Simple Man

- THIRTYFOUR -

   "You've never played a board game?" Gabriel looked at Kyra in disbelief.

   Kyra shook her head in quiet, mild embarrassment as they sat on the shag carpet floor. Kyra's father never gave her the time to learn what he considered childish games, even though his daughter was in fact a child. Her time was filled learning Latin, Spanish—she would eventually tell Gabriel but she thought it was cute letting him translate—French, Italian and the piano forte when she wasn't in the midst of her regular studies. Kyra hardly had idle time but the one thing she was grateful for was the comics her mother use to sneak into the penthouse from time to time; quietly handing them to her after she went to kiss her father goodnight in his office.

"Well, now we definitely have to play, Trouble or Monopoly?" Gabriel said as he got out the board games from underneath the console and set them on top of the coffee table in their small living room. The space was bigger than Kyra and Iyana's apartment but still claustrophobic with six occupants in the two bedroom one bath home, plus the guests they were currently entertaining.

   "I hate to rain on the party but I don't think we have time for any games, Liv will have to take a raincheck." Iyana said as she came from the kitchen, another aluminum to-go tray of food in hand. Kyra wasn't sure—no matter how delicious Abuela's cooking was—if she could eat once more bite or anything today. She had eaten so much the thought of food in general made her feel a little sick but Abuela kept putting more on her plate no matter her objections.

Kyra didn't want to leave—especially Gabriel—but she understood not wanting to outstay their welcome either and they had both been there for a couple hours. Just enough time to eat, make friendly conversation, learn to dance the Bachata and help clean up. Kyra could tell Iyana had let her guard down a little and enjoyed herself for once, even laughing at herself when she didn't quite get the steps of the dance. Kyra laughed at her too but all in fun, growing up in Miami put Kyra at a slight advantage in all things Latin-American, including dancing.

Gabriel looked slightly disappointed but then shrugged his shoulders, "That's too bad but I guess that just means you have a reason to come over again."

"Yes, don't be a stranger— we know firsthand Juniper can be kind of closed off to outsiders but in this house you two are always welcome." Isobel, Gabriel's mother, added as she gently touched Iyana's arm and looked at Kyra kindly. Gabriel looked a lot like her, especially in the eyes. They had the same kind, big brown eyes.

"Thank you so much for having us—and the food." Iyana chuckled as she readjusted the heft of the tray to the other arm.

"Of course, your niece saved my son and you took them to get checked out by Dr. Franklin— whether you like it or not you both are part of la familia now."

"That doesn't make Kyra my sister or cousin though, right?" Gabriel verified.

"Don't worry your little crush is safe. Of course she's not your sister, unfortunately that title was bestowed upon me." A surly teenage girl said as her body was curled up on the sofa, idly flipping through a Tiger Beat magazine with disinterest.

"Shut up Melanie!" Gabriel shouted as he threw a decorative pillow at her, she caught it and threw it right back in his face. Kyra had to stifle a laugh. Kyra didn't much care for Melanie because she was unkind to her brother for no reason but her ears didn't miss the word crush—hoping against hope it wasn't just a remark made to embarrass Gabriel.

"Mija! Mijo!" Isobel scolded, both children immediately straightened up, "That is no way to behave in front of guests, you both can at least act like you like each other for two hours."

   Iyana laughed as she looked down at Kyra, "Don't worry, I have my hands full with just the one. I don't know how you handle two."

Kyra stuck her tongue out at Iyana, "See?" said Iyana and it was Isobel's turn to laugh.

"Taking in your late brothers's daughter like that is commendable. Even with the financial strain I would I would do the same but not everyone is built like us."

   Iyana and Kyra shared a look only they understood, they hated lying—especially to people as nice as this family—but that was what had to be done, "Anyways," Isobel said changing gears because she probably sensed the heaviness between the two young women, "I still can't believe you actually agreed to do the Win-A-Date Raffle! That's crazy! I could never! I mean I'm thankfully married so they wouldn't ask me but still—"

"Even if you were single they wouldn't ask you, you're too ugly." Gabriel's uncle, Roger, yelled from the kitchen.

"Ah yes, that too." Isobel laughed, and everyone joined in knowing it to be the furthest thing from the truth. A small 'ow' could be heard from the kitchen after Roger's comment and Kyra suspected Gabriel's Tia had smacked her husband somewhere on his person.

"I was kind of ambushed, I tried to say no but she didn't really let me—I still might back out though." Iyana confessed, not at all thrilled with the idea.

"Hey I think it could be good! Maybe Rowan will put in a bid so he can finally take you out!" Kyra said.

"Yeah that's exactly what I don't want." Iyana retorted, "—And you just don't want to be suspended for mouthing off to Mrs. Tripp."

"Oooh has someone caught the eye of Rowan August?" Isobel asked playfully as she elbowed Iyana softly in the ribs, "How interesting..."

"Wait..." Melanie interjected, this time looking up from her magazine, "Rowan August is in Juniper? On purpose? Good God, why?"

"What have I said about taking the Lord's name in vain mija? Are we going to have to go start going to the evening service on Wednesday as well?" Isobel asked, then added, "He's from here. The realtor who sold us this house actually made a point to show us the house across the street that he was raised in."

"Like I'd remember that. I was what, five, when we moved here." Melanie said as she rolled her eyes, "But what is he doing back?"

"His stepfather died. It was in the newspaper."

"Oh... sad." Melanie said in the most apathetic tone possible as her eyes went back to the magazine she was holding—and just like that she lost interest.

Teenagers, Kyra thought without enough self-awareness to realize she was only three years away from being one herself.

"Well if you do go through with it what are you going to wear?" Isobel asked.

   All Kyra could do was laugh at the abject disgust Iyana's face displayed having been reminded that she was going to—for once—have to wear something genuinely nice and possibly... sexy.