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Suddenly her laughter died, and it looked like she had been sucking a lemon. “Karissa, Amber, and Sharon, come over here.” She summoned, and despite the fact that Ivy’s cousins were dispersed throughout the large house, they all heard her and came to her call.

“Look at my sisters’ grands. You are all pretty as pictures. Never lose your manners. Not like Marla’s daughter. I said, “Hello, Baby”. The little heifer looked at me like she didn’t know me. Gave me a ‘hey stranger smile and everything’ Just looked at me and said “Hello” then scurried away like a scared mouse. No mind, didn’t even address me properly or nothing.”

Everyone was quiet for a moment, but eventually Amber decided to be brave and speak up. “Aunty Flora, Chrissy isn’t here.”

“Now, I’m not that old. I know my people when I see them. Chrissy is walking about here in a navy dress.”

The cousins exchanged looks. This was going to be interesting.

They nudged Sharon forward. “That’s Jasmine. She isn’t related to us but bears a resemblance to the Burtons.”

“Humph. Jasmine, you say? If she isn’t kin, what’s she doing here, then?”

Sharon shook her head. “Nope, not it. Ivy, I think Aunty asked you a question.”

Ivy was going to get Sharon for this later. “Jasmine is the mother of Emmanuel’s brother’s son.”

Aunty Flora arched her eyebrow. “Oh, the twin. That is some soap opera mess, if I ever heard any.”

She pressed her hand to her chest and shook her head. “A secret twin. Not that I’m judging or anything. Being in this family is like being smack dab in the middle of one of my stories. I mean, just this circle is a hot mess.”

At least Aunty Flora lowered her voice as she continued. “Amber married her best friend’s husband, and Karissa divorced that poor boy right after he came out of a coma and all. Ivy’s father-in-law has secret babies and what not. The only one of you who doesn’t have any drama is Sharon. I bet it’s cause she ain’t got no man.” Aunty Flora wasn’t one to hold back. Even if she didn’t completely have her facts straight.

“That’s just in this room. My sister Pat had a life that could fill two soap?—”

“Excuse me, Aunt Flora,” Darren interrupted. Thank God, because the last thing they needed was for her Aunty Flora to start telling her sister Pat’s story. The women gathered collectively sent him a look of appreciation.

“Hey, Baby. You were looking for me.”

“Yes. Your steak is ready. I got them to do it extra well.”

“Thank you, Baby. That first steak was mooing. One thing I have to say for this family, man, or woman, we know how to pick good-looking men.” Aunt Flora squeezed Darren’s bicep.

“Take me to my steak.”

The cousins watched their aunt walked away, then burst into laughter.

“That could have gone way worse. We have to keep Jasmine away from her. She will still want to know who her people are,” Karissa finally spoke.

Manny walked up behind Ivy and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Ladies, can I borrow my beautiful wife?”

“Only if we can have her back later,” Amber told him. “We don’t all get to be together enough.”

Her husband agreed, then guided her away from the festivities to the kitchen. Pulling out a high-back bistro stool, he directed her to have a seat.

“What are we doing in here? When you said you were borrowing me, I was thinking of someplace more private.”

“Oh, you’ll thank me later,” he said, giving her a quick peck.

“I noticed you haven’t eaten yet. I thought you could take a moment and eat uninterrupted.” Just then, a member of the catering staff appeared from outside with a plate.

“Thank you,” Manny said as he took the plate from the young man and placed it in front of her.

Ivy looked down at the plate with some of her favourites, a filet mignon wrapped in bacon, four jumbo shrimps, a few spoonfuls of potato salad, and half an ear of corn. “Thank you, Baby. This was super thoughtful.”

“I wanted to make sure you ate before you and your cousins started drinking.”

“The food is sweet, but I meant for all of this.” Ivy gestured around her.

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