Fall Romance (Title TBA)

9 - Big Family Dinner

Juliette and Ian returned to the memorial celebration only to learn that Juan Martinez had retired for the night and headed home. Everyone was concerned, asking if Juliette was ok, and where had she been, and why were she and Ian so muddy? But Juliette didn't mind. In fact, with her father out of the building, she felt she could breathe easier and enjoy the rest of the celebration unencumbered.

Ian's crew numbered seven, including his mother and Keats. Juliette would have liked to have a nice sit-down conversation when she met his friends and family, but they were all grooving on the dancefloor while the DJ hosted karaoke. So they exchanged brief, shouted introductions, and then she and Ian jumped in to join the jig. They danced until their feet hurt, and then they kicked off their muddied shoes and danced some more.

Ian showed off his skills as he twisted and jived to Mrs. Genevieve's timid rendition of "Hey Ya" by Outcast; then he played air guitar and head-banged to one of his friends (Juliette thought his name might have been Eric?) singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. Juliette was laughing and moving so much she could hardly breathe.

At one point she saw Keats dancing beside the teen that Juliette had spied on the porch next to her parents' house. She wore a lovely black dress with a wide, green silk sash tied in a bow at her hip. Juliette caught her eye and waved to the pale girl. But the teen was clearly uninterested in interacting with her; she completely ignored the wave and turned her back on Juliette as she continued to dance. Ouch, Juliette thought. But the girl was young and entitled to her feelings. Oh, well.

One of Ian's friends, a curvy woman with stunning red hair and brown eyes that were almost gold, came close to Juliette as they danced wildly beside one another.

"Are you going to sing?" the woman asked, speaking loudly over the music.

"Maybe!" Juliette said at the same volume. "You?"

The woman shrugged. "Maybe!"

Feeling bold, Juliette leaned in close and said, "You're absolutely beautiful!"

The red-head's rhythm slowed for a few seconds and she looked taken aback. But then her smile grew wide and she grasped Juliette's hand.

"You too!" she said, and the two of them jumped up and down, then threw their hands in the air as they danced even harder.

A few songs later, Ian pulled Juliette aside to suggest a duet they could sing together. When he named his desired song, she grasped onto his shoulder, looking incredulous.

"Are you serious?!" she cried, laughing. "I f****ing love that song! You're on, but I'm singing Socko's part!"

Ian was too happy to oblige.

Their rendition of "How the World Works" from Bo Burnham's Inside was a tone shift, to be sure, but it was an absolute hit. Much of the millennial audience even sang along. And Juliette was thrilled to hear that Ian could actually hold a tune.

There was one absolutely heartfelt moment that night when the entire venue held up their glasses and shouted, "Carmen Martinez!" followed by fervent cheers. Juliette's eyes misted over; this night had gone down just the way her mother would have wanted, if not better.

Before the night was over, Juliette was drinking and laughing with Ian and his friends as if she had known them for years. She had practically been bullied into promising to attend their next big family dinner, which one of them hosted at least once a month. Juliette had to admit she was excited to attend. For the first time since she arrived, she began to feel something slightly akin to being home.

Somewhere on a forgotten table beside her shawl, her phone buzzed with a call from Alonzo. It went to voicemail.