Cherry’s Jubilee (Lunchtime Chronicles: Season 7)

Chapter 18

Cherry

“I can’t believe you were nervous about me meeting your family,” I say with a loud yawn. When the elevator opens to his penthouse, I peel off my t-shirt and walk to his room. “I was the life of the party,” I announce. “And my cake was a hit.”

My fears went away the instant his mother dragged me into the house. Things went better than I could have imagined. Everyone in the family was not only welcoming and warm but funny. They all make fun of each other.

“You were,” he says.

He unzips my shorts and pulls them down. I kick them to the corner and go to his bathroom. In desperate need of a shower, I strip naked, and he does the same. We spent the day eating, laughing, and talking. His mom and sisters kicked the guys out of the gourmet kitchen while I baked, and my strawberry tiramisu was a huge hit. Daniel Senior had grabbed and shoved the last slice in his mouth and the rest of the family got so mad they pushed him into the pool. We finally left thirty minutes ago, after I promised to bake two cakes for their next gathering.

Once the shower gets hot, I put on my shower cap and step in. Water from eight showerheads hit my skin. Daniel follows me in, and we take turns washing each other .

After drying me, he carries me to the bedroom. We both slide between the sheets without any clothes on, and I move close to intertwine our legs.

“So, would you be willing to meet my family in two weeks? It’s my dad’s birthday, and he’s barbequing.”

“Count me in,” he says. “Now, how about you climb on top of me and rub that pussy on me.”

“I’m gonna do more than just rub it on you,” I say. I climb on his body and take him in a possessive kiss. We don’t come back up for air until we both scream out in ecstasy.

“For someone who is so smug about being so smart, you sure spend a lot of time away from your job,” Ashley hisses the following Friday afternoon. It’s closer to five-thirty, so I’m surprised to see her still here.

I arrived this late because she normally would have left by now. I wonder if she knew I’d be here and waited. Daniel is meeting with a client and won’t be back for another thirty minutes.

“Don’t you have a lunch to order or a hotel room to book?” I wave my hand and sit down on the couch.

“I can’t wait until he dumps you and knocks you down a peg or two.”

“While you wait for that, I’ll wait for Rob to stop cheating on you,” I snort.

She tenses at that, and I can practically see steam coming out of her ears. “And you think Daniel Jubilee will what? Pledge his undying fidelity to you? Men aren’t built that way. You’re only here because our grandfather couldn’t stop slumming.” She gestures at me, and I laugh in her face .

My grandmother was a Julliard educated dancer, and before she died, she told me that my grandfather was willing to leave his wife for her. She said no and decided she deserved better than a man willing to abandon his family. She said he was a liar who claimed to be a widower. She found out he was married when his wife knocked on her door. She realized she was pregnant a month later.

She never married and only had my mother. My grandfather saw Mother occasionally but cared for her financially. My maternal grandma was gone a lot for work, and my mother was mostly raised by her grandparents. Grandma confessed to me on her deathbed that she regrets being gone so much and blamed herself for my mom’s self-esteem issues.

“Slumming? You mean the woman who decided she deserved better than a lying cheater? Look in the mirror, girl. You’re just like your grandma, aren’t you? Willing to put up with a man like Rob for what? At least women in your grandmother’s generation had fewer options. What’s your excuse? And don’t worry about me and Daniel. That’s none of your damn business. Don’t you have a wedding to plan?”

I pull out my laptop to review receipts a client sent me earlier, but Ashley still won’t leave.

“You’re only doing this to get to me. Just like you won’t do the right thing and give up the building.”

“When have I ever done anything to get to you, Ashley?” I ask as if I’m bored. “You transferred to my school. You majored in accounting until you realized you’re too dumb, and you went after Rob because you are too stupid to read the room. You’re obsessed with me, girl.” I look up and give her a fake smile. “I’d be flattered if it wasn’t creepy. And give up the building left to me and my sister? Girl, please.” I gesture for her to leave.

