Page 79 of Eight Steps to Alpha

Chapter 29

The evening seemedto explode after Maria’s announcement. There was so much wine, no time to breathe, and people. One after the other, her aunts, cousins, and friends came to say hello, and meet the elusive boyfriend.

Elliot was a total trooper. He smiled and laughed at all the appropriate times, answered all of their questions, even the too personal ones, and not once seemed uncomfortable. He actually appeared to be having a good time, like he was in his element, which allowed Fe to sit back, relax, and catch up with all the people she hadn’t seen in years. Her aunt Polly, who couldn’t seem to stop talking about Elliot and how nice of a butt he had. Or her cousin Peter, who was trying to convince her to buy into the next multi-level marketing scheme. It was a good hour later, when her aunt Beatrice grabbed hold of her arm and whispered into her ear. “Don’t look now, but I think your father is growing impatient.”

Fe swallowed her sip of wine, then nodded her head. She wasn’t avoiding him, but she’d be lying if she said his judgmental eyes hadn’t made her turn in the opposite directions a few times tonight.

She was his only daughter, she understood that, but his protectiveness was sometimes over the top. He was still upset with her about moving out in the first place—and that was when he thought her and Elliot were only friends—she could only imagine the lecture she had coming to her now.

Fe finished the rest of her glass, said hello to a couple more aunts, then locked eyes on a little girl running around the dance floor. Before the little girl could make her next round, Fe stooped down, and grabbed hold of the little girls dress.

The little girl stopped, looked up at her with big eyes and giggled.

“Ella, right?” Fe asked.

The little girl nodded.

“Ella, I’m your cousin, Fe. Can you do me a favor?”

She nodded.

“See that man over there? The one holding the cigar? That’s my papa. He loves children. Can you come say hello with me?”

The little girl giggled, and squeezed Fe’s hand. “Perfect.”

When they came within ear shot, Ella’s fingers clutched in Fe’s hand like a security blanket, she cleared her throat.

Fe’s father was talking to another gentleman and deliberately ignored her. She squared her shoulder, glanced back over at Elliot to make sure he was account for, then cleared her throat again. “Papa, you remember Ella,” Fe said, interrupting them.

Her father took his feet from the chair where they’d been resting, and settled them on the ground. He turned to the little girl, leaned forward, and smiled. Making his salt and pepper mustache turn up at the corners. “Well hello, Ella, how are you this evening?” he said in a pleasant voice.

The little girl twirled her dress back and forth, never letting go of Fe’s fingers. “Goood,” she said in a sing song voice.

“I bet you are, Ella. That’s a pretty dress.”

“Thank you,” she said shyly.

“How old are you?”

The little girl glanced up at Fe, then held up four fingers.

Fe’s father was captivated with the small child, and Fe couldn’t have been happier. This was a brilliant plan. The little girl was sweet, perfect, and her father would never raise his voice when she was around.

“Four?” he asked sweetly. “That big?”

She nodded her head, and began chewing on one finger.

“Ella,” he said, learning forward even closer. “I have a question for you.”

The little girl giggled. “Okay.”

“Do you love your papa?”

“Yes,” the little girl stated.

“I bet you would never keep secrets from your papa, am I right?”

The little girl giggled nervously, and Fe crouched down to her knees to let her off the hook. “Thank you, Ella, but you can go play now.”

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