Page 31 of Cherry's Jubilee

I decide to ignore my dad and follow them, but he grabs my wrist.

“I’m leaving in an hour. I thought you understood.”

“I do. Come here.” Instead of taking me to the back, we go through the front door. Nothing’s changed in the year since I’ve been here. The house is still immaculate. Our pictures and degrees are still on the wall, and the furniture is still the same. “Sit with your old man.” He takes me to the kitchen and pulls out a chair. I can see everyone on the deck laughing and talking. Kirby is operating the grill, and my sister hands Daniel another drink. She’s going to make sure he’s too drunk to drive for the next few hours.

“I’m deducting this time from the hour.” I cross my arms and look away.

“Do you know how proud I am of you?” That’s not what I expected him to say, and it takes the wind out of my sails.

“You play dirty, old man,” I grumble.

“Do you know how much I love you? How much your mother loves you?” I sit up straight at that and purse my lips.

“You? Yes. My mother? Not as much as she loves Ashley and Amira.”

“Cherry—”

“Dad, you’re being unfair, and this conversation proves you don’t understand where I’m coming from.” I try to stand again, determined to leave this time. Daniel will let me drive his car, but Dad pulls me back.

“Well, I love you. I’m proud of you. Have I not told you that your entire life?”

“Yes, Dad. What does that have to do with anything?”

“Your mother didn’t grow up like that.”

“But you love her. You’ve loved her for over thirty years. Her kids love her. I don’t want to hear this again. Stop making excuses.”

“Well, when you grow up with a piece of crap father and a mother who was gone half the time, it does things to your self-esteem and how you see yourself. She’s confessed a lot of things to me in therapy, Cherry. She’s carried a lot of pain, hurt, and rejection. You can never understand these things because we ensured you didn’t experience them. Your great-grandmother practically raised her, and it wasn’t a great environment. I’m not making excuses for what happened last year, but—”

“It sure sounds that way, though.”

“Why are you so damn stubborn?”

I stare into his eyes, ready to tell him I’m just like him, but the sliding glass door opens, and the rest of my family and Daniel come inside.

“Mom’s showing Daniel your old dance recitals,” Solange giggles.

I stand and try to grab my mother’s phone from Daniel, but he moves it away.

“How come you’ve never twirled for me?” he asks.

“Because I was the worst ballerina ever,” I admit.

“Kirby and Solange, set the table outside. Michelle and I will put the food out and we’ll eat. I want to get to know Daniel better. Sol, mix up some more drinks after you set the table. It’s about time this family has some goddamn fun.”

“Forced fun is my favorite,” Kirby says.

Chapter 19

Daniel

“So, we’ve always taught the girls that cooking is love. There’s no better way to show someone you love them than cooking a meal from your kitchen with your hands. When it’s made with love, it tastes better,” Michelle says.

While she talks, Cherry has a sad smile on her face. Then her mother leans in and gives her a quick kiss on her cheek. I don’t think Cherry was expecting that. It’s a quick moment. Michelle walks away and helps Kirby bring the food to the table.

“I notice that Dad’s birthday meal is nothing but Cherry’s favorites,” Solange states.

“Cherry needs a little bit more love today,” her dad says.

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