Opening the door, I found the twins standing there with eager smiles. I didn’t know them well enough, but I noted a mischievous glint in their eyes as well. No words are exchanged before they each grab an arm and haul me out of the room with them. Before I could ask where we’re going, they ushered me out the front door and into the camo-green Range Rover parked in front of the house.
“We’re going to have so much fun today! First, we’re going down to Marbury Place, and we’ll shop the strip, then we’ll have brunch at La Selva. It’s our favorite spot,” Aja says excitedly.
“Just a heads up, Aja and I never leave the estate without one of our guards with us. Parker spoke with security this morning, so we’ll have an additional guard with us today since we’re dragging you along with us,” Janae said without missing a beat.
Releasing a sigh, I felt my shoulders drop at her reassurance. I shouldn’t have doubted for a second that Parker would fulfill his promise of keeping me safe. I gave them a timid smile, feeling a bit shy. “Thank you both for doing this. I’ve never been to a gala before, so I’m happy for the help.”
Chapter 20
Evelyn
The twins chatted in the front of the car as I looked out the window at my new surroundings. I had only ever been to two places: my home in The Bronx, where I grew up, and Pelham Manor, where Celeste and I lived. Oakland Ridge was vastly different from the two.
With Aja at the wheel, Janae acted as a tour guide, pointing out different homes and telling me about the families that owned them, letting me know that I would be seeing most of them at the gala. As we got closer to the heart of the town, I began to see buildings with the Woods’ name on them.
The twins explained that their great-grandfather built his oil business in Texas during the boom, then settled here in Oakland Ridge. They were one of the first wealthy Black families here, and he practically built the town. The other two families, the Huxleys and the Danforths, had come shortly after, each taking a corner of the town and developing it.
“Wow, what was it like growing up with your name on almost every building?”
“It honestly made me feel proud,” Janae answered. “Our ancestors built this small town that many know as home. It’s nice to see our family name live on.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I agree with my sister, but it was also hell. Although we’re one of three legacy families that built Oakland Ridge, more is expected of us.”
It was as if she knew the question was coming, Janae started to explain.
“Everyone looked to us to be perfect and to set an example. We could never get in trouble or mess up like the other kids. The Danforth boys could get away with almost anything, and it wouldn’t tarnish their name. The Huxleys were always one bad business decision away from a stay at a minimum security prison.”
“You can probably guess why we’re held to a different standard,” Aja chimed in.
Some things didn’t need to be said. The Woods were a wealthy Black family in the South. It would be no surprise to me if their great-grandfather had to work ten times as hard to get where he did back then.
Oakland Ridge was charming. It was hard for me to imagine growing up in a place like this. I was a city girl who came from humble beginnings. My mother and I lived in a multifamily home in a neighborhood known as The Valley. The neighborhood was composed of Jamaican, Haitian, and Cuban immigrants. The block was always alive with music and the smell of food. My mother always said that it felt a little like home. The houses were close together, and we lived only a few blocks from the subway station. You could feel the rumble of the train under your feet. The closest shopping center was in Co-Op City, and the closest to designer clothing you could get was in JCPenney.
Marbury Place was definitely nothing like Co-Op City. Designer stores and high-end restaurants lined the strip. Luxury cars from Bentleys to Aston Martins filled the streets. Aja pulled up to a store called Divine Time. Gowns glittered in the frontwindow as we stepped out of the car, and Aja handed her keys to the valet waiting on the sidewalk. We walked into the store and were greeted by a tall Asian woman with platinum-blonde hair, dressed in a peach satin dress. She welcomed us in and offered each of us a flute of champagne as she led us to the seating area at the center of the store.
“Good morning, ladies. My name is Yara, and I’ll be assisting you today. Mrs. Woods called ahead and let me know that you’ll be looking for appropriate attire for the Delaney Legacy Foundation Charity Gala. As she spoke, two young Black women in similar attire rolled out racks full of dresses and suits. My eyes widened at the sight of the beautiful gowns. The only time I wore something nearly as elegant was for my senior prom, and I could already tell my hundred-dollar dress from Fordham Road would pale in comparison.
I felt a twinge of nervousness as I looked around the boutique. Although I worked my butt off at Mosaic, I definitely couldn’t afford any of these dresses. The gala was in three days, perhaps I could slip away to a department store instead to find something in my price range. Everything that Parker had bought for me, I planned to pay him back for. The last thing I wanted to do was become a burden to him. He’d done enough for me already.
The two Black women introduced themselves as August and Raina. Raina approached me with a smile and offered to take my measurements. Soon after, she started compiling gowns and suits, bringing them to a rack made just for me.
I didn’t know where to begin. Sensing my apprehension as I sifted through the rack, Aja and Janae began browsing, picking out various items for me to try on.
“This is so much fun!” they both squealed, and I couldn’t hold back a laugh this time. They were bursting with energy, and itwas starting to rub off on me. Pushing me in the direction of the fitting room, they left me to get dressed.
The dressing room was the size of a small hotel room, with LED mirrors lining the wall, with a white tufted ottoman in the center. The rack Raina curated was placed by the door along with several pairs of stilettos.
Some of the gowns were backless, and I quickly placed those at the back of the rack and focused on the others. I picked up a silver gown with sleeves with a plunging V-neck. It had intricate beadwork, an embroidery pattern, and a split running down the side. It wasn’t my style, but it was the safest choice.
Parker didn’t say anything, but I knew he saw the scars decorating my legs. I’d been too anxious since leaving New York to worry about what anyone would think, seeing the marks on my legs. I hadn’t given a second thought about the shorts we bought at the superstore. That was just half of them. Scars covered my back, and there were a few on my stomach as well. I didn’t exactly hide them, but I didn’t take opportunities to show them off either. People loved to stare, and I didn’t want to answer those questions—especially not at the gala. It wasn’t about me. This was about supporting Parker.
I gave myself a second glance in the mirror and walked out to meet Aja and Janae. At my approach, they try to smile, but it isn’t the toothy smiles they had all morning since they dragged me out of my room.
“You guys hate it.” I deduced as I stood there with my hand on my hip, waiting for them to explain the look on their faces.
“Well, no—” Janae started at the same time as Aja said, “Yes.”
Janae playfully nudged Aja’s shoulder, chastising her.
