Page 16 of Not About That Life
“Fish pie is what lesbians like to eat,” Dalton begins before Emma elbows him, “I mean, it’s an English dish.”
“You’ve never had it, Dominique?” Steven asks.
“Well, Ian hasn’t made it yet so no,” I reply, “I’m curious about it.”
“Oh, you should try it. I think you’ll love it,” Steven pauses, “I’m sure it’ll spice up your palate in addition to the other colorful recipes you’re used to.”
Colorful recipes? He just needs to come out and just say black. It’s on the tip of his tongue. “Okay.”
“Domi has had a wide range of food,” Ian finally sits beside me and begins to fix his plate, “I’ve introduced to her a lot of different cuisine from all over. It’s just not the sadness and couscous in addition to the white bread and dry-ass grits you’re used to.”
I fold my lips as Emma and Dalton break out into laughter. Even Gerald had to look away and smile. There’s no shade like English shade.
Elise takes a bite of the jambalaya and sighs in contentment. “Oh Em Gee. This is like, so good! This is so good, Ian! What is this called? Jum-lie-uh?”
“Did she just Miley Cyrus the word jambalaya?” Adrienne whispers and I hold my tongue.
“It’s jambalaya,” Ian slowly speaks, pronouncing every syllable carefully. Something tells me this isn’t the first time he’s had to do this with Elise. “It’s a Southern dish from Louisiana.”
“Hey Elise,” Dalton leans over, “can you say va-sect-to…” Emma elbows him before he could finish. “Bitch, don’t ruin the cashmere.” He rubs his stomach.
“This is really good, Ian. Fantastic as always!” Anthony beams. “Are you going to be putting these dishes in any of your restaurants?”
“I hope to debut it at Sentiment,” Ian answers. His tone is different when he addresses his father. There’s a strong sense of pride, love, and respect between the men and the feeling is very mutual. “I wanted to test it here first before I do.”
The news is a surprise to me. Ian often changes the menus at his restaurants so he’s not serving the same thing all of the time. I’m not too sure how I feel about Ian wanting to incorporate soul food at a high-flauting restaurant where the guest list generally lacks melanin.
I don’t want to outright say my fiancée is cultural appropriating but I can’t help but to wonder would he still be trying to introduce soul food if we hadn’t met?
Before I could pursue any more thought, the doorbell rings, and Anthony leaps out of his chair to answer it. He came back a short time later with a stunning, older blonde woman. She wore a classic lavender cashmere sweater with daring white slacks and kitten heels.
Her platinum blonde hair was coiffed into a perfect bob cut. Her jewelry was understated but expensive. She emanated royalty and grace, and I felt the need to bow all of a sudden.
It seemed just about everyone knew who she was, especially Ian and Gerald. “Oh really?” Gerald looked over and met eyes with Ian.
Ian paused mid-drink and looked over to their father and his new friend. I could tell Ian was trying to hold his smile back but it still escaped his lips. “Well, this should get interesting.”
“Shit, why didn’t she come last year with the dry-ass food?” Emma sipped her cocktail. “I would’ve enjoyed it more.”
“Who is she?” I quietly ask.
“She is Cheryl Geoff,” Oscar chimes in, “she’s Anthony’s longtime girlfriend.”
Adrienne choked on her water as my mouth hung open. “Wait wait wait wait wait wait wait…” I close my eyes.
“Have you ever heard of the love triangle between Prince Charles, Princess Diana and I guess, Princess Camilla?” Bianca asks me.
“Camilla ain’t no goddamn princess,” Dalton mutters before he takes a drink.
“Anyway,” Bianca rolls her eyes and continues, “Prince Charles was married to Princess Diana, but he married her out of obligation and not love. The entire time he was married, he was having an affair with Camilla, the woman he wanted to be with. After he and Diana divorced, he just went public with her and got married a few years later after Diana’s death.”
“Okay,” I’m trying to connect the dots, “so how does this apply to what just happened here?”
“Cheryl is Camilla,” Hannah looks over to Anthony and Cheryl as they giggle like naughty school kids, “and Elise is…”
“Bitch, you better not even say that on the princess’s grave,” Dalton shook his head, “no Princess Diana slander in this house.”
“So, that’s what’s going on here,” I’m stunned and I’m trying hard not to stare at Anthony and Cheryl but they’re so obvious with each other and Elise…Elise is either blissfully unaware or she just didn’t care as long as she could go shopping. “So, will Anthony and Cheryl ever get married?”
