Chapter 26
This past weekend was a roller coaster, but I think we both learned important lessons.
My takeaway was to try to be less self-righteous.
I was erroneously trotting around on a high horse.
Just because I didn’t agree or wouldn’t make the same decision for myself, it didn’t give me the right to voice my differing opinion so loudly.
Like MJ said, I need to have an accountability conversation with the woman in the mirror.
I snapped along to his song playing over the speakers and when we got to the chorus, I sang along at the top of my lungs.
I was so engrossed in my sing-along I didn’t hear Anika come in.
“Nah, nah, nah, nah nah nahnah, nah nah, nah” she sang.
I let out a blood-curdling scream. Note to self, get my house key back. “What did I tell you about just barging in?” I reached for my phone, turning the volume down.
“You told me not to. But I’m your sister and those rules don’t apply to me.”
“That rule was made for you.”
“What’s with all the liquor? Are you throwing a party?”
“No just doing some winter cleaning.”
Anika raised a half-full bottle of Don Julio. “Are you tossing these things out?”
“Yeah, I don’t need all this alcohol hanging around.” I was ten toes down when I told Aldi I wanted to support him in every way possible, and for me that meant getting rid of the many bottles of alcohol I’d been storing away and changing my bar cart into a coffee station.
“Why?”
“Because I need to focus on school and Aldridge doesn’t drink, so what’s the purpose?”
“I’ll take them off your hands.”
“Really?”
“Yes, free liquor is always a yes.”
“Great.”
“How was Sedona?”
“It was everything I needed and more. I think it brought us closer.”
“Well, you’re definitely glowing.”
I surveyed my sister’s face to determine if I should share more about the trip.
Aldridge being in rehab and recovering wasn’t my business to tell.
I’d let him share that information when and with whom he saw fit.
But I was itching to share the news about law school because I knew that would make Anika proud. “Aldridge offered to pay my tuition.”
Anika clapped her hands. “Good old Aldridge. They don’t make men like him anymore. Most men barely have two nickels to rub together, and they hold that shit close, like Gollum’s ring. Let me guess, you told him no.”
“Wrong, I’m going to let him.”
“Who are you and what have you done to my moral high ground taking sister?”
“I think your consistent nagging finally got to me. Plus you’re letting Dante pay for the wedding of your dreams. It just—”
“Actually, about the wedding—”
“Don’t tell me you two broke up?” Did I have an I told you so in my back pocket at the ready? Yes. But the new Danessa wouldn’t be using it. If things had soured, I’d be supportive … relieved but supportive.
“No, I just don’t want to have a cookie-cutter wedding. I don’t think it represents who we are. When we look back on our day, I want to smile because we did exactly what we wanted.”
“What does that mean?”
Anika squared her shoulders. “We’re going to the Little White Wedding Chappel.”
“The place with the drive-up window?” My brows climbed my forehead and I fought the urge to strongly disagree.
“Yes, but we’ll be getting married inside.” I opened the closest bottle and took a long swig. “Say something.”
“Are you sure? Anika, this is your wedding day. You only get one first wedding day.”
“I love Dante, and he loves me and honestly that’s all that matters.”
“What about the wedding dress?”
“I’ll still wear a pretty dress, just less traditional and then after we’ll have a party with all our friends.”
“If that’s what you want I support it.” Was the best I could muster. I was easy, breezy, and less carping. It wasn’t my special day. I just needed to be there for Anika and Dante.
“Yeah, see you get it.” I slid the open bottle of Uncle Nearest to her and she took a sip.
“Did you tell your mother?”
“No, I was hoping you could—”
“No, trust me it’s not going to soften the blow coming from me. It’ll just make things worse.”
“But if you’re there for moral support. I could tag you in when I need to collect my thoughts.”
“Like you had my back at the dress fitting?”
“That was different. The day was supposed to be about me, and you and mom found a way to make it about you.”
My head jerked back. “I’m sorry, but that woman …” I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and adjusted my tone. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“No hard feelings, but you owe me. You also owe me for helping you and Aldi get back together.”
“I don’t think you had anything to do with that.”
“Bitch, I had to conspire and plot to get you two in the same spaces. If it wasn’t for me, you’d both still be in the talking stage and not the fucking stage.”
“Okay, I’ll help.”
“Great. I’m throwing a dinner party at Dante’s place this weekend. Feel free to bring your man.”
“You want to tell Mom you’re forgoing a traditional wedding, something she has been dreaming about since she was a little girl, at a dinner party?”
