Starry Nights Of Pleasure

Chapter 2

CALISTA DRUCKER

DINNER WITH THE FAMILY

The day for the much talked about dinner finally came and there was so much activity in the house. The tables had to be laid, the tapestries had to be taken care of, and everything needed to be in order.

I did not have to help with anything. Not when there was a sufficient number of domestic staff to take care of all that needed to be taken care of. I spent the evening learning how I would carry myself when it was finally time for dinner. I was in my room alone, learning how to position my face when I spoke and in what coiffure I would carry my hair when the knock came. It was what I had expected. It was Jessica coming to call me.

"Your mother says to get ready before the next hour."

Her voice called from the hall and I dropped on the bed with some frustration.

When I stepped out of the bathroom fifteen minutes later, the guests had started to arrive. I ran to the window and looked down at the parking lot. Someone had arrived but was yet to come to the house. I felt my heart start to beat faster. Maybe it was King Cauley. Or maybe it was his equally good-looking brother, Zane Cauley. The guy who had so much suave and smiled the smile that melted hearts and broke the inhibitions of beautiful ladies.

My mother had no idea what mess I was into. She was happy with her new husband, Baptiste Cauley while it was a constant struggle within me to stay sane.

I rushed through my makeup and hair and when I stood by the mirror later that evening, there was a satisfaction about how I looked. I did not have to wear makeup to look good. But I did, anyway.

I liked how my hair was held up, each curl kept up by small shiny pins that would sparkle under the chandeliers.

I smiled. There was so much to look forward to and there was so much to be nervous about. I chose to be nervous, not because I wanted to but because I could not shake it off as I started down to the hall. I had heard two other cars pull into the driveway and I knew without guessing that my stepbrothers had arrived with their women.

If there was a way I could have avoided having to sit at a meal with King Cauley, then I would have gladly stayed back in my room. But the essence of the dinner was to bring us together as a family and help us get to know each other and our partners. I did not have a partner because Adrian and I had parted ways just before my mom remarried, and I had to move with her into my stepfather's mansion, which was sure a haven for us.

As long as I did not have to face King Cauley, I was safe.

"I am happy you found the love of your life again."

I heard the voice float up to me as I started to descend the stairs. They had come and were having a conversation with their father before the meal was ready.

Baptiste laughed at the words. I knew whose voice it was, it was Zane's. He was the cheerful one who made jokes. I didn't know much about both brothers, but I had seen them both once, and it was Zane who looked receptive.

"What is life without love and family?"

Baptiste asked. There were no replies. I walked the rest of the steps with wobbly legs. I felt clumsy all of a sudden, knowing that everyone had converged in the living room and their eyes came to me when I descended the last step. I had a smile permanently plastered on my face and with it, I walked to my mom to say hello, and then to Baptiste. And then....there was King and the lady sitting together on a couch somewhere away from other members of the family and I sighed. He was not looking at me at least.

But there was Zane. He was smiling at me and his arms were wide open before I reached him. He enclosed me in a hug briefly.

"Sister, I'm so happy to see you".

He said above my head.

I pulled back and nodded, still smiling.

"I'm really happy to see you too.... brother."

King's attention was now on us and I wished he had not paid us attention at all.

When we started with dinner, there was so much life at the table. The guys congratulated our parents on their joining severally and I did too.

"You know, it is King who really should follow in your footsteps and get married soon."

Zane said over a mouthful.

I swallowed hard.

King had come with his girlfriend, Zora Mortenson, and his closest friend, Willem Thaddeus, whom he said was family to him. It was okay for Zane to make jokes about him getting married because no one frowned.

There was laughter and Zora only left her fork to hold on to his hand that was on the table.

"We hope to get married soon. Real soon."

She said with a smile and everyone cheered. But when King raised his head from his plate for the first time, his eyes met mine. And held.

They were hard cold eyes. Not the eyes that looked at me each night in my dreams. I saw his hand grip the fork even harder while the laughter continued.

I looked away, suddenly feeling too hot.

"Once I'm sixty, I'll want a couple of grandkids to play with, and I'm counting on you guys to supply that."

Baptiste said. There was another bout of laughter and then Zora said,

"We plan to have kids, King and I. That won't be a problem, I guess."

There was a general agreement from everyone. Except King whose eyes had gone back to his plate. When he lifted his head again, it was to scowl at Willem for laughing too loudly. I felt like I did not exist then because I was neither laughing nor scowling. I was trembling.