“I told my mother I didn’t want Solange to cater my party,” she says. “But no! She wanted to put you in your place.”

I look at her and raise my eyebrows. I put my finger by my ear and swirl it around like she’s crazy. “What place is that? Highly educated and entrepreneurial? Living our best lives happy and unbothered? Yeah. She showed us.” I cackle at the thought.

“You’re always saying how you want nothing to do with me or my family, but here you are, fucking my boss,” she hisses.

“We make love. It’s all love all the time,” I correct.

“As if someone like him could ever be serious about you.”

I stand and point at her. She gasps and takes a step back. “Watch your mouth,” I warn. “And I know you don’t know from personal experience, but my man is very serious about me.”

The office door opens as the words leave my mouth, and Daniel walks in. He comes straight to me, cups my face, and kisses me much too indecently for company.

“I’ve missed you,” he says before kissing me deeply again. He finally notices Ashley after breaking the kiss. “Good night, Ashley. Have a good weekend.”

“Good night, Daniel,” she says in a high-pitched voice. “I left something on your desk for you. You have a good weekend as well.” She walks out with her head held high without saying anything else.

“Let me change, and we’ll go to dinner,” Daniel says. A loud clap of thunder breaks as the words leave his mouth.

“I’d rather go to your place and make us dinner.” “Deal,” he says as he looks down at his desk. He picks up an envelope in the color of pink bubblegum. He rips it open and says, “Ashley’s wedding invitation. We’ll go, and when she gets back from her honeymoon, she can start reporting to another executive.”.

“What? You’re getting rid of her?” I ask, incredulous. I walk to him and look at the obnoxious envelope. I roll my eyes at the part where it says women must wear pink.

“She’ll still have a good position. Just not with me.” He takes off his suit jacket and loosens his tie. “I can’t have an assistant that makes my girlfriend uncomfortable. You being unable to eat or drink in my office doesn’t work for me.” He gives me a peck and shuts down his computer. “Let’s go.”

“So, are you going to need a dress or what?” he asks as he follows the GPS directions to my parents’ house. It’s a warm Saturday afternoon. I turn my body to look in the back of his Mercedes SUV to ensure the cakes I baked last night are secure. “Not that I don’t love those power pantsuits you wear, but if you want a dress, I’ll buy you as many as you need.”

“Um, what?” I lift my bottled water to my lips, unsure of what he’s talking about.

“For Ashley’s wedding.” The bottle stops halfway to my mouth. I slowly put it down and turn to look at his profile. He’s looking straight ahead at the road.

“I’m not going to see the Bride of Frankenstein get married. Are you insane?”

“Well, before I met you, I promised her I’d attend. I have a girlfriend, and I want her to come with me. That’s how that works, Cherry Bomb. Are you insane?”

“I’m not going,” is all I say. I cross my arms and look out the window.

He puts his hand on my lap and squeezes it. “I want you to go with me, and I promise this will be the last time. When Ashley returns from her honeymoon, she won’t be my assistant anymore. We’ll go to the wedding and dip into the reception. We won’t stay long. Please.” He squeezes my knee again.

“I knew I should have kicked you out of my apartment when you showed up six days late. Fine.” I try to move his hand off my lap but can’t. He comes to a stop at an intersection and quickly kisses my cheek. “I’m getting an expensive dress, shoes, and accessories. You’re gonna be damn near broke by the time I’m done with your ass. ”

Then I remember Ashley’s wedding invitation asked that the female attendees wear pink, and I get an idea. A slow, evil smile spreads across my face.

“Nowhere near broke, but thanks, Cherry,” he says. He turns right onto the quiet, sleepy street I grew up on. I point to the white colonial home at the end of the cul-de-sac. He pulls into the driveway, and when I open the car door, I can smell my dad’s barbeque. The side gate opens, and he comes out.

Dad’s casual in cargo shorts and his favorite basketball team jersey. He opens his arms, and when I run into them, he lifts me off my feet and spins me around like he did when I was little.

