He was a selfless man and I’d been sure to reciprocate the energy.
Although he didn’t require much out of me, I made it my business to be there for the little things.
Since my man loved my cooking, I did my best to pack him a lunch when I knew he’d be working on a car.
If he came home later than me, I made sure he had a plate in the microwave and shower water running.
“Here, baby. Come over here and chill,” Mccoy said as he approached me with a wine cooler. “You good? You having fun?”
“I’m trying. Just got a lot on my mind,” I answered honestly.