Page 2 of Cherry's Jubilee

This is the engagement party of Ashley Turner, my cousin of the same age, rival, and one of the vilest human beings I’ve ever met. Well, I’m her rival only in her mind. I couldn’t give a fuck what she does since I avoid her and her side of the family. In fact, I don’t remember the last time I laid eyes on her, and that’s just how I like it.

Their side of the family thinks they are better than ours. My mother is the product of an affair and has always been treated like a second-class citizen by her half-siblings. She’s been chasing their love and approval all my life. At times, she’s allowed them to treat Solange and me like second-class citizens too, but our father has always protected us.

For a bunch of people who think they are superior, they’ve always tried to copy or take whatever my sister and I have. I got into a better college than Ashley and majored in accounting. Two years later, she transferred to the same school and the same major. It was too hard for her, and she soon changed her major to Sociology.

I’m convinced she only got with the man she’s engaged to because she thought I was interested in him. The joke’s on her, though, because that was never the case. But she’s let it drop to her mother and sister a few times that she took him from me.

“Would I be terrible for wishing that her marriage fails?” I yell through the bathroom door.

“Terrible but understandable. Let’s not wish that until the check clears,” Solange yells back.

Once I put on the t-shirt and the pants she gave me, I open the door and stick my head out. “You haven’t been paid yet?”

“They paid the initial fifty percent. They still owe me half.”

I purse my lips but keep them shut. I don’t like the sound of that. Ashley is a snake, just like her mother. That’s where she learned it from, and Solange is too trusting for her own good. But I understand why she took the job. She needs it, and she’s hoping this will bring her more work. I’m fine with that, but I hate having to be a part of it.

“Let’s go,” I grumble. “The last fucking thing I need is to be working on a Saturday. Especially since I just got back from a business trip.”

As an auditor for the accounting firm, I often travel for work, though I prefer assignments that can be done remotely.

“So, it’s going to be a full day,” Simone says in a sing-song voice. “We have to set up the tables and chairs, and then you’ll need to change and work the bar for the party.”

“I’m getting drunk,” I mutter.

“And if you can smile, that would be great,” Solange says as if she didn’t hear me. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep Ashley away from you.”

“I don’t know how you can do that at her party, but whatever.”

“And we’ll pay you because I know this is a lot to ask.”

“No, you won’t. You can’t afford to, but I’m not sharing my tips with you like I normally do.” I mean that part. I’ll do anything for my sister and Kirby, but even I have my limits.

Ashley Turner and her mother are my limits.

Chapter 2

Cherry

The backyard of my aunt and uncle’s house looks like a pink implosion. I like pink as much as anyone, but this looks more like the last day of your period, not an engagement party. Instead of just one or two shades of pink, they are using all the shades.

It’s a perfect May day. Lord knows Ashley doesn’t deserve it. She deserves nothing but torrential rain, hail, and a tornado thrown in, but that would make me uncomfortable, and it would upset my sister. She’s talking to Kirby on the other side of the huge yard right now.

We’ve been here for a few hours, and guests are expected to start arriving in the next two. Fortunately, I haven’t run into any of the people throwing the party.

The only one I barely tolerate is my Uncle Whit, and that’s only because he’s barely said ten words to me my entire life. His wife, Karen, is the one who created the false rivalry between me and Ashley. I suspect that’s because we’re the same age, whereas Solange is four years older. Ashley’s younger sister, Amira, is always lurking around too, but since she’s three years younger, I haven’t had to deal with her much.

Uncle Whit is an attorney who works for Jubilee Financial Services, one of the country’s most elite financial institutions. Whatever the hell that means. My grandfather, Levar Turner, was Mr. Daniel Jubilee’s driver. Daniel Jubilee, the founder and CEO of Jubilee FinancialServices. Folklore is that he treats his personal staff like family, schooling my grandfather on investments and paying to send all his children to college, including my mother.

The part about paying for my mother’s college is true, so I’m inclined to believe the rest. I also know that everyone kisses that old man’s ass, but when I tried to get a job in his company's accounting department, I was not hired. I didn’t drop my grandfather’s name. I could barely stand the man, but I got a letter after three rounds of intense interviews. They thanked me for my interest in their company but felt I was not a good match at the time. I was encouraged to apply again. I balled up the letter, threw it in the trash, and cursed Jubilee Financial Services, Daniel Jubilee Senior, and his entire family.

I look across the yard. Solange looks up and smiles at me. I scowl at her and give her the finger. She sticks her tongue out. I sigh and decide to get through the day as best as possible, but this place brings back not-so-good memories.

We’d been here for Easter a few times as kids. What was supposed to be fun turned into me bursting into tears when I was told to give the big chocolate bunny to Amira because she was little and wanted it. It was the main prize, and I earned it fair and square, but Mom, being the pushover that she was, insisted it was the nice thing to do because Amira was so young.

That’s my mother, and that attitude is why I’ve limited my contact with her for the past year. The last thing she tried to take from me and Solange to give to Ashley and Amira was too much. Solange still talks to her, but she knows not to mention it unless I ask. She understands my side and agrees with my feelings, but she still maintains a relationship with Mom. According to Kirby, my mother has respected Solange’s boundaries regarding her side of the family.

And the only reason my mom won’t be here today is because my dad booked a vacation for them to get her out of town.

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