“My Cherry Berry,” he says before putting me down and kissing both cheeks. “And who is this?” he asks as he looks at Daniel.

“Dad, this is my boyfriend, Daniel Jubilee. Daniel, this is my dad, Calvin Cross.” Dad leaves me and stands in front of Daniel. Dad’s a tall man, and they stand eye to eye. Dad extends his hand, and the two men shake. My father pulls him into a hug.

“Jubilee?” Dad asks. “ The Jubilee family?”

“No, Dad. A knock-off Jubilee,” I say with an eye-roll.

I watch my mother walk over to us from the corner of my eye. She’s walking slower than usual and not making eye contact with me.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Cross,” Daniel says.

“It’s Cal,” Dad says. “And this is Cherry’s mom, Michelle. Chelly, this is Daniel Jubilee, and he’s Cherry’s boyfriend.”

I could tell my mother recognized Daniel before my dad finished the introduction. She looks up at him with her mouth hanging open and looks back at me as if to confirm, but I refuse to make eye contact. My mom offers him her hand, and he shakes it. He turns it over and kisses the back of it. Mom blushes like a schoolgirl.

“It’s nice to see you, Daniel,” she says. “You probably don’t remember, but I knew you when you were a boy. We came to your house for a pool party, and you tried to feed Cherry to the cat. Welcome to our home, and please call me Michelle.” She smiles at him .

I’m not surprised by her reaction. Both my parents have always been gracious with whoever we bring over.

Solange and Kirby pull up behind Daniel’s car, and after we greet each other, my dad says, “Sol and Kirby, take Daniel to the deck and get him a drink. The two of us need to talk to Cherry for a minute.”

Solange looks from Dad to me, and I know she’s trying to figure out a way to stay so she can play referee. I’m sure my dad knows that too. After I hand Kirby the cakes, Dad gestures for them to go.

Once it’s just the three of us, my mom gives me a tentative smile. I give her one back, but mine is more fake than tentative. She opens her arms, and we share an awkward hug. I pull away quickly.

“How did you meet him?” she asks of Daniel. “How does he treat you?” she whispers. “I can’t believe you’re dating Daniel Jubilee, and Solange didn’t tell me.”

“Fine,” I say. “And I asked Solange not to; she respects my boundaries. You see how that works?” I see her smile leave her face, and some of her confidence retreats, but she stands straight and plasters another smile on her face. “Do you want me to step aside so Ashley can have him?” The smile vanishes again. “Well, she’s getting married. Should I give him to Amira?”

She looks away from me, but I see some tears in her eyes. I immediately feel two feet tall. This is not how I wanted things to go when I agreed to come here. My father doesn’t deserve that.

“This is why I wanted some time alone, just the three of us,” my dad says. His voice has an edge to it now. It’s not a tone I get from him often. Me and Solange call it his dad voice , and it only comes out when he’s mad at one of us.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” I concede. “I don’t want to fight.”

“Well, for someone who doesn’t want to fight, you sure come out swinging,” Dad says. “I want you to forgive your mother, Cherette,” he orders.

“Calvin, stop—” Mom begins, but Dad holds up his hand.

“She’s sorry. She’s cried every day for the past year. She’s finally seeking therapy because I told her if she ever did anything like that again, I’d leave.” My eyes nearly bug out at that admission. Mom’s tears stream down her face. “She’s working through her issues, Cherry, but you cutting her off and never coming here has got to stop. I’ve been to therapy with your mom, and I understand her better now.” When I open my mouth to argue with him, he says. “I don’t agree with how she’s handled things, how she forced you girls to be around those people. Now—”

“Dad, why are we having this discussion in the street? I agreed to come celebrate your birthday, and now you’re making all these demands on me.”

“I’m asking you to stop freezing your mother out of your life!” he practically yells.

“Mom can speak for herself!”

“Well, you haven’t talked to me in a year, Cherry,” she says through her tears.

