Cali looked down at her outfit, experiencing a feeling of beauty enrapture her. While trapped in her web of depression, she hadn’t seen her face made up in months. Her feet hadn’t been placed in heels, and her body hadn’t been clothed in the finest threads.
She was clad in a black halter dress that exposed her back. Her pixie had been done thanks to Bria’s stylist. The gold earrings and chunky bangles gave her look more dimension as her Tom Ford heels completed her outfit.
“Please forgive me for forgetting how fine you are,” Bria joked, donning a red two piece that complemented her cocoa skin.
Cali chuckled. “Shit, I forgot myself.”
“I see Bresha got your hair together.”
Cali swiped her hand down the back of her head. “Yeah, I was nervous but she killed it.”
“Hey, girl!” Irish greeted with Ivory right behind her. “Ooh, you look good.”
Her ginger hair was pulled back with a thirty-inch ponytail. Her bubble-hem yellow dress stopped mid-thigh, exposing her toasted brown legs.
“Thank you.” Cali hugged her and then Ivory.
“Ivory, you swear you grown with this lil’ mini dress on,” Cali teased.
Ivory shimmied her shoulders. “I'm about to be twenty-years old. I am grown.”
Irish rolled her eyes. “Chile, let her tell it.” She held up a bag. “I brought a bottle. Where should I put it?”
“Give it to my mom.”
Irish nodded then she and Ivory strutted over to the other side of the backyard where Cecilia was. Cali and Bria went to take their seats at the table. Bria sat next to Lo, who had surprised her with his presence. Since Lo and Douglas didn’t get along, he never made it to any family functions.
“Lo, I must be special since you're here. Tell me that no one made you come and that I’m your favorite sister-in-law,” Cali joked.
Lo smirked. “Nah, Bria said if I didn’t come, she wouldn’t give me no—”
Bria quickly covered his mouth with her hands. “You better not!”
Cali laughed just as Irish and Ivory sat next to her.
The chimes from a glass being tapped rang in the air. Douglas stood from his seat at the head of the table, holding a glass of champagne.
“I want to thank you all for coming to see my daughter off to a new beginning.” Douglas peered at Cali. “You know it’s been a hell of a year for us.”
They all laughed at his remark.
“But I know you're going to do so well in Diamond Falls. This reset will do you some good. I hate for you to leave but I am excited to see what you’ll accomplish. Out of all of my girls, you are the most determined one. While Bria had the talent and Enya had the work ethic, Cali you’ve always had the ability to get through anything. And that just doesn’t stop here. This new season is going to bless you immensely. I love you and can’t wait to see you excel.”
Cali’s eyes watered at Douglas’ speech. She was the middle child; the one who often got into trouble and needed him to bail her out. Growing up, Cali never saw value in her place in the family. At times, she felt like a burden so it was wonderful to hear that she mattered to her father.
“Ugh, I just got my face beat,” she complained, dabbing her eyes.
“That was so sweet,” Irish cooed. “You don't know how lucky you are to have a dad.”
Cali smiled at her. “Yeah, I am lucky to have him.”
The food was served by a catering company that Cecilia had hired. It consisted of fresh seafood with steaks and tacos.
“So, Cali, have you done some research on Diamond Falls yet?” Kip, Enya’s husband, asked.
She nodded, chewing the food in her mouth. “I have. I think my new job is on the east side so we found an apartment there.”
“Don't be getting all friendly when you get there,” Enya added. “You know how you can get.”
