Chapter 35 Adesua Ridley
Adesua Ridley
It was almost two a.m., but Adesua and Diego rushed to the kitchen as soon as he heard about their night out on the beach.
He grabbed a handful of lemons and raspberries, making fresh raspberry lemonade and then cucumber-and-herb-butter finger sandwiches, which were Amelia’s favorite.
Then, for the boys, he made smoked salmon with a spread of cream cheese and dill.
He assembled bowls of fresh fruit, saltwater taffy, and Adesua’s favorite, caramel popcorn.
He wanted to do more, but an hour had already passed.
He gathered his siblings to help him bring it to the beach. It was the first time in a long time that they didn’t need the maids. Amelia grabbed the bowls of fruit and saltwater taffy, heading straight toward the beach. She looked over at Diego while they walked.
“Thank you for thinking of this. I can’t think of a better way to end this weekend,” Amelia said.
Diego pondered before looking at Amelia with his green doe eyes. “Amelia, thank you so much for being our second mother, even though we never admit to it.”
Adesua laughed as she saw Amelia give him a slanted smile.
Like Amelia, Adesua knew their siblings had good intentions and tried not to worry her.
She saw they had all grown from this in the best way, because most would consider all their ordeals a travesty.
She had felt guilty for doubting her family’s loyalty, but in the end, they were together and had made it nearly unscathed.
Amelia had forgotten how lovely their private beach was. The beautiful, elegant lanterns cast the perfect amount of soft, warm light, illuminating the sand.
There was just enough light to see because of the bright stars and full moon. She wondered, at that moment, why her parents never came down for small gatherings like this. Unless there was a major event, they were nowhere to be found.
Adesua and a just-awoken Kavita rushed to the cabanas, plopping themselves down on the plush red lounge chairs. Kavita grabbed one of the white pillows and threw it to Amelia to catch. Omar grabbed the volleyball and then threw it to Wei.
“Are you ready for an old game of volleyball together?”
Henrik grabbed his guitar and said, “Well, while you all get rowdy, I’m gonna play some tunes.”
It was organized chaos with Henrik playing on his guitar.
While Adesua pulled out her paints and blank canvas paper, Kavita found her way to the water.
This time, it was her choice. Kavita had never had a fear of the water until seeing Dale’s lifeless body in the pond.
She used to love splashing water in her sisters’ faces at the pool or tossing a glass of water at men’s faces when they got too rowdy with her.
Wei and Diego decided to play a match against Amelia and Omar. The siblings looked at each other when Wei started doing his aerobic stretches. He jogged in place, swaying his hands left and right toward each foot. Diego looked at Amelia while laughing.
“Wei, you know this isn’t a real competition, right?”
Wei scoffed, pursing his lips in a smile. His two dimples sank in even more by the time he flashed his teeth. “Oh, my dear brother, everything in life is a competition. See this?”
Wei pointed at different things while running in the circle around the net.
“We were the lucky ones. The chosen ones. We could all still be back in our mother country without parents, struggling to eat a piece of bread. But . . .”
He pointed to the heavens.
“We won. Every one of us won in life. Suppose we all chose not to do a single thing else. We have lived lives that other people will never experience. Don’t you understand?”
Adesua grabbed her canvas from the lounge chair, moving closer to the beach. “Wei, is this the moment we all sit down in a circle and listen to your plan to take over the world, or are you all going to play volleyball?”
Omar burst out in laughter. Something he rarely did, but it honestly amused him to see someone humble Wei.
“Hey, I was just giving them a chance to warm up, Dusie, hush!”
After two rounds of beach volleyball, Wei and Diego lost to Omar and Amelia. Wei had enough.
“See, I let you all off easy. I had one too many glasses of cold tea.” He winked at Omar.
“Ahh, yes, cold tea. I’m sure it was a nice glass of Dom Péri.”
Wei waddled to the shore beside Adesua, who was painting Kavita in the water. Adesua had a talent for painting with oils, and her paintings looked so realistic, as if they were photographs. In an hour, she was nearly done with the painting, to Wei’s surprise.
“Dusie, you should start showcasing your work again. Why do you insist on filling the house with them? The world should see this.”
Adesua looked down, her eyes glassing over in thought.
Ever since she’d been embarrassed at the ballet, she hadn’t considered she could be anything more than just a Ridley sister.
Hearing it from her siblings didn’t change that for her.
They were at odds, too, but they didn’t even realize it.
The majority of them, apart from Amelia and Henrik, wouldn’t be able to live the lives they had or wanted to have just because of who they were and where they came from. Adesua looked to Wei.
“Wei, I love you, but you know that both you and I have it a little harder, especially since the Chinese Exclusion Act, but you find a way to make it work, don’t you.”