“Oh my God, please stop the waterworks,” I say. “I told you why. I’ve had enough. It was one thing when you made us go visit them, and they treated us like lepers, but for you to advocate that we give Ashley and Amira a building worth millions was the last straw. Why do you care about their well-being more than that of your own children? These people wouldn’t spit on me and Solange if we were on fire. You should have stood up for us to them, but you didn’t. You—”

“I know!” she yells. “I know, and I’m sorry.” She grabs both of my hands, and she tightens her hold when I try to pull away. “That was a shit moment. One of the lowest moments of my life. I’ll spend the rest of my life apologizing.”

I manage to extricate my hands from hers slowly. I look at my father, feeling completely betrayed and blindsided by this ambush on the sidewalk.

“I think it’s unfair of you to dump this on me right now. ”

“You haven’t been here in a year. I don’t know when I’d get the two of you together again,” my dad says without an ounce of remorse.

I feel tears pool in the back of my eyes. “I think it’s best if I get Daniel and we—”

“Cherry Bomb!” Daniel says as he walks from the side of the house. He’s holding a fruity drink. He hands it to me, and I take a sip. It’s Solange’s signature cocktail. “I’ve had two already,” he says, holding his glass up. “Your sister is generous with the vodka.”

“Daniel, I think we should go—”

“Hell no,” my dad says. “Daniel is practically drunk. Come on and let’s eat.” My mom quickly wraps her arm around Daniel’s, and they walk to the house together.

I decide to ignore my dad and follow them, but he grabs my wrist.

“I’m leaving in an hour. I thought you understood.”

“I do. Come here.” Instead of taking me to the back, we go through the front door. Nothing’s changed in the year since I’ve been here. The house is still immaculate. Our pictures and degrees are still on the wall, and the furniture is still the same. “Sit with your old man.” He takes me to the kitchen and pulls out a chair. I can see everyone on the deck laughing and talking. Kirby is operating the grill, and my sister hands Daniel another drink. She’s going to make sure he’s too drunk to drive for the next few hours.

“I’m deducting this time from the hour.” I cross my arms and look away.

“Do you know how proud I am of you?” That’s not what I expected him to say, and it takes the wind out of my sails.

“You play dirty, old man,” I grumble.

“Do you know how much I love you? How much your mother loves you?” I sit up straight at that and purse my lips.

“You? Yes. My mother? Not as much as she loves Ashley and Amira.”

“Cherry— ”

“Dad, you’re being unfair, and this conversation proves you don’t understand where I’m coming from.” I try to stand again, determined to leave this time. Daniel will let me drive his car, but Dad pulls me back.

“Well, I love you. I’m proud of you. Have I not told you that your entire life?”

“Yes, Dad. What does that have to do with anything?”

“Your mother didn’t grow up like that.”

“But you love her. You’ve loved her for over thirty years. Her kids love her. I don’t want to hear this again. Stop making excuses.”

“Well, when you grow up with a piece of crap father and a mother who was gone half the time, it does things to your self-esteem and how you see yourself. She’s confessed a lot of things to me in therapy, Cherry. She’s carried a lot of pain, hurt, and rejection. You can never understand these things because we ensured you didn’t experience them. Your great-grandmother practically raised her, and it wasn’t a great environment. I’m not making excuses for what happened last year, but—”

“It sure sounds that way, though.”

“Why are you so damn stubborn?”

I stare into his eyes, ready to tell him I’m just like him, but the sliding glass door opens, and the rest of my family and Daniel come inside.

“Mom’s showing Daniel your old dance recitals,” Solange giggles.

I stand and try to grab my mother’s phone from Daniel, but he moves it away.

“How come you’ve never twirled for me?” he asks.

“Because I was the worst ballerina ever,” I admit.

“Kirby and Solange, set the table outside. Michelle and I will put the food out and we’ll eat. I want to get to know Daniel better. Sol, mix up some more drinks after you set the table. It’s about time this family has some goddamn fun.”

“Forced fun is my favorite,” Kirby says.