Julia led both Zachariah and myself to the living room where everyone seemed to be waiting for us. There were a few banners that saidcongratulationsin an array of colors. On a small black fold up table was a few gifts.
“About time you two showed up,” Melio said, wagging his eyebrows in the process. Of course, I had to blush as everyone’s eyes were now on us. Melio was the total opposite of his brother. Clean shaved and a bit more built. His dark hair was shorter, too.
“Well, mother didn’t exactly tell me that this would be apartysuch as this,” Zachariah said, shooting another glare at Julia.
“Don’t get your britches in a bunch,” spoke an older white haired lady that sat in the chair that was placed a bit farther back from everyone else. It looked as though everyone had to cave to her needs. Her white hair was pulled back into a bun off her very thing angler face. Although she was older, her skin still had a slight sun kissed look to it.
“Now,” she spoke, her voice firmer than someone her age would have. “Introduce me to your girl, Zachy.”
“Avidya,” Zachariah said, taking me by my hand and leading to the older woman. “This is my grandmother, Naomi.”
“Great to meet you, deary,” she said, pushing herself into a standing position. She came up to just below my shoulders and brought me into a tight, bone crushing hug. Naomi was much stronger than she looked, that was for sure.
“Don’t squeeze her to death, mom,” Carlos laughed out.
“Oh, I’d never do such a thing,” Naomi said, letting go of me before quickly bringing Zachariah into a tight hug, also. “So good to see you again grandson. You sure have grown up.”
Zachariah, still holding my hand, returned the hug awkwardly before they let go of one another.
“He hasn’t grown up at all since the last time you saw him,” spoke a man I had yet to meet.
I turned my attention to him, as he sat not that far away. He looked like a much older version of Zachariah. It was obvious who had the strongest genes in this family; not that I minded, mind you. Even in his old age, he looked very well put together. His white hair was still strong and thick on top of his head, and a bit of gray in his mustache. His skin still held the dark color, which was a shade or two darker than Zachariah’s own skin.
“Avidya Ray,” he said with a nod my way, his dark brown eyes taking me in from head to toe. “I can certainly see why Zachariah chose you. You aren’t the normal type he goes for, that’s for sure.”
“No, she isn’t,” Julia agreed. “She’d just what he needs.”
“Isn’t she that pastor’s daughter?” he asked out after a pause.
“He’s not my father,” I stated, proud that my words were never more true.
“Gosh dang. Everyone knows that,” Naomi stated with an eye roll. “Kent, you can’t possibly think she didn’t know that herself. Look at her. Looks just like that mother of hers.”
“Now that you bring it up,” Kent stated, leaning his head to the side. “She does look like Rachael.”
“You knew her?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Oh, yeah I did. I remember her being your age hanging out with that stupid kid back then. I’m still waiting for the perfect reason to put that man in a grave,” Kent was quick to say. “Rachael was a sweet little girl. Too bad she didn’t end up where she was headed. She had big dreams.”
“Can we not talk business?” Violet said. “You men can do that later. Right now, we have an engagement party to get going.”
“Right,” Carlos said, taking the lead. “Lunch should be done here anytime.”
“You never like our business,” Kent muttered out.
“Not at a time like this,” Violet said without a beat.
“How about we all go sit in the dining room?” Julia proposed.
After a few agreements, everyone began to move that direction. Everyone sat around the table, Carlos at the head with Julia beside him on one side, and Kent on the other. I sat next to Zachariah, his hand on my knee.
“I heard you met in the most unlikely way,” Kent stated across the table.
“Then I don’t need to repeat it,” Zachariah said, keeping his shoulders straight. His hand slightly squeezed my knee, though. He didn’t like the line of questioning.
“Does your wife-to-be know that you run that brothel?” Kent went on.
“Yes,” Zachariah said through gritted teeth.
