Chapter 36 #2
Joy couldn’t help but snort. “I’m not afraid of being hurt. What if they don't like me?” She whispered her question, ashamed of even being concerned with something as trivial as being liked.
Joy had never done the ‘meet the parents’ thing and didn’t know what the protocol was if his family decided they didn’t like her.
Would Ace leave her?
Ace looked down at her with tender eyes and smiled. “They’ll love you.”
Joy didn’t have a chance to respond before they reached the door. Before they could even knock, the large oak door swung open, revealing an older woman with the same deep skin and hazel eyes as Ace.
“Dang mama, we were coming,” Ace laughed, as they cleared the last of the steps.
June King was regal with her long salt and pepper hair, glowing skin, and fabulous boho style dress that hugged her fit figure and flared at the sleeves. She was draped in diamonds and gold jewelry with beaded crystals sprinkled throughout her extravagant stacks.
“I know, but you were taking too long and I couldn’t wait,” June said, waving her oldest son off. She turned to Joy, peering at her with the same eyes that she’d passed to her children. “Hi honey, I’m June. It’s so good to meet you.”
“You too,” Joy said, putting on her best smile. She extended a hand to shake but was instead pulled into a warm hug that she couldn’t help but sink into. Joy wasn’t sure what she was expecting Ace’s mother to be like, but it wasn't the warm radiance of June King.
June ushered them inside and through a grand foyer until they reached the dining room. Around the table were the rest of the King siblings, Senior, Zachariah and Ella.
“Finally. My stomach was touching my back,” Von grumbled in greeting seeing the two enter the room.
Ace smacked Von upside the back of his head as they passed, leading Joy to her reserved seat beside his usual spot.
“Everybody, Joy. Joy, everybody,” Ace introduced, pulling Joy’s chair back from the table for her to sit.
Joy chuckled. “Hello, everybody.”
A chorus of hellos, nice to meet you’s, and good to see you’s sounded around the table.
“Wassup, Jane. You look different when you aren’t threatening to kill me,” Von picked, eyeing her more polished ensemble.
“The night is still young,” Joy said dryly, making laughter erupt around the table.
Von scowled. “I don’t like how y’all just be kiki-ing when she threatens me. Y’all know she deadass right?”
Joy winked at him, further enraging the youngest but no one paid Von any further attention as the kitchen staff began placing platters of food around the middle of the table and drinks in front of everyone.
A glass of bourbon was placed in front of Joy without prompting and she smiled up at them in thanks. She looked up at Ace, who sent her a wink that made her heart flutter.
Joy smiled as she surveyed the offerings, the southern spread reminding her of home.
Glasses clinking and cutlery scraping plates were the only sounds as everyone filled their plates and glasses to the brim.
“So Joy, you work at the firm?” June asked as she passed the dish of greens, her bracelet stack jangling.
Joy nodded from across the table, smiling as Ace placed a filet of fried fish on her plate and slid her the Louisiana hot sauce. “Yes ma’am. I’m a first year associate.”
“How nice,” June smiled softly. She peppered Joy with more surface level questions about who she was, where she was from, and what she did. Joy answered each one pleasantly, but she and everyone else around the table could feel that they were tip-toeing around the real questions.
Joy swallowed a mouthful of dirty rice, then opened her mouth to respond to another question when somewhere in the distance, the sound of glass breaking halted all conversation.
Joy’s gun was pulled from the holster on her thigh in seconds and above the table as she anticipated a threat.
“My apologies, we broke a dish in here,” one of the servers came out of the kitchen to inform the group.
“No worries, Gina, thank you,” Ella said with a soft smile.
Joy was immediately embarrassed by her overreaction. She began to reholster her weapon but when she looked around to see if anyone noticed, she saw the rest of the table replacing theirs as well.
Ace placed a hand on her thigh with a sly grin and all shame fled from her mind.
Dinner continued on like nothing happened. The conversation moved away from her and she participated when pulled into a conversation, but for the most part she observed.
Joy saw now why Ace felt alone, even with family. They included him and clearly loved him, but aside from his grandparents, they contained a warmth that Ace didn’t have and aside from Jrue, a lightness that came with shoulders free of the responsibility of the legacy.
The eyes on her told her she was being observed too.
Zachariah's gaze heated her face as he watched her. Assessed her.
Sharp eyes – not so different from Ace’s besides the color – aimed to determine whether she was less than genuine.
Joy didn’t mind. She understood the game. Were the roles reversed, she would need to see for herself before welcoming an outsider into the fold.
“Is it true you stabbed a man with a stiletto?” Ella King spoke to Joy directly for the first time since the dinner began.
Joy gulped and sent a glare to Ace.
“Y-yes ma’am” she answered, suddenly self conscious about the rawness and depth of her violence.
“What kind of shoe was it?”
Joy’s brows bunched slightly. Of all the follow up questions she was expecting, that wasn’t one of them.
“Um Swarovski crystal encrusted Jimmy Choos,” she answered.
After a beat, a smile spread over Ella’s lips. She turned to Ace and nodded. “She’s my kind of girl. Keep her,” she said, pointing her fork at Joy.
Joy couldn’t help the pleased giggle that escaped her lips as the rest of the table cackled. Zachariah leaned over and pressed a kiss to the temple of his wife.
“All of y’all need to go sit on somebody’s couch,” June said but there was no heat or judgement in her voice.
The ice was broken after that. Conversation flowed as the Kings welcomed Joy without a second thought.
No one looked upon her with disgust or fear. Among them, Joy was normal—welcomed despite her violence, her anger, and the unsavory traits she’d spent years trying to suppress. It felt good to belong somewhere again, among people who weren’t afraid of her demons or trying to use them.
After dinner, the staff cleared the table and Ella stood, announcing that she was going to bring out dessert.
“Joy, why don’t you help me, dear?” she said as she passed Joy’s chair on the way to the kitchen. The Kings had a way of asking you to do things while making it clear it wasn’t optional, Joy noticed.
Shooting a quick glance at Ace, Joy rose. He smiled, his expression showing no concern and oddly, that calmed her as well.
“Is this part two of my interrogation?” Joy asked once they’d entered the kitchen.
Ella released a bright laugh, sounding like money.
“You don’t have to prove anything to us, my dear,” Ella said. “Not your worth, or your loyalty. Ace brought you here because he trusts you and that’s enough for me.”
Joy blinked. “Just like that?” she asked.
“Just like that.”
Joy released a small breath but the tension didn’t leave her shoulders.
“Y’all don’t know me,” Joy said out of reflex. The unconscious desire to lower the expectations before she could disappoint. To issue fair warning.
“You’re not the first woman to walk into this family with a past,” Ella said with knowing eyes. “And you won’t be the last.”