“I am guessing the blonde lady in the light blue sweater is your mom,” Noelle says as she smiles and waves.
“Yup.”
“The tall, debonair man is your dad,” Noelle says as she unbuckles her seat belt.
“Debonair?”
“Yes, your dad got that dark, sexy, debonair look.” She reaches to the backseat for her bag and the flowers she got for Mom.
It shouldn’t affect me that she found my dad to be debonair; it’s not like I am jealous. But…I think I am.
“Don’t call my dad sexy or debonair. He is married. Your focus is on me.” I unbuckle my seatbelt, watching as my parents come down to the car to meet us.
I jump out of the car and round it to open Noelle’s door. Putting my hand out, I ask, “You ready?”
She smiles mischievously. “Yes, Daddy, I am.”
I should stop her from calling me “daddy.” I never liked it, but maybe it’s her accent; it sounds sexy now.
I help her out of the car. Closing the door behind me, I pull Noelle to my side. Her smile seems genuine and bright. She places her hand on my chest for a moment, and through the layers of clothing, I swear I can feel her body heat.
“I was wondering when you would get here,” my mother says with her arms outstretched to me. I pull away from Noelle.
In the corner of my eyes, I see my dad stretching his hand forward to meet Noelle.
“My name is Cliff. Welcome to our home.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you,” Noelle replies to my father’s greeting.
My mother slaps my chest and says under her breath, “No wonder you didn’t reply when I asked about the ship.”
I groan internally. “Mom.”
She shrugs and whispers. “I didn’t know she was Black. You could have told me. I have no problem with Black people; my masseuse is Black.”
“Mom,” I grate through my teeth.
My mother moves from my side. “I am Elizabeth. Thank you for bringing our son back to us.”
“I am Noelle; it’s a pleasure. These are for you,” Noelle replies as she gives my mother the bouquet.
My mother looks down at the blooming white peonies.
“These are lovely. Thank you. I am a hugger,” my mother says and opens her arms for a hug, and in true fashion, Noelle hugs her back.
Maybe the next two weeks wouldn’t be so bad. Then I hear it: the pounding rock music blaring through the trees. The engine revs, and the lime green car finally comes into view. It speeds down the driveway, then drifts around the fountain to a perfect park.
My heart begins to race. Not because my baby brother hops out of the car and slides across the hood. No, it beats because he opens the door, and the woman that I once loved steps out.
She is as beautiful as ever. Dark hair, blue eyes. Tessa Marie still had the power to take my breath away.
My brother wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her to his side. He kisses her forehead, and I remember why I am here. It’s for their wedding. My palm begins to sweat; I shouldn’t have come. I need to get out of here. I need…a warm hand presses on my chest.
I look down, and Noelle is smiling up at me. I sigh, exhaling a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
NOELLE
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you make an entrance. Tires blazing and a hot girl at your side. I wish I could be snide and say Liam was ugly, but he was blonde, tall, muscular, and gorgeous. Where Roman was dark and brooding, Liam was sunshine and sparkles.
