Page 30 of Cherry's Jubilee

I watch my mother walk over to us from the corner of my eye. She’s walking slower than usual and not making eye contact with me.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Cross,” Daniel says.

“It’s Cal,” Dad says. “And this is Cherry’s mom, Michelle. Chelly, this is Daniel Jubilee, and he’s Cherry’s boyfriend.”

I could tell my mother recognized Daniel before my dad finished the introduction. She looks up at him with her mouth hanging open and looks back at me as if to confirm, but I refuse to make eye contact. My mom offers him her hand, and he shakes it. He turns it over and kisses the back of it. Mom blushes like a schoolgirl.

“It’s nice to see you, Daniel,” she says. “You probably don’t remember, but I knew you when you were a boy. We came to your house for a pool party, and you tried to feed Cherry to the cat. Welcome to our home, and please call me Michelle.” She smiles at him.

I’m not surprised by her reaction. Both my parents have always been gracious with whoever we bring over.

Solange and Kirby pull up behind Daniel’s car, and after we greet each other, my dad says, “Sol and Kirby, take Daniel to the deck and get him a drink. The two of us need to talk to Cherry for a minute.”

Solange looks from Dad to me, and I know she’s trying to figure out a way to stay so she can play referee. I’m sure my dad knows that too. After I hand Kirby the cakes, Dad gestures for them to go.

Once it’s just the three of us, my mom gives me a tentative smile. I give her one back, but mine is more fake than tentative. She opens her arms, and we share an awkward hug. I pull away quickly.

“How did you meet him?” she asks of Daniel. “How does he treat you?” she whispers. “I can’t believe you’re dating Daniel Jubilee, and Solange didn’t tell me.”

“Fine,” I say. “And I asked Solange not to; she respects my boundaries. You see how that works?” I see her smile leave her face, and some of her confidence retreats, but she stands straight and plasters another smile on her face. “Do you want me to step aside so Ashley can have him?” The smile vanishes again. “Well, she’s getting married. Should I give him to Amira?”

She looks away from me, but I see some tears in her eyes. I immediately feel two feet tall. This is not how I wanted things to go when I agreed to come here. My father doesn’t deserve that.

“This is why I wanted some time alone, just the three of us,” my dad says. His voice has an edge to it now. It’s not a tone I get from him often. Me and Solange call it hisdad voice, and it only comes out when he’s mad at one of us.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” I concede. “I don’t want to fight.”

“Well, for someone who doesn’t want to fight, you sure come out swinging,” Dad says. “I want you to forgive your mother, Cherette,” he orders.

“Calvin, stop—” Mom begins, but Dad holds up hishand.

“She’s sorry. She’s cried every day for the past year. She’s finally seeking therapy because I told her if she ever did anything like that again, I’d leave.” My eyes nearly bug out at that admission. Mom’s tears stream down her face. “She’s working through her issues, Cherry, but you cutting her off and never coming here has got to stop. I’ve been to therapy with your mom, and I understand her better now.” When I open my mouth to argue with him, he says. “I don’t agree with how she’s handled things, how she forced you girls to be around those people. Now—”

“Dad, why are we having this discussion in the street? I agreed to come celebrate your birthday, and now you’re making all these demands on me.”

“I’m asking you to stop freezing your mother out of your life!” he practically yells.

“Mom can speak for herself!”

“Well, you haven’t talked to me in a year, Cherry,” she says through her tears.

“Oh my God, please stop the waterworks,” I say. “I told you why. I’ve had enough. It was one thing when you made us go visit them, and they treated us like lepers, but for you to advocate that we give Ashley and Amira a building worth millions was the last straw. Why do you care about their well-being more than that of your own children? These people wouldn’t spit on me and Solange if we were on fire. You should have stood up for us to them, but you didn’t. You—”

“I know!” she yells. “I know, and I’m sorry.” She grabs both of my hands, and she tightens her hold when I try to pull away. “That was a shit moment. One of the lowest moments of my life. I’ll spend the rest of my life apologizing.”

I manage to extricate my hands from hers slowly. I look at my father, feeling completely betrayed and blindsided by this ambush on the sidewalk.

“I think it’s unfair of you to dump this on me right now.”

“You haven’t been here in a year. I don’t know when I’d get the two of you together again,” my dad says without an ounce of remorse.

I feel tears pool in the back of my eyes. “I think it’s best if I get Daniel and we—”

“Cherry Bomb!” Daniel says as he walks from the side of the house. He’s holding a fruity drink. He hands it to me, and I take a sip. It’s Solange’s signature cocktail. “I’ve had two already,” he says, holding his glass up. “Your sister is generous with the vodka.”

“Daniel, I think we should go—”

“Hell no,” my dad says. “Daniel is practically drunk. Come on and let’s eat.” My mom quickly wraps her arm around Daniel’s, and they walk to the house together.

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