“It will be intimate, just us. If Dante and Aldridge are there, she can’t get as mad as she’d like to.”
“You’re talking like you’ve never met Jemini. Do you remember that time she cussed us out in front of that reverend she was dating?”
“That reverend was a con man riding around in fancy cars and wearing those ugly ass designer suits. I doubt that was the first time he’d heard that type of language.”
“Maybe you’re right.” All I could remember is I was six and this man of God kept wanting me to sit on his lap. So, whenever he came around, I’d hide out in my room.
“And your newfound puritanical lifestyle is my gain.” Anika embraced the many bottles of discarded liquor.
When the faint sounds of Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” played Anika squealed.
“Bitch this is my song, turn it up.” I did as told and Anika broke out into a nasty bossa nova.
Dante’s house was exactly what you’d expect from a twenty-nine-year-old basketball player, all glass situated on top of a hill with views of the city.
This neighborhood was filled with celebrities, politicians and families whose wealth could be traced back several decades.
Aldridge and I hadn’t visited this area during his home search because I knew he’d hate it.
He’d call it pretentious and too much home for one person, and he’d complain about the drive.
Even so, when we pulled up, he said, “Gotdamn, now that’s a home.”
“You like it?”
“Real curb appeal.”
“Neighborhoods like this don’t have curbs, just miles and miles of tall shrubbery and private gates to keep vagrants out.”
“I know there is big money behind these gates. How much does something like this cost?” He pointed to Dante’s place with the curved driveway.
“Ten million minimum.”
“US currency?”
“Yes.”
“How much do you think Dante paid?”
“Are you pocket watching?”
“No, I just … he comes in off the bench, there’s no way he could afford something like this.”
“I’m not supposed to know this, but he doesn’t own the house. It’s a long-term rental.”
“How do you know that?”
“A simple MLS search can tell you a lot.”
“Does Anika know?”
“I don’t know that she cares. Not owning doesn’t equate to broke. He’s paying ten thousand a month in rent and really should just buy at this point. Maybe Anika can help him with that.”
“Shit is never what it seems.”
“You have to swear to keep that between you and me.”
“Cross my heart and hope to die.”
Inside Anika took our coats. “Welcome to our home. Aldi, there are drinks and appetizers in the dining room. Dante can mix up whatever you want. You know if he wasn’t a star basketball player he’d make one hell of a bartender, just like Tom Cruise in that one movie.”
Squeezing Aldi’s hand, I asked, “Do you want me to come with you?” I didn’t know how this worked and if being around others drinking was approved recovery behavior. The last thing I wanted to do was put him in a precarious situation.
“No, I’m good. Catch up with Anika.”
When Aldi walked away to join Jemini and Dante, Anika dug her nails into my arm. “What was that for?”
“I’m just so nervous. You promise to have my back?”
“Yep, remember this is your wedding and you get to call the shots. Jemini can object but she can’t do shit to change it.”
“What if she gets mad and starts throwing things?”
That was a real possibility. “She won’t cause I won’t let her. The throwing things part. I can’t control her mood.”
“Dante thinks I’m making a big deal over nothing, but he doesn’t know Mom like we do. When she doesn’t get her way, she can be vicious.”
“Aldridge and I are in your corner and who knows, maybe we are making a mountain out of a molehill.”
After a tour of the house with light refreshments, we sat down to eat, and my mother wasted no time jumping right in. “Have we set a date?” Anika shoved a forkful of food in her mouth. “We need to pick a date so we can start making plans.”
“We? Don’t you mean they, Anika and Dante?” I asked.
“Yes, the wedding is about Anika and Dante, but it’s also about me and our friends and family.”
“We do have a date in mind.”
“When?” My mother, Aldridge, and I all said in unison.
“The twenty-seventh.”
“Of?” Jemini prodded.
“June.”
“Right after the finals.” Dante smiled.
“If you make it to the finals,” Jemini said.
“We’re making it to the finals and Dante will be rocking a championship ring alongside his wedding ring.” Aldridge’s tone was firm.
“June doesn’t give us very much time to plan. We need to get the invitations out right away.”
I nodded when Anika glanced at me, encouraging her to speak her mind.
Even though we were both adults, it was still difficult delivering unexpected news to our mother.
“About that. Dante and I want a huge party. Open bar, celebrity DJ, chocolate fountain. But for the ceremony we were thinking something less grandiose.”
“Okay, so the vineyard is out.”