Cherry’s Jubilee (Lunchtime Chronicles: Season 7)

Chapter 2

Cherry

The backyard of my aunt and uncle’s house looks like a pink implosion. I like pink as much as anyone, but this looks more like the last day of your period, not an engagement party. Instead of just one or two shades of pink, they are using all the shades.

It’s a perfect May day. Lord knows Ashley doesn’t deserve it. She deserves nothing but torrential rain, hail, and a tornado thrown in, but that would make me uncomfortable, and it would upset my sister. She’s talking to Kirby on the other side of the huge yard right now.

We’ve been here for a few hours, and guests are expected to start arriving in the next two. Fortunately, I haven’t run into any of the people throwing the party.

The only one I barely tolerate is my Uncle Whit, and that’s only because he’s barely said ten words to me my entire life. His wife, Karen, is the one who created the false rivalry between me and Ashley. I suspect that’s because we’re the same age, whereas Solange is four years older. Ashley’s younger sister, Amira, is always lurking around too, but since she’s three years younger, I haven’t had to deal with her much.

Uncle Whit is an attorney who works for Jubilee Financial Services, one of the country’s most elite financial institutions. Whatever the hell that means. My grandfather, Levar Turner, was Mr. Daniel Jubilee’s driver. Daniel Jubilee, the founder and CEO of Jubilee Financial Services. Folklore is that he treats his personal staff like family, schooling my grandfather on investments and paying to send all his children to college, including my mother.

The part about paying for my mother’s college is true, so I’m inclined to believe the rest. I also know that everyone kisses that old man’s ass, but when I tried to get a job in his company's accounting department, I was not hired. I didn’t drop my grandfather’s name. I could barely stand the man, but I got a letter after three rounds of intense interviews. They thanked me for my interest in their company but felt I was not a good match at the time. I was encouraged to apply again. I balled up the letter, threw it in the trash, and cursed Jubilee Financial Services, Daniel Jubilee Senior, and his entire family.

I look across the yard. Solange looks up and smiles at me. I scowl at her and give her the finger. She sticks her tongue out. I sigh and decide to get through the day as best as possible, but this place brings back not-so-good memories.

We’d been here for Easter a few times as kids. What was supposed to be fun turned into me bursting into tears when I was told to give the big chocolate bunny to Amira because she was little and wanted it. It was the main prize, and I earned it fair and square, but Mom, being the pushover that she was, insisted it was the nice thing to do because Amira was so young.

That’s my mother, and that attitude is why I’ve limited my contact with her for the past year. The last thing she tried to take from me and Solange to give to Ashley and Amira was too much. Solange still talks to her, but she knows not to mention it unless I ask. She understands my side and agrees with my feelings, but she still maintains a relationship with Mom. According to Kirby, my mother has respected Solange’s boundaries regarding her side of the family.

And the only reason my mom won’t be here today is because my dad booked a vacation for them to get her out of town.

As much as I hate that my sister took this job, I understand why. Uncle Whit has connections; maybe she can get more business. Whatever business she gets, though, will be done through her own hard work. She should know better than to expect our family to refer her or put in a good word for her to their rich friends.

While I set up the bar, I see Kirby and my sister speed-walking through the yard like the devil is after them. I look around Kirby’s large frame and realize that the devil is indeed after them. Well, the devils, because this is a mother-daughter duo. Instead of being over seven feet tall, these two are five-foot-five. Instead of sporting horns, they have fake smiles. My sister mouths sorry, and I give her the side-eye. So much for keeping these two bitches away from me. They both approach wearing a shade of pink that reminds me of salmon. I’ve always hated salmon, and now I know why.

“Cherry,” Ashley’s saccharin sweet voice says.

“Ashy,” I say, calling her the nickname I know she hates.

She rolls her eyes but doesn’t drop the fake smile. “I’m so glad you can be here to help!” She emphasizes the word help.

“Well, Solange and Kirby needed me, so here I am,” I say, hopefully making it clear that my presence has nothing to do with her, but she’s always been on the dumb side, so I take it further. “Otherwise, I’d be anywhere but here.”

“Auntie Michelle said you didn’t get my invitation to the party,” Ashley says.

