Chapter 15.2
***
“Thanks for picking me up,” George commented, his blue eyes, just like his sister’s, reflecting his appreciation.
“Of course.” Zion smiled over at her younger brother. “How was your flight?”
George widened his eyes dramatically. “I’ve never flown anywhere, but first class sure seems like the very best way to do it.” His grin was an engaging one. “Thank you for that too.”
Zion nodded. “New York is a long flight away, figured it would be nice to not be cramped up in coach.”
George nodded in agreement. “Being stuck in a confined space is kind of a phobia now.”
Zion looked over at her brother, as she drove out of the airport. She could see that the years truly hadn’t been kind to him. She hoped this was going to be a good move for his sake.
Reaching over, she took his hand, squeezing it gently.
George put his other hand over hers, squeezing it in response.
“You look really different,” he told her after a few minutes.
Zion grinned. “My hair was a bit longer.”
“Uh-huh.” George nodded, with a wry grin of his own. He canted his head. “You look good, sis.”
Zion returned his stare, trying to ascertain if he was teasing her or not. When she realized he was serious, she smiled.
“Thanks.”
“I hear you’re like a real estate mogul now,” he commented, his blue eyes dancing in humor.
“Oh, is that how Bobby put it?” Zion scoffed.
“Yup.” George nodded. “He said that big sis owned half of San Francisco!”
Zion erupted in laughter. “Yeah, I wish! I own a bar and some buildings, that’s all.”
“That’s more than I own,” he replied.
“Doesn’t look like you own a razor,” Zion joked, reaching over to rub at the scuff on his jawline.
“Hey, it’s been a long day, okay?” George told her, rubbing his chin.
“Uh-huh.”
At the bar, Morgan was bustling around, trying to set out dishes and cups for everyone who would be attending. Kenzie worked with her to make the bar feel as homely as it could.
“It’s a bar for God’s sake!” Kenzie huffed. She laughed when Morgan had fussed at the setting up, trying to give it a warmer feel.
“Yeah, we serve alcohol and appetizers!” Zip had called from the back bar.
Morgan pouted in exasperation. “I just want to help.”
“You’re helping,” Kenzie assured her. “It looks great.”
They’d arranged the few rectangular tables in the bar so everyone could eat together.
Zion had ordered food from Orphan Andy’s, and they were due any minute to set up. It was the only way to fit the entire crew and the members of Zion’s family into one area. Morgan had gotten tablecloths to adorn the tables, to make it feel a little more like home.
A couple of hours later, the room was filled with people, talking and eating. Zion was thrilled to meet her niece and nephew, and also to see her brother Frankie again after so many years apart.
“I can’t believe it’s been, what, twenty-four years!” Frankie exclaimed, as he hugged Zion again.
“Twenty-three, actually.” Zion grinned.
“Damn! You’re old!” Frankie teased, garnering a shove from his sister. Then he moved closer, jerking his head toward the serving tables. “Who’s the cutie patootie over there?” he asked, pointing to one of the servers from Orphan Andy’s.
“That’s Jerry.” Zion grinned knowingly.
“Is Jerry single?” Frankie asked, his bright eyes begging her to say yes.
“I think so,” Zion replied, giving her brother a shove toward the serving table, “why don’t you go find out?”
“If you insist!” Frankie winked at his sister and sauntered off.
Zion watched him depart with an amused smile on her face.
“What is he up to now?” Bobby asked as he moved to stand next to her.
“What else?” Zion queried.
Bobby chuckled, then surveyed the room. “Your friends are nice.”
“I know,” Zion replied.
“You’ve put together an impressive alternate family,” Bobby added.
“Thanks.” Zion nodded in agreement, then canted her head up at him, turning her eyes to his wife, Cynthia. “Your wife is way too hot for you.”
“Tell me about it!” Bobby smirked warmly.
“And your kids are beautiful.” Zion’s voice softened. “Probably ’cause they don’t look like you.”
