His Mistress, Her Nightmare (COMPLETED)

Family Matters

I pull up, to my parents' house and prepare myself. A good amount of family is here, since the big meal, will be at our house. It's usually a good time, every time I come home, but you can never be too sure. Being an only child makes them worry about me, a lot. They want to know any and everything but I'm 21; that's not going to happen. "Hi mama." I hug her, as I open the door. "Hey, baby." She hugs me back. "How was the drive?" "Not bad. I've gotten used to it." I laugh. Our puppy, Cody, comes running and jumping. I miss my little baby. "Well I'm about to start dinner. Nothing big, since we'll be eating like pigs, tomorrow. Your cousins and uncles are downstairs. Your aunt, is taking a nap and your dad will be home within the hour." "Sounds good. I guess I'll take my bags, to my room." Cody follows me, to my room.

One thing I did miss is my room. Although they're always worried about me, my parents wanted to give me a little freedom. This house has two master bedrooms, so they gave me the one downstairs. They wasn't going to give me a room, in the basement, though. I walk into my room and reminisce about all of the crazy moments I've had in here. It's wild. I travel downstairs, to say hey to everyone. "Hey, Raine!" My cousin Destiny calls out. My aunts, uncles and cousins are the only ones who call me by my middle name "Lorraine". "Hey, girl!" Everyone else falls in line, for hugs. I see her twin, Darius and my other cousins Cairo, Marcie and Jamal. They're all in the movie theater with uncle J and P. 

I walk back upstairs, after a while. I really want to sit on our screened porch, in hopes of relaxing, until dinner. There's a fire place out here, so hopefully it'll keep me warm. Well us, since Cody is still on my heels. I check my phone and see that both Devin and Marcus has texted me. They're both checking to see if I made it home safely. Ugh, when will this guilt go away? I text them both back and it leads to conversations. Destiny comes up, a few moments later. "Mind if I join you? I'm tired of the boys." She says. I laugh super hard because Marcie is such a tomboy. She really believes she's one of the guys. I pat the seat next to me. Cody jumps up and sits on the other side of me. "So how's college going?" She asks. "It's not bad." I sigh. "I've gotten used to this semester's work load and work schedule. How's high school?" "Terrible. All the girls hate me." "What? Why?" I should've checked in on her more. "I've been accused of getting plastic surgery. I think I'm cute because I have nice skin and a nice body. I think I'm better than everyone else, because my family got money. The list goes on." It brings me back to my high school experience. I was treated the same way. "You know they've always hated on the Wests. God forbid you join the cheer-leading team." "I did, though." We both crack up laughing. It's really a shame that your own culture can be the best haters.

My mom finishes dinner, just as my dad pulls up, so we head back inside. We don't always eat dinner together but it's holiday season, a time for family. I hug my dad probably too tight. I'm a daddy's girl. Always have been. My mom slick hates it. "You know just what to do to make my night." My dad says as he kisses my mom, on the cheek. She made his favorite dish, seafood pasta, with garlic toast, on the side. They're so cute, sometimes. Destiny and I help set the long dining room table, before everyone else comes up. "Yes, Auntie. This is how you start thanksgiving." Jamal says, as they come from downstairs. That boy is a comedian. 

We all eat and talk about our days. Apparently my dad had a little rough one. He's the CEO of a management company, that has over 150 properties. It's a family job, that he wants me to control, one day, after I graduate of course. To be honest, I'm more into fashion and production. He knows that. Unless I can be the marketing manager or someone in charge of the face of the brand, I don't want it. I could care less about the upholstery of buildings, residents and their issues. My mom does interior design, for businesses. I'd rather do that than work at the office. Basically all the men, on my dad's side work there. Uncle J is in marketing. Uncle P is in accounting. Uncle Andrew, who'll be here tomorrow, is a manager, at one of the properties. Cairo and Jamal are training to be assistants, at one of the properties. I'm not a man but my dad still wants me to be there, to continue his and grandpa's legacy, rather than one of his brothers. I don't know why.

***

I wake up, to the smell of heaven. I just know my mom outdid herself. She does every year. I quickly shower, wash my face and brush my teeth. I need to sink my teeth into something. We don't do a dinner, we do a lunch. Our family usually goes back home on Thanksgiving night and they don't all live close. I come downstairs and greet everyone. "There she go!" Uncle Andrew brings me in, for a hug. He's so proud of me, for doing so well in school. His daughter, Amerie isn't like me, at all. She barely passes and he always tells her to be like me. She resents me for it. She gives me a weak smile and an even weaker hug. Everyone notices but no one says anything. We don't speak, ever, even though she closest to me in age. She didn't even want to go to the same college as me. She didn't want anyone to know I was her cousin and start judging her for having a 2.5. No matter how much I told her it didn't matter, she didn't want to hear it.

Both tables, the adult adults and the baby adults/kid's tables are set. We all stand in a circle and hold hands, to bless the food. Once done, we line up, to eat. "Man, I just know that turkey is bussing." I hear Jamal say. "Boy, you a fool." Auntie Fran says. I know she sometimes wonder where her son gets his foolery from. Once we get our food, we all talk just about anything. "So, you got a boyfriend yet?" Amerie asks. "No...but I'm dating someone." I answer. "How long have y'all been dating?" "Umm...just a few months." "Y'all gone be official anytime soon?" I pause. I honestly don't know. "Umm..." I'm interrupted by a text, from Marcus. "That must be him." She yells out. "Marcus." Jamal reads. Why did I let him sit next to me. "No, this is just my manager. My maybe boyfriend is Devin." "Tell your manager, you're with family. Don't be texting bout no work stuff." Little does he know, I'm sure it has nothing to do with work.

Just as I finish eating, a call from Marcus comes in. I look around, before heading out to the  front porch. "Hey, I think I'm in your area. I remember you said where your parents live and my cousin's house, is out here." He says. "What neighborhood are you in?" I ask. "Chester Park." Wow. That's literally the next neighborhood over. "That's way too freaky. I'm in Chester View, next door." "Oh really? Good, I wanna see you." His words shock me. I can't risk my family seeing him. "Um...I don't know about that." "Come on, it'll only be for a second." He pleads. Of course I give in and send him the address. I wonder if his wife questions where he goes, sometimes.

He pulls up, in under 5 minutes. Thankfully, we have so many cars, in the drive way that he has to park a the top of the hill, on the street. "I had to see this face. My family is already driving me crazy." He grabs my hand and kisses it. "What's wrong?" I laugh. "My brother is sending his kids to us again, this Christmas. My grandparents and parents are upset that he let his wife take him away from these Christian traditions. We practically begged him to come, today." "Wow. I'd never make you do that." As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret it. "I know you wouldn't, Princess. That's what I love about you. You're so caring." He loves something about me?? Woah. "Well speaking of caring, will you be prepared to take care of your brother's kids?" I ask, changing the subject. "Yea, we have some good times. They're 11 and 15, now, so we can do more stuff like bowling and games. They love Uncle Marcus." He smiles and I melt, again. My phone vibrates and it's from Devin. Hey, when you get a chance, we need to talk. That can't be good.