Page 77 of Imperfections Seduced
If my mother likes it, it’s definitely going to happen. No way to get out of it. The doorbell rings several times rapidly and then we hear the door open, followed by Vanessa scolding Sasha for the doorbell ringing.
Sasha runs straight to me, jumping into my lap. “Auntie Cat!” She wraps her chubby little arms around my neck. I hug her back tight. She’s so soft and smells so good.
“Hey, baby, I missed you!”
In her cute little voice she says, “Miss you too.”
She’s exactly what I needed tonight. She doesn’t want a thing from me. She doesn’t care who I’m seeing or if I have a job, or if my clothes look professional. We’re just happy to be together. No guilt and no one’s heart is going to get blown into a million pieces from us being together.
I take her little cheeks in my hands. “We are going to have so much fun tonight.”
“Cat, don’t corrupt my baby and take her out on the town. Let’s leave that to you.”
“Hi, Jay.” That little joke is because Mom was complaining about me staying out all night and not calling. Chris didn’t see the text message Nick sent from my phone the night he picked me and Ava up from the club until the next morning. Vanessa and Jay give me a hug and I sit back down on the couch with Sasha’s arm still around my neck. They look good together, like their wedding day all over again. Jay in his tux and Vanessa in a white-and-black off-the-shoulder cocktail dress. I’m happy they’re working things out.
“Thanks for watching her for us, Cat. Jay and I were going to stay home until you offered to babysit.”
“I didn’t have anything more important to do than spend a night in with my favorite niece.”
Jay sits next to me and Sasha. “She’s your only niece.”
Maybe not! “Yes, she is, and I would rather spend the entire evening with her than sitting at a table with people I hardly know or care about.”
My mom bends down to kiss Sasha on the cheek. Her lips barely touch her face; she’s making sure to keep her makeup intact.
“We’ll see you later, sweetheart, don’t stay up too late. A lady needs at least eight hours of sleep to look her best. You don’t want bags under your eyes. Make sure you pass this advice on to your aunty, she needs a little help. The way she’s going, she’ll never catch a man.”
I look at her and roll my eyes. “Really, Mother?”
“Yes, Catherine. You need to fix yourself up a little more. Between your hair, nails, and makeup, you need my help desperately. Let’s not mention your lack of knowledge when it comes to men.”
She straightens up when she’s finished giving my ego a black eye. My father bends down and gives Sasha and me a kiss on the cheek. He whispers to me in his deep voice, “If you only had five minutes of sleep, you would still be the prettiest girl in the room.”
I wrap my hands around his neck and kiss him. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“No thanks needed, it’s the truth. You don’t need a man to tell you you’re beautiful. You are. Don’t listen to her.”
I love my dad. Sometimes he takes the sting out of my mother’s bite.
“I heard that. She doesn’t need a man, but it would benice if she had one. How do you expect to get any more grandchildren?” she says in her dry tone.
“Candice, leave her alone. If she wants a boyfriend, I think she’s perfectly capable of finding one on her own. There’s no rush for more grandkids. Let’s enjoy the one we have.” My dad is the buffer between me and my mom, as always. But I know, if it comes down to it, he will put up a united front and side with her. “Now, come on, let’s go.”
My dad helps my mother with her coat. Jay looks at me, and I shrug my shoulders. I think he’s going to give me more instructions about Sasha. Instead, he hands me a list of instructions on how to take care of her, which I promptly throw in the garbage, in front of his face. “What, Jay? I don’t need instructions.”
“No. I think you should let Mom set you up on a date.”
“What?”
He holds his hand up to her. “She has a good sense of character when it comes to guys.”
“Listen to your brother, dear. He knows what he’s talking about.” She nods her head to him and gives him a full smile.
You have got to be kidding me. I’m sure he knows as well as I do that she doesn’t. She got lucky with my dad. Real lucky.
I narrow my eyes at him slightly and mumble, “I’ll keep that in mind.” With Sasha on my hip, I walk to the door in front of them. I’m ready for them to get out. “Look at the time, you’re going to be late. Let me open the door for you.” I open it wide and wait for them to leave.
“We can take a hint, little sister.”
