Page 188 of Restless
“That’s exactly where I live,” CJ said with sarcasm. “How’d you guess, Jaleena?”
“Because I’m brilliant,” she said with a straight face. “Nardo and his family lives in a nice middle-class neighborhood.”
“Yeah, and you were stupid because you were giving him fifty dollars a month because they needed groceries,” Juliana said.
“Enough, young lady,” Mrs. Davis said. “You and Jillian have revealed enough of our personal business.”
“Nardo’s shiesty,” Jillian complained, and smiled at CJ. “He didn’t like to play video games with me. When he did, he never let me win. You’re nice. I don’t care if you live in a trailer park.”
CJ scrubbed a hand over his face, ready to send the Davises on their way. He drew in a deep breath, preparing to cancel the evening. “This was a bad idea—”
“Come on,” Dad interrupted. “We seein’ this through, boy.” He started off, without awaiting CJ’s input.
Moments later, they cleared the forest and halted across the street from their house.
Jillian stared in awe, mouth falling open and eyes widening. Jaleena gasped. Juliana choked.
The Christmas lights were a spectacular display of mostly red, green, and white lights, spread from one end of the property to the other, entwined through the tree branches and around the trunks, woven through the fencing, lining the pathway, and rising from the ground in the forms of characters, sleds, trains, trees, and villages. A huge wreath adorned the gate, matching the ones on each entry door.
“On Christmas Eve, the lights are timed to music,” CJ said with pride.
“You have a gorgeous home, Knox. We need the name of your installer,” Mr. Davis said.
“They not available,” Uncle Digger said. “You not a member of the club, bruh.”
Dad walked across the street and paused at the gate, so he could scan his fingerprint. The gate clicked open.
“Oh, no,” Jaleena squeaked.
“Oh, fuckin’ yeah,” Dad said, standing at the gate until everyone passed through.
The walk to the house was only broken with, “you have a moat?” from Juliana.
“A half moat,” CJ responded. “The rest of it was filled in…what…?”
“About two renovations ago?” Diesel estimated.
“At least,” Grant added.
“Probably,” Rory said. “I was about ten when the basement was finished. Aunt Meggie redecorated the bedrooms, the den, and her office, two years later. She just finished Jo and Rebel’s rooms.”
“Mom still isn’t finished this time,” CJ said, waiting while Dad opened the double front doors. “She wants to replace the chandelier in the foyer.”
For as long as he remembered he’d stepped into the entrance hall with doors on each side indicating the east and west corridors and its massive archway directly ahead that led to a central hallway with the beautiful, bifurcated staircase. Over the span of many holidays, fiberglass witches, goblins, Pilgrims, elves, reindeer, Santas and Mrs. Clauses, and Nativity scenes shared space with the console, benches, and umbrella stand. Just inside the east corridor were doors for a bathroom and a utility closet as it marched toward a turnoff that led to the kitchen and many of the family rooms. Similarly, the west corridor had doors for a coat closet and Mom’s office, but not much else, though around the corner was the laundry room and another few rooms.
It was home, a place Dad insisted Mom deserved. However, watching the amazement on Jaleena and her sisters’ faces, CJ remembered how privileged he was. He’d never been prouder to be the son of Christopher and Megan Caldwell, or as grateful to have them as his parents.
Dad looked toward the east hallway and smiled, his annoyance immediately clearing. Mom glided into the foyer, her eyes only for Dad, and stepped into his arms.
She wore a sleeveless dress with sequins and feathers. It was short, but loose and flowy. Usually, she paired such outfits with stilettos. Tonight, still healing from the ordeal of Jo’s birth, she had on ballerinas.
When she turned and walked to Jaleena’s mom with her hand outstretched, CJ grinned. She wore her diamond encrusted gold Rolex watch and a pair of vine earrings also made of diamonds and gold.
“I’m Megan Caldwell,” she said with a wide smile. “Welcome to my home.”
Rebel strutted into view. She should’ve been the picture of innocence in a winter white, belted mini dress, but her white platform heels, full face of makeup and sleek hairstyle wassexy.
She kissed Dad’s cheek. “Hey, Daddy,” she said, the light catching on her diamond earrings and ring.