Yeah, because she never sent it. Aunt Michelle, also known as my mother, is just too spineless to stand up to her brother and his bitch of a wife.

“That’s because you didn’t send one. Not that I’d come.” One thing I’m not is like my mother. Solange blanches when I say that. She’s closer in temperament to Mom than me.

“Cherry, enough. This is a party, and we don’t need your bad attitude here,” Ashley’s mother, Karen, says. She waves her hand as if to erase the fact that I just spoke the truth. “We’re happy you can be here to help, dear,” she says. “Don’t be a bitter Betty because Rob didn’t pick you.” She fluffs out Ashley’s hair. “You girls are all adults now. It’s time for you to leave the competition and the jealousy behind. We should all be celebrating Ashley.”

“Didn’t you create this so-called competition and jealousy?” I ask. “And trust me when I say Ashley is not competition; she has nothing for me to be jealous of.”

Solange slaps her forehead with her hand and looks down, but I still hear her giggles. Aunt Karen whips her head around to look at her. “Is something funny, Solange?” she asks. “I would think you have work to do since we took a chance on you and gave you this opportunity.” She sticks her nose in the air.

“Which you haven’t paid for yet,” I say. “But no, I’m not upset that Rob didn’t pick me.” I try to mimic her voice when I throw her words back on her. “I’m not the type of woman who would put herself in a situation where a man would have to choose me. Are women still doing that?” I ask.

“I suppose that’s why you’re still single,” Aunt Karen says, ignoring my question. Ashley puffs her double Ds in pride as if not being single is some coup. “At least Solange has that one.” She gestures at Kirby. “Even though he couldn’t get himself together enough to be drafted into the NFL, but still.”

“Well, you’re right. That one did choose Solange,” I say as I gesture at Kirby. He smiles and winks at me. “And I hear Rob chooses a lot of women.” I grin at that, especially when Ashley’s smile dips, and I see some color in her light brown cheeks. “But congratulations, Ashley, on your union. May you have the marriage you deserve.”

I almost feel sorry for her. I would if she wasn’t a snake like her mother. She’s also not very bright. Not when it comes to school or common sense. If she had any, she would have researched Robert Trousseau. Yes, he was a popular athlete at our university. Yes, he’s handsome, and his family is well-off, though he's not incredibly wealthy. Yes, he’s charismatic. But he's also dumb as a post. While in college, he slept with anyone willing, and since he was on the baseball team, many women were willing .

What Ashley assumed was a date between Rob and me was a tutoring session. We met at a coffee shop instead of in the library like usual. Despite Rob’s flaws, he’s a nice guy, and we’ve always gotten on well. When Ashley showed up at the same coffee shop with her friends, she wrongly assumed we were together that night. We had just finished up and had put the textbooks away.

She noticed me, smiled smugly, and approached our table like she was a hyena and we were a couple of baby gazelles. She shoved her tits in his face, and Rob couldn’t look away. Instead of laughing and rolling my eyes like I normally would, I just stood there and watched her flirt with him.

“And may you have everything you deserve,” Karen says. Ashley’s cheeks are still flushed, and I think this is the first time I’ve ever embarrassed her into silence. “I’ll let you girls continue.” Karen gives the fakest smile, and I know she’s going to throw her final shot. “We could not do this party without your—“ She looks from me to my sister and Kirby. She looks them up and down before finishing, “Your help .”

Ashley forgets her shame, sticks her nose in the air, and walks away with her mother.

“I hate those bitches,” I say loud enough so that they can hear me. I think they do because they pause their steps for a few seconds but never turn around. They continue and eventually walk out of my line of vision. “You are making me brunch tomorrow, and there better be bottomless mimosas,” I say as I point at them. “Now, go. I have work to do.” I give them my back and return to the liquor so I can decide how many bottles I’m going to take with me when I leave.

“You got it,” Kirby says. “And this might cheer you up. Ginger is on her way. She’s going to help you at the bar.” I sigh and rub the bridge of my nose before I turn to face them.

“You did not drag my best friend into this…” I lament, but I’m secretly relieved to have someone else here. Ginger always has my back.

“You’re welcome!” Solange says before running off.