Chapter 2 #2
“Yup, she had to make a phone call, and she was going to change and grab a drink. I’m going to assume her call was man-related, but as her mother, I do hope it’s a man with good intentions, and an attraction to strong-willed women.”
I laughed at my aunt; I knew her and my mother felt the same way. “Well, knowing this family’s luck with men, I am going to go ahead and hope that it’s a work call. The last guy was a real winner, and we definitely don’t need to relive that escapade.”
She smiled and nodded.
“Well, you are not wrong about that.”
When Charlotte returned, no one uttered a word about the mystery phone call. She had a bottle of champagne in her hand.
“I knew that Jos was going to grab cake, so I just figured I would grab some bubbly, cuz well ... yin and yang.” A grin spread across her face. “Do you need a glass, Princess?” she asked, as she sank into the couch next to me.
“We can just pretend we are sixteen and snuck it upstairs. Besides, I think you are forgetting which one of us is actually the princess.” I rolled my eyes while pointing out her pajamas—as though it was evidence enough.
My cousin was wearing a floor-length silk nightgown with a matching robe.
“Don’t you have matching heeled house shoes for that getup, Blanche?
” Charlotte flashed a sarcastic smile and shoved the bottle at me.
“Whatever you say, Dorothy.”
We spent the next few hours eating cake, and reminiscing about our time with Grandpa.
The day was hard and consumed by people that we didn’t want to talk to—but were absolutely obligated to.
This was how the human race dealt with death—so dumb.
Everyone put on nice clothes and gathered to mourn the passing of someone; whether it was someone they encountered every day or the guy they hadn’t seen in twenty years.
In reality, a funeral was for the living, and it forced those that were closest to put their grief on display for people to see and perhaps even judge.
The truth of the matter was, none of them felt as bad as we did—it wasn’t possible.
Even with how tedious everything was, we were able to come together in the end.
Just the four of us, missing him, loving him, and celebrating him all at once.
We sat in his house eating cake and drinking champagne, while reminding one another of the wonderful things that we were blessed enough to experience with him, and because of him.
The night did end on a high note, and it was something that we needed.
After the leftover cake, glasses, and empty bottles had been cleared, the living room was returned to its original state. All of us had a slight buzz, from wine that was sure to bring a headache in the morning.
Our family had always been so close that even when we weren’t living in this house, we still each had our own bedroom.
My mother and I had moved out of my grandfather’s house when I was fourteen, but I still stayed the night frequently, as did Charlotte.
Most nights, we shared a room because we didn’t want to sleep alone when we were younger.
As we got older, it felt like a sleepover.
We would stay up late, talking about anything and everything.
We usually occupied her room because it was the furthest away from our grandfather’s.
Our reasoning was that we were less likely to get in trouble for being loud and not being asleep if we were further away and not keeping others awake. We were indeed correct in that regard.
The lawyer was coming over in the morning to read the will and go over everything having to do with the estate and trust. Once everything was out in the open, then all of the inquiring minds would know.
Everyone that showed interest at the funeral would know where his valuables were going to reside.
For all anyone knew, he could have donated things to museums or indicated that they were to be auctioned off.
I highly doubt he would have done that, but I could be wrong.
He had always taken great pride in all of his pieces. Tomorrow, we would have our answer.
We climbed the stairs together and bid one another goodnight as we retired to our rooms. I shut the bedroom door behind me and crossed the room to the bathroom. All of the bedrooms in the house were quite large. Grandpa had good taste, lots of money, and a desire to spoil the girls in his life.
My room was verdant and invoked a feeling of peace whenever I was there.
The shades of green were all natural, calmed my soul, and made me feel as though I was lying in a forest. It was outfitted with a king-sized canopy bed adorned with sheer curtains that, at the moment, were tethered to the posts.
The dresser and armoire matched the bed in both design and grandeur.
The ensemble was crafted from a very dark, rough wood that had a simple clear coat protecting it.
Each piece was hand carved, showcasing vines and elaborate flowers.
A thick moss-colored carpet—that was buttery soft against my bare feet—blanketed the floor.
A sitting area, made up of a couch and two matching chairs that were constructed from the same dark wood and a sage-colored velvet upholstery, faced a pair of large glass-paned double doors that opened up onto a large balcony that overlooked the gardens on the side of the house and the patio, that was just outside the kitchen.
Windows surrounded the doors, letting in an enormous amount of natural light during the day.
There were heavy green floor-to-ceiling curtains that had the ability to block out all of the light.
The private bathroom connected to my room was an absolute sanctuary.
Emerald tiles covered the walls, and a large variety of plants dominated the room, adding to the tranquility.
The floor was bamboo with the occasional lush dark green bathmat.
One wall was made entirely of windows framed by long, flowing curtains hanging to add privacy if desired.
A large, deep soaking tub was custom made from blue and green colored glass and centered against the wall of windows; it was the strikingly beautiful centerpiece that tied the whole room together in a fairy-tale atmosphere.
On the opposite side of the room, the shower was built into the wall.
It was constructed from green stone and was equipped with a bench, multiple shower heads, and heated floors with enough room for a small swim team.
The vanity was made from stone and green glass, with two sinks and an area where the counter was lower, so I was able to sit on the cushioned bench seat and style my hair or apply my makeup.
These rooms had been mine for as long as I could remember. They had been remodeled a couple of times over the years, but it had always been my space that I never had to share with anyone else. It brought a true feeling of security and familiarity.
Once I used the commode, I returned to my bedroom and slid between the cool, crisp, sheets.
My muscles began to contract, causing me to stretch.
I yawned and began to roll around until I got comfortable—which didn’t take long at all.
I was fast asleep within minutes, and when my dreams found me, I saw the handsome stranger’s face.
I wished I knew who he was, and I would probably never lay eyes on him again. That was truly unfortunate.