The Joneses (20 page)

By the time Royce finished his shower, I was fully dressed. I admired myself in the mirror. The violet, strapless, silk chiffon dress accented my curves. I slipped my feet into a pair of white, diamond-studded pumps.

Royce stood fixing his tuxedo jacket. His vest and handkerchief matched my dress.

I picked up the pearls on the dresser. “Can you help me with this?”

Royce fastened the pearl necklace and gently placed a kiss on the nape of my neck. It sent chills down my spine. “Don't start nothing you can't finish,” I teased.

“I can finish it,” Royce assured me.

We locked lips. The sound of someone knocking on our door interrupted us.

I wiped the lipstick from his lips.

“Saved by the knock.” Royce looked back at me and smiled. He opened the door.

Charity walked in. “Happy birthday, Daddy.”

“Thanks, baby girl.” They hugged.

“Mom, you look gorgeous.”

“And so do you,” I responded. “I see you've changed clothes.”

Charity now had on a dark-purple, knee-length, beaded dress. She wore matching purple, snakeskin pumps. Charity and Hope were the best of both me and Royce.

“I just came upstairs to let you know the guests have arrived. Everybody's waiting on the guests of honor.”

Royce held his arm out. “It's time to make our grand entrance.”

“Are Hope and Lovie here?” I asked.

“Yes. Hope just arrived a few minutes ago.”

“Then I'm ready.” I placed my hand on top of Royce's arm.

We followed Charity down the cascading, spiral stairway. She waited for us at the bottom, then walked up and whispered into the ear of a man wearing a tuxedo. He announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Royce and Lexi Jones.”

He moved to the side. I plastered a smile on my face and held my head up high. I grasped Royce's arm tightly. The room was filled with some of our friends and frenemies, and all eyes were on us. My smile got bigger since tonight not only signified Royce's fiftieth birthday, but announced to the city that the Joneses were together—stronger than ever.

I
couldn't help but smile with pride. Lexi definitely knew how to throw a party. The funeral business really made a person appreciate seeing another year. Turning fifty was an important milestone in anyone's life. Some days, I felt like I was still in my twenties, yet on others, I felt every bit my age.

I soaked in the birthday greetings. I shook hands and hugged people as we walked through the dining room, en route to the patio.

“Royce, how does it feel to officially be an old man?” my cousin Michael asked.

“I'll let you know in another ten years,” I responded.

“Lexi, I must say, you do know how to throw a party. Food is good. Music is good. I can't wait for dinner,” Michael stated.

“Michael, you don't have to wait much longer. Follow us, it's time for dinner to be served.”

There were place cards at each table, so Lexi and I waited for everyone to locate their seats. Pastor McNeil said grace over the food, and soon everyone was piling food on their plates.

In between bites, I said, “Babe, you outdid yourself. You got all of my favorites. I might have to loosen this bottom button on my jacket.”

“I normally wouldn't serve Southern cuisine at a dinner party, but this is your night, and I wanted it to be special.”

“It is.” I wiped my mouth and then kissed her on the cheek.

“Ooh, I love it,” Shannon said, from her side of the table.

“Stay out of grown folks business,” Lexi said.

“Mama, be nice,” Charity said.

“I'm always nice,” Lexi responded.

I cleared my throat. Lexi looked at me and I looked back at her. She said, “I'm just saying.”

The waiters went around to each table and poured champagne. Lovie stood up, holding his glass in the air. “We wanted to thank everyone for helping us celebrate Dad's birthday. Dad, do you have anything you want to say?”

Everyone clapped. I stood up and raised my glass. “Thanks, Lovie.” I looked down at Lexi. “I want to thank my beautiful wife for being by my side. I love you, baby.”

“Oohs” and “Awws” were heard. Lexi's eyes glistened with love. She held her glass up in the air. “I love you, too.”

I looked around the table, and my eyes stopped on my kids. “God couldn't have blessed me with better kids. Lovie, Charity, and Hope.” I paused for a moment to soak it all in. “You make my days worth living. I love you all.”