“And there it is…” Bobby snickered. He sobered then, looking down at Zion. “I’ve missed you, sis.”
Zion assessed her brother’s face. “I’ve missed you too.”
They hugged. When they parted, Bobby nodded over toward Morgan. “She seems like a good one.”
“She is,” Zion agreed.
“Probably too good for you,” Bobby added slyly.
“Uh-huh.” Zion shook her head with a smile. “But I think I’ll try to hold on to her anyway.”
“Good plan.” Bobby winked.
***
Six months had passed since Zion reconnected with her brothers. Fancy’s was having a grand re-opening. Zion had considered changing the name of the bar, but it had been Morgan who had talked her out of it.
“It’s not about her,” Morgan said, “it’s about the ambiance of the bar…it’s ‘fancy’
“In terms of?” Zion queried.
“You’ve upgraded the wine list; you’ve also added a full-time chef to prepare more…appetizing appetizers.” Morgan skewed her lips to indicate her fluster at the odd phrase.
Zion chuckled, pressing her lips together. “I’m guessing that wasn’t your best writer jargon, huh?”
Morgan opened her mouth in shock, then started to laugh. “I’m out of writer jargon for the moment, thank you!”
Morgan had just completed final edits for her first lesbian romance novel, her first new release in two years. She was already getting critical acclaim for In Time for You, and her publisher was beside herself with the new avenue Morgan’s writing had gone down.
“Regardless…” Morgan gave Zion a pointed look. “The bar is more ‘fancy’ now, so it’s not about Jane anymore.”
“Got it.” Zion nodded.
In the end, she’d fully agreed with Morgan and did not change the name.
“Is it crazy that I’m nervous?” Zion asked, as she attempted to tie the rainbow tie she was adjusting.
Morgan reached up, pushing aside Zion’s hands so she could do it for her. “It’s not crazy, because it’s not just the bar opening.”
Zion blew out her breath. All of her brothers were going to be in attendance at the celebration. It was a lot to think about.
An hour and a half later, Zion walked through the bar, glancing at the waitresses that were standing ready to serve. She walked over to the new stage and DJ booth, climbing a couple of steps to poke her head into the booth.
“Thanks again for doing this, Memphis,” she said to the blonde sitting at the soundboard.
Memphis glanced up at her, smiling. “Always fun to break in a new board.”
Zion chuckled. “Just glad I got the right equipment, thanks to your advice.”
“Friends don’t let friends buy crappy sound equipment,” Memphis quipped, her blue eyes sparkling with humor.
“Got it!” Zion laughed.
Making her way through the bar she stepped over to Morgan, leaning down to kiss her on the lips. Morgan could see that Zion was still nervous. Reaching out she took Zion’s hand, squeezing it gently.
“Ready?” she asked.
Zion puffed her cheeks out, blowing out her breath, even as she nodded. “As I’ll ever be.”
She looked over at her brother George, who was standing ready at the front bar. She winked at him, and he grinned and winked back. She then opened the double doors of Fancy’s allowing the huge crowd gathered there to enter.
“Welcome back to Fancy’s!” Zion called, as a cheer erupted from the crowd.
“We’re late!” Jaims observed, looking at her watch as they searched for a parking space.
“We’re gonna be lucky to find a place to park,” Raquel noted. “We’d have been better off Ubering it tonight.”
“Yeah, probably,” Jaims agreed anxiously.
“I’m sorry I was late tonight,” Raquel said, glancing over at Jaims.
“You said it was important,” Jaims replied. “It’s okay.”
“Ha! Right there!” Raquel crowed, as she pinpointed a car’s reversing lights light up.
“Nice!” Jaims exalted, as she pulled up to wait for the car to leave.
A minute later they were parked.
As Jaims went to exit the car, Raquel’s hand on hers stopped her. “Hold on a sec.”
