Page 42 of Dr Feel Good
By the time I emerged from my bedroom in loungewear, my hair in a messy bun, Estelle’s pie was finished cooking. Lake and Juno were already at the table, Bob lying at their feet as he pouted due to the lack of attention. Instead of being a fierce protector, he was a fussy attention whore.
“It looks delicious,” I said as Estelle set the pie in the center of the table.
“I hope it is delicious,” Estelle replied, taking her seat. “I added more spice and seasoning than Mama’s recipe had.”
Not shocking. Aunt Sheron could cook tasty food, but her spice tolerance was that of a sickly Victorian child. Extra salt and pepper were almost always needed, but once they were added, the meals she cooked were delicious.
Estelle led us in saying grace. It wasn’t something my sisters and I did during our meals, or at all. Our parents hadn’t been devout people, and the little faith they did instill in us was destroyed by the rough way we lived. Still, we didn’t interrupt Estelle, and when the prayer ended, we said “Amen,” more out of respect for her than the actual words.
She clapped her hands together. “Alright, we’re free to dig in!”
I smiled at the gesture. I’d always had a soft spot for Estelle, and when I looked at her, I saw the person my sisters and I could’ve been if we’d had the support she did. We hadn’t, though, so all I could do was protect the sweetness that life hadn’t stolen from my cousin.
“How are things with Aydin?” I asked around a mouthful of food.
The one time I met him, I hadn’t been a fan, but Estelle swore that he wasn’t as unbearable as he seemed. I disagreed, but I’d seen no signs of abuse or mistreatment, so if she’d loved him, I’d hold my tongue.
“Y’all pick a wedding date yet?” Lake added.
Juno and Estelle shared a look. I cocked a brow. Juno had been spending the most time with Estelle since she got here. If there were any relationship woes, she’d be the one to know.
“That isn’t a good look,” I observed, to which Lake nodded in agreement.
“We’re having some…disagreements,” Estelle mumbled, averting her gaze. “There are still things we need to work out before we pick a date, but I don’t wanna get into that right now. I came here for you, Michelle, not to talk about my relationship drama.”
Her smile was strained. My eyes narrowed. “Is he putting his hands on you?”
“No!” she exclaimed, just as Juno said, “Already asked, sis. We’re good.”
“He’s not abusive, I promise. He’s just… demanding.”
Felix popped into my head, taking away some of my anger. By many accounts, he could be described in the same way, yet it didn’t take away the fact that he’d been good to me during our fling.
So good that I longed to reunite with him and pick off where things left off.
Juno already knew the tea, so she just rolled her eyes, while Lake and I stared at Estelle expectantly.
“We’re trying to settle on a location before we pick a date. I wanna get married at the Memphis Botanic Garden, but he wants us to fly to Turkey and do a traditional Turkish wedding. Three days and three nights of celebration, exchanging our rings before the wedding, Henna Night with his female relatives, prayer before ‘consummation’, and way too many guests.”
“And by way too many, she means fucking hundreds,” Juno chimed in, making me nearly choke on my potpie as my eyes bulged.
I’d thought Warrior was crazy when he said he wanted sixty people at our wedding. I’d imagined a guest list of twenty valued people. Felix’s handsome face once again invaded my mind, and I wondered which he would prefer. A giant wedding for him to show off to everyone he knows, or something lowkey and private. I hoped it was the latter.
Immediately, I scowled at the thought. I was getting too fucking ahead of myself. I’d never be his wife, so what he preferred didn’t matter.
“I want a smaller, intimate ceremony, and for us to honeymoon in Turkey,” Estelle continued. “I’m not against incorporating Turkish customs into my wedding, because I’m marrying a Turkish man, but he isn’t willing to compromiseon anything. He even shot down my suggestion of two small ceremonies, one in the States with my friends and family, and one in Turkey with his extended family. And I haven’t told Mama about all this bullshit, because she adores Aydin, and would be crushed to know he isn’t considering her.”
I let Estelle babble without interruption. She needed to get things off her chest, and I needed to consider if her fiancé was worthy of her. If he wasn’t, he’d get an exclusive tour of The Panic Room and not have to worry about where he’d be getting married.
“I’m sorry,” she said when she finished. “I’m making a big deal out of nothing, but it’s so frustrating.”
With an annoyed huff, she shoved a big forkful of pie into her mouth, chewing angrily.
“Remind me what you see in him again?” Lake asked, echoing my thoughts.
In the grand scheme of things, there were worse problems that a woman could be having with her man. Yet, disregarding what his soon-to-be bride wanted was a glaring red flag. I’d have to make it a point to keep tabs on Estelle, to ensure shit didn’t escalate with Aydin.
“His bank account?” Juno questioned.
