“Perhaps.I know when you leave it, no one is going to give a fuck; especially me, I just don’t want to sully my hands to make it happen.But I will if I need to,” Helen said rising.“Enjoy the cake.Nice chat.”
“That’s it?You had us come all this way for some rubber chicken and fucking cake?”Hornworm said.
“No, I had you come all this way to see the power that is against you,” Helen said.“I am the Cranberry.I am the protector of women, children, and the defenseless in the state of Indiana.There is one of me in every state.Don’t take the chance.Shut it down.Retire like Imperial.Go live a quiet life.Hire a young chick who will willingly lick that rubbery old cooch.Figure it out and excuse me.I have nuptials to celebrate.”
She left the table and walked over to where the Stray Bullets were seated.A plate of food had materialized in front of Kurtzwilde, who seemed full of emotions.Helen stopped at the table and looked at him.
“Per your request,” she said.
“Thank you.I’ve retired,” Kurtzwilde said.
“So, I’ve heard.Enjoy the downtime,” she replied, moving towards the kids.She made a stop in front of Micah.
“Have you decided on a school yet?”She asked the young man who was happy to get away from the young women vying for his attention.
“MIT is looking good and possibly Yale,” he replied.“I even considered Miami University to be guided by The Lemon, but I am uncertain.If I do choose that option, I shall have built-in friends, and possibly a visit from my second favoriteTia.”
“Well, knowing who your favoriteTiais, I’m okay with second fiddle,” she said.“Plus, my niece has taken a liking to you.”
“Ah, the other is your sister,” he said, looking at Cherry, who was wedged between her mother and their father, looking quite miserable.Slow wasn’t all too pleased either, talking with Darnell Nelson.“She is interesting, but nothing like you.You, I don’t know; confuse me.I want what I can’t have plus a hug from you.It confuses me and leaves me with a desire to speak with you about my biological mother.Si, confuses me this relationship we share.”
“I am your friend,” Helen said.“I shall always be your friend, but you have a bigger challenge ahead of you in Alita.Be good to each other and it will work out well for you.Never take her for granted.”
“Señorita,” he said as she began to walk away.“I have this deep affection for you.The chances you take, you should not, but if you are ever in need, you have my card.”
“And nephew, you have mine,” she said, adding a wink.
The DJ called for the Bride and Groom to come have their first dance.Mustang joined her on the floor, extending his hand.Helen’s first thought was to tuck and roll to him, but it would mess up her hair.As he took her in his embrace, the conference doors swung open wide.
Anita Barnes entered the space, wearing a pink ball gown, swaddled in layers of taffeta, looking like a walking bag of cotton candy.Waldo, dressed like a side show minstrel, came in the door striking a pose.The reaction she wanted wasn’t the one she received as the entire room burst into laughter.Anita Barnes deflated at her grand entrance being mocked.
On the dance floor, Anita spotted her daughter in the arms of a handsome, hunk of man.Helen waved her hand and two young men, flocked to Anita’s side, escorting her to the table with Cherry, Slow, Stephanie and Darnell Nelson.A mini family reunion.A quick glance showed the shock of Anita at seeing so many families and friends at her daughter’s nuptials.So much of Helen’s life she knew nothing of, and she sat, quiet as a church mouse, learning, the little girl named Shenita was no more.The woman on the dance floor was a new person, she would need to get to know.
“Your mother?”Mustang asked.
“Yep.Late.Loudly dressed and rude,” she said, facing him as the music started.“I love you.”
“And I you,” he said, twirling her about the floor.“Our journey hasn’t been by the book, but it makes for an interesting story.”
“So will this honeymoon,” she said, tiptoeing for a kiss.
“Yeah, you never said where we are going,” he replied, placing his cheek next to hers, careful of the cut on his chin.
“Italy.Wine country.”
He stopped.He stood frozen in the floor gawking at her.“You’re kidding, right?”
“The Cranberry don’t kid, baby,” she said.“Funky cheeses, dusty wine cellars, and grape juice slurping for seven days.”
“Marry me,” he told her, lifting her into his arms.
“I’m all yours,” she told him.“We have it all shut down for a little while, anyway.I get to simply be loved by an amazing man.Thank you for seeing me.”
“Baby, I can’t see anything but you,” he said softly, looking up.“That and the cloud of pink your mother is wearing.”
“She’s all kinds of ridiculous, but she’s mine,” Helen spoke, “and all of these people are my family.Life is good.”
The End
