Lethe Vita

Chapter 42

Hastily-crafted ambrosia took on the appearance of a culinary masterpiece by a five-star chef when bits of it rested on the corner of his lower lip.

Despite the close proximity to their friends, she helped herself to a feast upon that lip.

"What are you doing?" he whispered, eyes trained on the scene before them.

"You had some ambrosia," she said. "I was helping you to clean it up."

"You can help as much as you want," he said, scooping her against his chest. "Dude! You slept with sisters!" he added.

From his spot under Brenda, Dylan raised his clenched fist in Steve's direction, with the tip of his third finger sticking out.

"Holy shit, you did sleep with sisters," said Brenda.

"I'm gonna kill you, Sanders," said Dylan.

"She is not my sister," said Valerie. "Look," she added to Gina, "I'm sure you're a perfectly nice person, but I have sisters. I don't need another one, and David's been known to be wrong before."

"I wouldn't've had them tell you if there was a chance I was wrong," said David. "Her mom's name is Alberta. From Long Island."

"That means nothing," said Valerie. "Tons of people live in Long Island."

"Tons of people named Alberta do not live in Long Island," said Gina.

"Then I can assume you've met every woman in Long Island and know them all by name?" asked Valerie. "Is there some kind of club where all the Albertas of Long Island gather?"

"I think I know Long Island and the people on it better than you do," Gina snapped.

"Even if your mom is the Alberta David and I were told about," said Val, "I don't want anything to do with any part of that family. The family I have is the one I built, from the ground up. The family I have are these guys." She waved her hand around the room. "They and Curtis are the only family I need. And Suzie." Valerie looked at David. "And my boyfriend's family."

"Do you know how many years I've dreamed about having a sister?" asked Gina. "If there's the tiniest chance that I have one, that I have a little sister, that you're her, then I want to know."

"The only way you're going to know is if I consent to a DNA test, and I ain't doing that," said Val.

"Maybe we should leave you two alone to discuss this," said Dylan.

Valerie rejected his proposal.

"Val," said Donna, "you do realize what it means if your mom is Gina's mom?"

"It means I'll know the woman who didn't want me," said Val, "and I already know enough people who didn't."

Brenda made to stand from Dylan's lap.

He pulled her back down.

"It's between them," he said.

"Val's gonna say something she'll regret," said Brenda.

"She wouldn't be Val if she didn't," said Dylan.

Their exchange had been a whisper neither Gina nor Valerie had paid attention to, but Clare had heard every word.

"Gina's my cousin," said Donna. "If her mother is your mother; Val, it makes us cousins."

"Dude!" said Steve. "You slept with cousins!"

"Shut up, Steve," said David, along with the rest of the room.

"I would like to point out that I have never slept with sisters, nor cousins," Steve told Clare. "Although if I'd been given the opportunity..." he stopped himself.