was it ever real?

36. the birthday party

the party has began

the kitchen is bustling with activity as family members rush around preparing food and drinks for the gathering. pots and pans clatter on the stove while lingering smells of jerk chicken and sweet plantains purify the kitchen air. little cousins dash in and out of the house, grabbing Kool-aid pouches and stealing a bag of chips or two before the adults scold them by saying, "you're either in or out".

the backyard is just as eventful. even from the inside of the house, the kids outside are heard splashing and playing marco polo in the pool. aunties and uncles play cards in the backyard balcony, laughing and humming cookout sings together while also slapping at their arms and legs to repel the bugs. the neighborhood is finally spirited and festive even though the sun is slowly setting. the local children still play basketball in the street and ride their bikes around, regarding the amount streetlights beginning to turn on. just like old times.

however, on the deck stairs, vinnie and I are stuck in the backyard as well. getting interrogated by each relative at the function about every detail from the night of the restaurant. it's still weird that i don't see the cousin that's basically at fault for this whole thing. aunties and uncles interrupt our conversations just to ask when the wedding will be. they questioned vinnie's background and every detail about his life to see if he'd fit the role of a good "husband".

little did they know, he already proved that early this morning.

although i thought it would be an uncomfortable and awkward situation for him, it isn't. instead, he's laughing and joking with them and smiling so gently.

"jenny, how come yuh never tell mi 'bout yuh engagement?" auntie sita's faint bajan accent pokes out as she smiles and playfully pinches my cheek.

"I'm sorry auntie," i chuckle looking down at my hands as i fidget with dad's gift box, "we were trying to make it a surprise for after the party."

she nods, then glimpses at vinnie, "well.." she begins to speak but squints at him, searching for a clue regarding his name. he notices this, and answers for her while still gently smiling. "vinnie,"

"well vinnie, it was nice to meet yuh fuh di first time. don't forget mi invitation to di wedding!" she teases, directing her pointer finger at both vinnie and me before walking away from the deck stairs.

finally, peace.

closing my eyes and barely leaning my head back, i groan turning my attention to vinnie. he's already looking at me. but this gaze looks different, it looks like something that would get us into trouble. he gazes into my eyes, longing like he's fascinated with my features.

"doesn't this feel...kinda nice?" he chuckles, looking away.

i assume he's talking about us.

and he's right. although in the beginning, we weren't overly affectionate, by restricting our fake relationship to standing close and holding hands, now it feels natural. as we sit next to each other, hand in hand, shoulder leaning on shoulder, it does feel good. it feels good to know that this is the real deal. to know we both reciprocate the same amorous feelings.

"it does."

sitting so close to him makes me forget where i am. it makes me overlook the fact that we're sitting in a backyard filled with relatives. and although i overlook it just that quickly, i also realize that no one's paying attention to us. so, one quick kiss wouldn't hurt, right?

vinnie's watching solana play fetch with nano. her smile is wide, causing her eyes to squint when she giggles. nano plays gently with her, practically like he understands she's just a kid. his head shifts in different directions as lana waves the toy back and forth.

when vinnie eventually realizes that I've been gaping at him the whole time with idolizing eyes, he grins. he glances around us before swiping quick kisses from my cheek, tickling me. my shoulders raise and i can't help but giggle.

"you both make me sick," amorah smirks when she and aaron suddenly appear to have slipped from the back door. aaron's behind her carrying two red cups and smiling. one leans on the railing and the other pulls a chair.

vinnie and i flinch and hurry to turn around to catch sight of them.
we both look quite guilty.

"hey, jen?" aaron passes one of the two cups to amoran and puts the other on the deck floor, continuing to ask "how come the rest of your aunts and uncles have bajan accents but your dad doesn't?"

vinnie's face twists and he let out a spluttered sigh, "that's such a random question."

although it is a random question, i don't mind answering it.

"my dad's the youngest sibling, so by the time they immigrated from barbados my dad was a baby. only he and my aunt sita stay in America now. the other two live in Canada."

he gradually nods his head, intrigued. amorah on the other hand, doesn't. in fact, she looks like she's analyzing something. she glances at both me and vinnie back and forth, squinting her eyes and tilting her head. she's taking notice of us unconsciously holding hands. "you both are much more loving today." she studies my facial expression and how quickly my eyes look away. vinnie's no better because he looks away too, but also twirls at his hair and smiles.

"did you both have a fight or something?" she asks the both of us, but when we don't answer she taps her tongue on the top of her roof and smirks even harder. "fine, don't answer."

the four of us remain silent for a few seconds until we burst into laughter loud enough to draw a few relatives' attention. it then turns into silent uncontrollable laughter that byrns the ans of the stomach, due to the particular fact that we were too loud.

just then, our laughter along with the activities in the backyard has wavered. the kids have paused their games to gather outside of the pool and the loud 90s reggae jams halt as well. jamila walks out the back door and toward dad with the birthday cake on both her palms. cameras follow after her and soon surround dad's shocked expression. his eyebrows raise causing wrinkles across his forehead. he smiles widens with the whites showing and a gaping jaw.

"this cake looks tasty!" he constantly beams, tears almost forming in the corners.

the rest of the family surrounds the card table he's seated at, and we start singing happy birthday. his pupils remain dilated when the cake is placed in front of him and he gazes into the glowing candles that dance. when it becomes time for him to make his wish, he takes a moment to look at every single family member in front of him, then proceeds to close his eyes and blow out the candles.

we all clap and shout, celebrating together but we're soon quiet again when dad raises and taps his glass to gather everyone's attention again. "family," he forms his greeting, smiling teary eyed "I'm so appreciative for each and every single one of you. this truly is an amazing birthday party!" but then, dad places his attention on me and directs his glass toward me, causing the whole family to glance at me. "before you all go on, i have one last announcement to make. as you all know my coconut has gotten engaged."

they shout and woop once again.

"well, before it was spoiled, it was supposed to be announced after the party but since it's too late for that, i'd like to say how proud i am of you coco." dad walks toward me, getting in between me, and vinnie's held hands to hug us.

"I'm so proud that my coconut is about to become one of the world's greatest bajan fashion designers. she's on her way to work for rihanna, and i couldn't be more proud. she's also going to be married soon and hopefully starting a family, so cheers to coconut!" he pulls the both of us in closer, but out the corner of my eye i see jamila throw the kitchen cloth on the ground and storm off into the house.

that's not good...i should talk to her.