Page 110 of Without Bound
“We’re going to dress up like last year,” Viv adds. “But you guys don’t have to since it’s last minute.”
“Oh. We’re dressing up. We already had it planned for tonight.” Anais’ eyes light up and something of mine lights up as I recall the vision of her spinning in a circle for me as she tried it on at that store.
I clear my throat and make a slight and hopefully unnoticeable adjustment. “Yeah. We’ll definitely try and make it.”
We talk for a bit longer, Viv going upstairs with Anais to show off her dress and Nix and I talking baseball, before they leave to help Cami and Vaughan prep for tonight’s party.
To my surprise, I really enjoyed the ballet. Or maybe it was that I enjoyed seeing how much Anais enjoyed it. Dinner was another amazing experience.
I had a large bouquet of lavender roses dotted with white baby’s breath and a single gold butterfly sitting amongst it all delivered to the restaurant. I made special arrangements to have it sitting on her place setting when we arrived. Of course she cried and had to excuse herself to the ladies room, but came back to the table looking like the smokeshow she is.
We talked about whether or not wewanted to spend the remainder of the evening with the crew, and ultimately decided it would do us some good to be with our friends again. A great way to kick off a new year.
We were both nervous pulling up to the house and it took us several minutes before getting out of the car and making our way to the front door. I barely took my finger off the doorbell when it flew open and an excited looking Dagen stood there.
“Uncle Bishop! You came!”
She shouted and jumped up into my arms. I had to tell myself to keep it together to stop from crying.
“There’s my favorite girl.”It felt so good to see her after so many weeks.
Now I understood how Nix was feeling not having Anais there to see anytime he wanted.
“I missed you too, Ana.”I put her down and she hugged Anais, now almost as tall as her.
“I missed your face.”Anais kissed her cheek leaving behind a shiny set of lips.
“Woah! Your shoes are so pretty.”Day gushed over the gorgeous shoes that were perched on my girls’ feet.
She was wrapped in a short lavender satin dress that gathered here and gathered there. The sleeves hung off her shoulders and billowed until they gathered at her wrists. But her shoes, those were another level.
Shiny heels danced under the lights with each step she took. They looked like crystals wrapped delicately around her slender feet. The best part of them was the butterfly that sat on the back of her heel. It was beautiful with intricate, laser cut wings that looked like they were fluttering as she walked.
We were greeted by cheers and hugs and kisses when we entered the party. Cami hugged me like she was holding onto a life saving raft.
“I’m so sorry, Bish. You’re my best friend and I should’ve been there for you. I promise to never let you down again.”She kissed my cheek and I kissed hers back before reminding her that I loved her. Then I rubbed her growing belly and breathed a sigh of relief that I’d get to be here for him. Or her.
I released her only to be tugged into Vaughan’s arms. Though we had spoken often, we hadn’t seen each other in some time. It was too hard to see him and not see all the others.
Greeting the rest went pretty much the same. Hugs, apologies, tears, kisses and smiles. When I got to CeCe, she looked timid and ashamed. Besides Nix, she was one who opposed our relationship the most. It was the one that hurt me the most.
Her belly was huge with my nephew growing inside. She was a month away from bringing him into this world and I was anxious.
I approached her and she gave me a watery half smile and shrug.“I’m a jerk. What more can I say other than I’m sorry, I missed you and I love you.”
As best as I could without squishing her belly, I took her in my arms and reassured her we were good.“You’re not a jerk. You were just concerned. Thank you for looking out for me.”
After more talks about what assholes they had been -I won’t totally disagree with that- enough was forgiven that we could have a healing point to grow from. Some may think I forgave too easily, but these people are my family. Everything good and bad in my life I’ve experienced with them. We all make mistakes, choose the wrong direction every now and then. What kind of brother would I be to hold it over their head when they already feel so much guilt. I love them and we’ll always forge through the bumps and twisting turns of life as a team.
And now that team includes Anais.
“What are you thinking about?” I whisper in Anais’ ear as I come up behind her and snake my hands around her slim waist.
She looks over her shoulder and smiles at me. “Just thinking about this time last year as we stood on opposite sides of this very room. I was pining for you then, wishing you would look at me.”
“I was looking, baby girl. I was just chastising myself for doing so.”
A noise maker goes off in the distance and it brings our attention to the people around us, all gathering together for the countdown.
