Nouveau

Chapter 68: Hands On

"The heart leads, the mind follows..."

The bluetooth speakers supplied a sound track of blues, r&b, and soul music throughout the yard. There were multiple sets of black foldable chairs and tables to accommodate the number of people stopping by or coming through. Large citronella torches surrounding the yard's perimeter were starting to sweep a rich, crispy aroma of lemon across the open space to keep mosquitoes and gnats at bay. The scene was filled with family members hugging, catching up, and laughing. 2 tables were getting rowdy playing separate games of spades and domino's while others were sitting underneath the covered porch. MèMè sat in her favorite cushioned wood rocking chair, looking out at all of her family in small doses of thankfulness.

Grandmother broke the ice by coming to sit on the porch swing and announce that Laive's parents were on the way with more sides including the potato salad. Instinctively, L knew her PawPaw must have been around the side of the house lighting charcoal to get the grill ready. One of the things she missed about home was the barbecue and seafood. Sure of her evident bias, Laive hadn't come across seafood or barbecue that beat out her family's recipes no matter where she traveled.

A few of her uncles started placing propane patio heaters around the porch due to the low temperatures that were predicted to settle in the upper 20s and 30s. The mildly cold air wasn't bothering the majority of those who had a few rounds of brown or clear liquor. Nor the kids who were tiring themselves out ripping and running across the designated sections of dirt, gravel, and lowly trimmed grass.

Cupid's Flex boomed across the yard and everyone rushed to the grassy knoll directly in front of the porch.

'Flexxxx yoooo bodddyyyy'

"Lord," Laive playfully rolled her eyes. "Don't get these people started on line dancing. They'll never sit down."

'You'reeee sooooo sexxxxyyyyy'

Laive asked Tremaine if he knew how to do it and he shook his head no. Grabbing his hand, L pulled them into the crowd of her relatives and smiled, "I'll show you. It's easy."

They stood side by side while Laive called out the first sequence of steps with a full grin. Watching him pick it up, she encouraged Tremaine to keep going, "You got it. Now add the two steps at the end."

'Slide to the right, slide to the left...'

The sequence changed directions and now Tremaine was directly behind her, red cup in his left hand while he effortlessly grabbed the side of Laive's waist with the other. Completing the steps to the music, Laive couldn't stop blushing. They grooved along to the beat staying in sync without a care in the world. Positioning back where they started, Tremaine stopped mid stride and offered her some of his Hennessy.

"Tre-" Laive almost refused.

"Enjoy yourself." He put his cup to her lips and watched L take a hefty gulp. "I'ma drive us back, so you good."

....

Arriving in the back yard rather than coming through the front gate, Laive's parents were unloading the meat to go on the grill, requested sides, and a few other things they had to go back to pick up from the house. MèMè knew Laive was coming home at her request, and didn't want today to be any less than enjoyable when Lai crossed paths with her mother. No matter what she did to avoid those tense interactions between them, someone always set Laive off with a crass comment or backhanded compliment. She wanted Laive to move passed tolerance so she wouldn't be so angry all the time. It wasn't L's fault that most of her family lacked self awareness and it also wasn't Laive's job to teach them. MèMè wanted Laive to just move on in silence and let her success and joy be the elephant in the room. Those chips on Lai's shoulders were starting to eat away at her being before Trey came and took her from home.