Jaims sat back in her seat, looking over at Raquel, who seemed suddenly nervous. She couldn’t help but think that Raquel was going to tell her she’d slipped up. Things at the department had been busy lately, there’d been a step up in crime, and Raquel seemed to be working all hours of the day and night.
“What is it?” Jaims asked nervously.
Raquel noticed the look on her girlfriend’s face, and she knew immediately what Jaims was thinking. Unconsciously, Raquel’s hand curled around the package in her jacket pocket. Blowing her breath out, she did her best to understand that Jaims would be worried about drugs for a long time, so she needed to prove to Jaims that she was staying clean.
“I know I’ve been working a lot lately,” Raquel said, taking Jaims’ hand, “and I already know what that look is about.”
Jaims drew in a sharp breath, worried that it was going to make Raquel mad. Were they about to have a nasty fight?
“I’m sorry.” Jaims shook her head.
“It’s okay,” Raquel told her, “but I need to give you something.”
Jaims blinked a couple of times, and her eyes widened when Raquel withdrew a small box out from her the pocket of her jacket. Raquel opened the box, and nestled inside was a black band with two square black diamonds set adjacent to a center square-cut emerald.
“Wow…” Jaims breathed.
Raquel grinned. “You like it?”
“It’s fantastic,” Jaims said, then looked back at Raquel. “What is it for?”
“Well, I’m hoping it’ll suit as an engagement ring.” Raquel smiled. “I’m hoping you’ll marry me.”
Jaims’ mouth fell open in shock. She stared wide-eyed at Raquel. “You said you’d never get married.”
“Well, I never thought I’d love someone so much.” Raquel shrugged with an impish grin. “Go figure.” Jaims continued to look shocked as she laughed. “I guess I haven’t actually told you that I love you, either, huh?”
“Um, no, no you didn’t.” Jaims shook her head, her eyes settled back on the ring. “So that’s for me?”
“Yeah, it’s for you, dummy.” Raquel chuckled.
“Oh, very romantic, calling me a dummy.” Jaims rolled her eyes.
“I, oh, I um…” Raquel started to retreat, until she saw the grin on Jaims’ face.
“Oh, shut up and say yes already!” She leaned forward kissing Jaims resoundingly on the lips.
“If you insist.” Jaims laughed, holding up her hand. “Well, put it on me.”
“Yes ma’am!” Raquel bit her lip as she slid the ring on Jaims’ finger.
“Do I have to get you one?” Jaims asked, as she admired the ring on her finger.
“Probably,” Raquel replied.
Jaims looked back at Raquel, her eyes softening, “I love you too.”
“Phew!” Raquel huffed.
The night was full of great moments for Zion: hearing the announcement that Jaims and Raquel were engaged; seeing her brothers again, meeting their wives and catching up with them; celebrating with her friends. Even the surprise guests, including Wynter Kincade singing one of her latest hits, while her wife Remi LaRoché stood close by. As always, Memphis Lassiter’s DJing brought everyone to the new, larger dance floor. Everyone seemed to be having a great time.
“I think you did alright here,” Carl told her, as they stood next to the back bar. “You’ve done really well for yourself, sis.”
Zion looked out over the crowd, watching her friends dance, and seeing the throng of customers at the bars, and sitting at the tables eating and drinking. “Yeah, I think it’s gonna do just fine.”
“Still adjusting to the whole name-change thing, though,” Carl commented with a sly grin.
Zion looked up at him, seeing the grin. Reaching up she rubbed the back of her neck. “Amy just didn’t fit anymore.”
Carl nodded slowly, his eyes on the dancefloor surveying all the women there. “Where did you come up with Zion?”
Morgan walked up to Zion at that moment, putting her arms around Zion’s waist and leaning her head against Zion’s shoulder. Zion leaned down to kiss Morgan on the side of the head, hugging her tightly.
Looking back at Carl, Zion shrugged. “I guess I just went from A to Z.”