“You don’t understand, Bear.” She sighed.
“No, I guess I don’t, but whatever her intentions are you have your best friends here to celebrate you.”
“How did this all happen?” She pressed her lips in a hard line. “You taking me to dinner was to get me away from the house?”
“You might have to ask Phoebe. I got a call from her inviting me. I took you to dinner because I wanted to be with you. I’m here because I want to be near you.”
Something in his expression melted her like an ice cube under a torch flame. “I guess I need to stop being negative and be grateful.”
He nodded. “I’m here with you in case things go south.”
His words of promise hit home on how much she’d come to rely on him.
Ursula and CaDee rushed over, first Ursula drawing Aasia in for a tight hug, then CaDee who said in an amused tone, “Did Barbie throw up in here?”
“Phoebe and Anne have always liked pink,” Aasia felt like she needed to defend her family some. Although they’d never win any awards for being the family of the year, they were her family. And they’d gone to the trouble of the party. That meant something.
Pedora came up, rolling her eyes. “Sorry. There was nothing I could do.”
“It’s okay,” Aasia assured her.
Hearing her mother’s laughter, she followed the sound. She was proudly telling Margo and Harvey about the time she met a popular rock star and stayed with him in his mansion for six months.
Aasia would have much rather had a more intimate party. Not everyone should hear about her mother’s sordid past.
The house felt more like a crowded elevator than a spacious farmhouse.
The air also smelled suspiciously of sage. Her mother believed in the power of burning out the bad demons before and after any event.
Aasia dragged herself over to refill her wine glass.
“Do you hate me?” Phoebe came up to ask.
Aasia narrowed her gaze. “Hate you? Why? Were you in charge of the decorations?”
Phoebe laughed. “I warned her not to buy the pink, but does she ever listen?”
“No, she doesn’t but I guess I have to concede that at least she tried,” Aasia murmured. “Harvey seems like a nice guy. Not her typical choice in a man. He doesn’t have one tattoo.” This brought Aasia’s gaze to her own sun tattoo. She was getting used to seeing it.
“I agree. I hope she doesn’t ruin things,” Phoebe said in a hushed tone.
Aasia looked around and everyone seemed to be having a good time, which made it easy for her to genuinely smile. It helped that the drinks were flowing. “It’s nice to see my people in one room.”
“Please don’t mention…you know.” Phoebe seemed almost frantic.
“I wouldn’t do that. Whatever you decide I need to accept your decision.” That was a lot for Aasia to say. Yet she knew she didn’t have a right to treat Phoebe like she couldn’t make her own choices.
The lights clicked off and Anne stepped out of the kitchen carrying an extravagant three-layer cake lit with so many candles that one mishap could catch the house on fire. The guests sangHappy Birthdayand Aasia hated being in the spotlight. As the candles flickered, she looked around at all her friends and family, but only one person truly made her feel blessed. Bear winked at her and she smiled.
“Blow them out, honey!” Anne clapped her hands in excitement.
“How old do you think I am?” Aasia said, half-joking.
“Twenty, right? Since I’m forty and holding.”
Aasia wouldn’t touch that with a ten-foot pole. Blowing out the candles, her gaze naturally shifted to Bear. He was her wish.
Over the next hour the food and cake started to dwindle, and people started to head toward the exit. Aasia and Bear were saying goodbye to the last guests when they heard raised voices coming from the kitchen. She and Bear glanced at each other and quickly made their way into the room where Pedora and Anne were standing toe-to-toe and Phoebe was outside of the duo looking wide-eyed and pale.