Wei’s eyebrows lifted. “Of course I do, Adesua. You’re right, though—we make a way.”
He jumped up and headed straight for the table of food Diego had prepared. Adesua realized she may have spoken too brashly, but she knew they had a silent understanding.
Ever since graduating from a Black college, she’d been even more confused about who she was.
It had felt like a facade learning about Black history and how they were the generation that could try to make changes in the country.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d befriended another Black woman like herself.
The closest was when she saw them walking with their already formed groups, while she was walking with her white and Indian sisters.
They’d all looked at them with disgust. She’d felt like she was an ally, in a way, by donating money, but she could never bring herself to go alone to Black communities. In her heart, Adesua felt like a fraud in the Black community.
Amelia looked to the side and saw Kavita walk closer to the sand.
“Well, finally, our mermaid—” Henrik yelled, cutting in. “Or a Siren!”
Kavita rolled her eyes, putting her hair up. “Hilarious, Henrik. How about you be a doll and give your sis a towel,” she said with a mischievous smile.
“Hmm, well, it’s the least I can do for you, Kavi, since you almost died and all.”
Amelia turned her head and sent Henrik a look. “No, no, no, it’s too soon, Henrik.”
Henrik waved his hand at Amelia.
“What? Everyone knows Kavita has a dry sense of humor.”
He rolled his pant legs up to prevent the water from hitting them.
“Here, you little pest—” Kavita dragged Henrik into the water.
He squealed like a child. “Damn you, Kavi!”
They all laughed as Henrik dragged Kavita back to shore.
They sat down in a circle near a bonfire.
The salty breeze filled their lungs as they passed around the bowl of caramel popcorn and glasses of sweet raspberry lemonade.
Henrik strummed a low, lovely melody on his guitar.
Kavita warmed up her voice with light humming and began singing over Henrik’s notes.
They all looked at each other, nearly in tears, as she sang.
Adesua looked over to Wei, who was sitting next to Omar.
It took a few moments for him to notice her gaze.
She mouthed a simple “I’m sorry” to him.
He looked back at the fire, then her, mouthing, “I love you, Dusie.”
Adesua smiled at this. If there was one thing the Ridley siblings knew, it was forgiveness.
They had no trouble saying they loved each other or giving hugs when someone needed it.
On the other hand, Kavita was a little more standoffish, but everyone knew she loved them each uniquely.
The stars weren’t the only thing shining tonight as the night grew darker.
Their love for one another beamed so brightly that Father and Mother could see it from their balcony.
“I never thought I’d see this day again.” Caroline wept silently as she laid her head on her husband’s shoulder.
“Cherish it, my dear. Cherish it.” He rubbed her shoulder as they walked back into their primary suite.
Adesua’s eyes blurred at the sight of Mrs. Darla and Jamison walking hand in hand as he helped her hold her balance in the dark. She got closer to the firepit. Jamison carried a bag filled with letters and diaries.
“My little Ridleys.” Mrs. Darla chuckled softly. “It’s with the greatest regret that I must announce I am leaving. After my betrayal to you, I can’t bear to stay another day,” she said through tears.
Adesua looked at her, immediately shaking her head. “No, Mrs. Darla, we won’t allow it.”
“You kids are still too good for your own good.” She sighed.
Jamison straightened up as he looked at them. “I am sorry for lying and even thinking of leaking the file for personal gain. I let greed get in the way. To extend my apology, these are all the files and evidence of what you all have done,” he said.
“Does anyone else have any apologies or words of confession to offer?” Adesua gave everyone a piercing glance, especially Amelia.
Amelia took a champagne glass and smirked at the thought of grabbing the bottle again—but this time, to pour—then raised her glass. “Here’s to a new beginning of us, the Seven Wonders. Let this earth take back the memories and secrets that have besieged us.”
Wei looked at Adesua, and seeing the photo of them near the top of the bag, he grabbed it.
Amelia and the others made the fire bigger, dumping all the evidence and watching it go ablaze.
They all sighed in relief. Their lives could start over now.
This time, they would do it the right way.
Adesua’s eyes started to water as she saw each piece shrivel into oblivion.
While the Ridleys were running around the beach, confessing their dreams and desires to each other, Adesua spoke to Amelia and Kavita about going to Paris when this was all settled. They made a promise to each other as they held hands.
The beloved New York City citizens waited patiently for the Monday news. Young girls brushed their hair, gossiping with their sisters about what could have happened to Dale at the party and about the deaths of mobster Lucky and Kavita’s fiancé, Franklin.
The gossip traveled all the way down to middle-class wannabes ready to start rumors in their social circles about what had gone down at the party, knowing well enough that they weren’t invited. Oh, how the Ridleys wished this were it. But for now, they all shared one last secret.