“We love you, too, Daddy,” they responded.

I stared out at my guests. “To my family, friends, and colleagues, thank you for sharing a few hours of your time with me. It means a lot to me to see each one of your faces. As you know, with the kind of work that I do, I normally only see a crowd like this at a funeral. It's good to see you on this side.”

Some people laughed. I looked down at Lexi. “Baby, do you have anything you want to add?”

Lexi stood up. “I want to thank everyone for coming. Royce is the best thing that's ever happened to me.”

I couldn't resist leaning down to kiss her.

Someone yelled out, “Wait until later.”

We giggled. Lexi continued, “Thank you all for coming. The party isn't over. It's just beginning. Enjoy yourselves.”

Two men wearing white aprons pushed over a table with a huge birthday cake trimmed in black and gold, and shaped like a huge football. Lexi led me to where they stood. There were two lit candles, the number five and the number zero, on top of the cake.

I soaked in the excitement of hearing everyone sing “Happy Birthday” to me. I blew out the candles. Lexi handed me knife. I cut the first slice of cake, then placed it on a saucer. Lexi cut a piece off with a fork and placed it in my mouth. I kissed her, not caring if the icing messed up her lipstick.

She licked her lips. I kissed the icing off. If there were any doubts to how things were going in the Jones house, it would be put to rest. Things between Lexi and me were going just lovely.

“Eat up, everybody!” I said.

The furniture had been moved out of the living room and den, so it was like a big ballroom. We returned to the house, and music was blasting. Some of my favorite songs were playing.

“Lexi, come on. Dance with me.”

Lexi and I got the party started by dancing to an old Johnnie Taylor song. “See y'all don't know anything about that,” I said.

The dance floor filled up with other couples dancing. Lexi and I danced, laughed, and enjoyed each other's company.

“Lexi, darling, you don't mind if I borrow your husband for this next dance, do you?” Marisol, an ex-girlfriend of mine, asked.

“I do mind, but since it's his birthday, I'm willing to share him tonight only.” Lexi had a smile on her face, but little did Marisol know she didn't like her. She would rather drink snake venom than see me dance with her.

“Marisol, I'm going to sit this one out. I promised Charity the next dance.”

“Oh. Well, maybe another time.”

“Smart move,” Lexi said under her breath.

I planned on ending this night with some birthday sex, and I wasn't stupid enough to let someone, especially Marisol, come in between that. I wasn't giving Lexi a reason to not give me what I've been yearning for this entire night—to feel her in my arms.

I
stood in the doorway and watched the success of my dad's party unfold around me. I smiled watching him laugh and talk with his guests.

“You did a great job. I'm proud of you, baby.” My mom hugged me.

“Glad you approve.”

“Of course, you know I had to tell everyone you organized the party. Be prepared for your phone to be ringing off the hook.”

“If things keep going the way they have, I'm going to need to hire more people.”

“Hope isn't doing anything. Have her help.”

“I tried that. She's not dependable.”

“Let me talk to her.”

I looked at her. “Do you really think that's going to help?”

“Once I tell her the news that Royce and I talked and we have decided to cut out your huge allowance, she'll be changing her mind.”

“When did y'all decide this?” I asked.

“A few weeks ago. We were just waiting on the right time to talk to you all about it.”

“Well, that's fine with me. It's your money, so I'm not going to pout.”

“You and Lovie will do fine. But I'm really worried about Hope,” my mom confessed.

“She'll be all right. She needs to learn that pretty looks don't always pay the bills.”

Hope wouldn't get any sympathy from me. I felt my parents babied her too much and she was a spoiled brat. She was getting older, and needed to learn how to be more responsible.

“Dear, looks like your dad needs rescuing,” my mom said, as she left me alone with my thoughts.

I walked outside to get a breather.

“Nice party,” Tyler said.

I turned to face the sound of his voice. My mouth dropped open. “What…what are you doing here?”

