Wicked Whims

Where Black Sails Roam

Written by P.D. Vance

"You're spoiling him again."

Farrah glanced at her sister, still clutching a clear plastic cake knife in her right hand. "I'm his aunt. That's my job, Jeiya."

Jeiya shook her head at her younger sister as a smile wormed its way across her mouth. Sure, her son didn't need this ridiculous party, but her son loved his aunt and he was having a blast. Pizza sauce was smooshed into his little face, his black hair was sticking straight up and grass smeared across his jeans.

Tomorrow, they'd deal with the sugar fallout, but right now, he was happier than she'd seen him the past few weeks. The death of their eldest brother left a sour taste in their mouths and cast a dreary grey over the festivities. Farrah was determined to bat it away for at least one day and give Tristan what he deserved.

"You don't think this is..." Jeiya paused, tracing the dining room and kitchen with a wiry grin on her features, "too much?"

"What?" Farrah grabbed her chest in mock surprise. "Are you saying I've gone too far?"

Playfully, Jeiya rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Always, little sister. You're always going too far, but Tristan is happy, and that's all that matters. Maybe it'll take his mind off of things."

Farrah did go all out.

She'd spent more on decorations than her mother would approve, but the home she and her husband shared was completely covered in silly pirate decorations — Tristan's favorite — with more coming in as the day rolled forward. Three men strolled into the backyard, tools in hand, wearing matching dark grey uniforms with "Marable's Inflatables" scrawled across their backs. In the rear of their massive trucks were two gigantic bouncy castles.

"Momma, look!" Tristan skidded to a stop next to them wearing a bright smile, exposing his missing front two teeth. "Two bouncy houses for my birthday! Auntie Rah got them for me."

"Yes, I see them, bubba," Jeiya bent down to her son's level and pulled him into her arms for a hug, giggling madly. He wiggled and squirmed, complaining to be let out. "How about you go ask daddy when they'll finish?"

He bound off without another word, sprinting to his father's side. Jeiya and Farrah lapse into a comfortable silence, enjoying the sprawling green backyard decorated especially for Tristan. Their grandmother, with her greying curls, their father, mother, two cousins and their youngest brother, gather around the outdoor dining table, shaded by an enormous yellow and green polka dotted umbrella.

"I wish he could see this..."

Farrah frowned, lifting her arm to wrap it around Jeiya's shoulder. She wished he was here, too, but it didn't change a thing. Their oldest brother died eight months ago in a brutal home invasion, leaving behind his love of pirates with Jeiya's only son. The only clues the cops had were wet boot prints, a single feather on the kitchen counter and the buckets of blood painting the hallway floors.

Their brother was a military man. It would take powerful hands to break him. They had no leads, and the cops interest was waning.

But today was his birthday, and he would have happily split gifts, time and the celebration with his only nephew.

"He'd love it." Farrah agreed. Glancing at her sister, she let a heartbreaking smile expand across her lips. "But he wouldn't want us to dwell on what happened, he'd want us to enjoy today and give Tristan all his love."

"I know. I know."

"I know you know," Jeiya glared at her younger sister. "As a reminder, he made us promise to live our lives and enjoy it."