The Jump

25 Introductions

As Rachel stepped out onto the patio in a short floral patterned wrap dress, Lucinda couldn't help but take in her hourglass frame. Her chest tightened as her gaze went to the sexy and strappy high heeled sandals that wrapped all the way up Rachel's toned calf muscles. The ruby red polish on her toes matched the polish on her fingernails and plump lips too. Rachel was like a goddess with her brown hair floating in a graceful cascade down her tanned shoulders. Her green eyes practicallly beamed like emeralds too, as they zeroed in on Raif and only Raif.

Lucinda swallowed down the sudden tightness which had migrated from her chest to her throat. Something told her that Rachel purposely dressed this way to get under her skin. The woman had to have known that Lucinda would be present at the barbeque and wanted to show off. Perhaps even intimate her? And it worked, because suddenly she was self conscious about her purple dress looking like a potato sack.

"He's in the car. I told him to wait while I checked things out first," Rachel announced.

"Well, how do things check out?" Raif asked.

Lucinda could tell that Raif's nerves had kicked in again by the way he jiggled the loose change in his pocket. By now she knew that anytime he was nervous or stressed, he had to do something with his hands. Audrey and Celeste returned to the patio and at first they froze in the doorway with wide eyes, but then proceeded to step out. Celeste politely said hello as she took a seat, but Audrey did a semi-circle around Rachel and looked her over from head to toe.

"Well, well, well. You sure look different," Audrey said flatly and then sat by Lucinda as if declaring who's side she was on.

"Raif, would you like to come out to the car with me?" Rachel asked through her teeth, apparently perturbed by Audrey.

"Just as long as you don't abduct him," Audrey chided with a sweet smile.

Rachel ignored her and spun to walk into the house. Raif began to follow her, but before he stepped into the doorway, Lucinda sprang up from her seat, hugged him and whispered that everything would be ok. He nodded with a sigh, a brief moment of relief passing over his face and then kissed her before disappearing. For a few beats Lucinda remained there, still facing the doors until Audrey broke her from her trance.

"So, Lucinda, tell us more about yourself." She gave the seat next to her a pat.

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Raif trailed behind Rachel as she slammed open the storm door to go out to the car. It bounced back toward him from the force, which he thankfully caught in time before it smacked him in the face. When Rachel was upset, she didn't have a problem letting everyone know it. That was the one thing he never liked about her since it reminded him of her mother, Eaddie. As teens in love, he often ignored her tantrums, but as a grown man, there was no way he would allow her to be disrespectful. Not to him. Not to his family. And least of all to Lucinda.

"She just had to show up, didn't she!" Rachel huffed as she clomped down the steps and onto the gravel driveway.

"Well, she is my family. You were the one who wanted our son to meet everyone at once."

"She lives six hours away, I didn't expect her to come up here! Who invited her anyway? She's never liked me cause she's always been so protective of you. Always jealous... but I bet she looooves Lucinda! The cow," Rachel growled.

Raif cut in front of her, stopping her dead in her tracks. "Hey! Don't you dare insult my aunt, and leave Lucinda out of this."

"FINE," Rachel hissed.

"And what did you expect Rachel? When we broke up my aunt was the person I confided in and vented to. She was the one who comforted me. Cause that's what aunts do." Raif ran his hands through his hair, blowing out air and then continued. "This isn't how I wanted things to start out. I'm pretty sure he can see us arguing from the car, so lets just pull it together and try to get along today. Please Rachel?"