“I think we have some unfinished business.” Tyler eased from out of the darkness and under the bright light.

“Now is not the time.” I walked closer to him. I didn't want to risk anyone else seeing him, especially Hope.

Tyler rubbed his hands together. “I was wondering how festive things would be if I crashed Royce's birthday party.”

I pulled him by the arm and led him toward the driveway. “There's nothing you and my dad have left to talk about.”

Tyler stopped. I almost fell trying to pull him. I continued, “I'm serious. You're not welcome here. I suggest that you leave.”

“Not before I do this.”

Before I could protest, Tyler kissed me. I slapped his face.

“Ouch.” He rubbed his cheek.

Hope yelled, “You're busy telling me to leave him alone, because you want him for yourself.”

I faced her. Fortunately, everyone was still inside so there were no nosy bystanders.

“Hope, it's not what you think.”

“The hell it isn't.” Hope folded her arms.

“Tyler, leave now or I'm calling the police,” I said. I retrieved the cell phone from my small purse.

He held up his hand. “No need to do that. I'm going. Tell your dad I said Happy Birthday.”

Hope and I watched Tyler walk down the driveway.

“Hope, before you go mouthing off, Tyler kissed me. I didn't kiss him. Since you saw everything, you saw me slap him too.”

“You probably just did that because I was there.”

“He was trying to be a party crasher. I was trying to get him to leave.”

“Sure you were.”

“Believe what you want. I don't have time for the drama.”

“Whatever.” Hope threw her hand up in the air and followed behind Tyler.

“Hope!” I called out her name several times, but she ignored me.

I rushed inside the house and located Lovie. I pulled him to the side. “Hope's outside with Tyler.”

Lovie stormed out with me fast on his heels. He walked straight to Tyler's car. Hope didn't see Lovie until he grabbed her by the arm.

“Get back to the house,” Lovie said.

“You don't tell me what to do,” Hope responded.

A police car flashed its lights and stopped. One of the officers stepped out of the car. “Ma'am, are you alright?” he asked Hope.

I answered for her. “She's fine.”
When did policemen started looking this good?
I reminded myself to focus on the problem and not the officer.

“Little lady, I wasn't asking you. I'm asking her.” I read his badge.

“Officer Underwood, this is my sister and my brother. The man in the car is trespassing, and we need for him to be off our street.”

“And you are?” he stared at me.

“I'm Charity Jones.”

“Well, Ms. Jones, the only person causing a disturbance is your brother and sister. This dude is on a public street, so there's nothing I can do about it.”

“But—”

Tyler smiled. I wanted to smack the evil smile off his face.

Officer Underwood passed me his business card. “If he comes to your house, then you can call me, and I'll do something. In the meantime, I suggest you all hold it down. You do have neighbors, and I would hate to get a call about you all disturbing the peace.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine.”

Reluctantly, Hope followed Lovie and me back up the sidewalk. The officer stayed behind and said something to Tyler. A few seconds later, I noticed Tyler pulling away. The officer waved at me. I smiled, turned back around, and continued back into the house.

“I
'm tired of everybody treating me like a helpless child.” I addressed Lovie as we walked in one of the bedrooms, with Charity behind us.

Charity shut the door.

Lovie said, “I can't protect you if you keep putting yourself in harm's way.”

“Charity, tell Lovie what happened.”

“The kiss with Tyler is nothing to tell. He snuck it on me. I slapped him. That's it.”

“I feel like you don't want me with him because you want him all to yourself.”

Charity threw her hand up in the air. “Are you serious? That's crazy. I don't want Tyler. He's a snake that purposely set out to hurt you, me, and our family. Why would I want to be with a man like that?”

Lovie interjected, “Why would you want to be with a man like that?”

“Because…because I might be pregnant,” I responded. My hand flew to my stomach.

“No. Say it ain't so,” Charity pulled me into her arms.

I tried my best not to cry. I pulled away. “I have a doctor's appointment to make sure. I took a test, and it came back negative, but I still haven't gotten my period.”