Page 33 of Finesse
“I’m sure your parents are the same way.” I counter at the risk of sounding like a bitch. “They would want to know who is responsible.”
Cameron’s shoulders do a slight shrug. “They would have to care first.”
Smoke and mirrors. The appearance of a happy family but hidden and deep secrets abound. It occurred to me Cameron may love his family, but it’s not clear if he actually likes them. He’ll never go against them in public no matter the reason.
It explains his friends and even our relationship in comparison to his father’s policies. There is a clear disconnect somewhere.
“Oh, there you two are!” Heather comes in and joins us. She’s dressed straight out of a J. Crew lookbook, with a silk scarf wrapped around her neck. Her slacks are perfectly creased and she’s wearing a cashmere sweater. Pearl earrings are in her ears with a matching necklace. Kitten heels complete her look.
She has silver-blue eyes and always wears just enough makeup to considered natural, when she knows it’s not. Her lithe frame is due to genetics and Pilates, with some plastic surgery. She might consider her look casual but it’s clear she’s wearing her wealth.
She wants everyone to know who she is, what she is worth, and the power she has with just a simple phone call no matter what situation she is in.
“I was just showing Taylor the home, giving her a tour.” Cameron turns and faces his mother with a smile. “We were about to head to the kitchen.”
“I’m glad you gave her a tour!” Heather smiles and pinches her son’s stomach before she turns to me. “I hope you enjoyed the tour, especially the African room.”
I was waiting for the racist comment and Heather didn’t disappoint. “The “African” room was from their safari a few years back. Cameron claimed the artifacts were given to the family for their hospitality but I’m not entirely sure I believe that. “It was lovely.” I smile.
“Good, good!” Heather smiles at me. “Tonight for dinner, we’re going to have roast beef, fried okra, skillet cornbread, and my famous green bean casserole! I also have peach cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert! I hope you enjoy!” She walks out of the room with an extra pep as if she’s happy she accomplished something.
Cameron waits until his mother is out of earshot. “The original menu had fried chicken on it and I had to convince her why that wasn’t a good idea. She argued everyone loves fried chicken, but I told her serving fried chicken to our Black guests just wasn’t smart.” He puts his hands in his pockets. “Baby steps.”
~~~~~~
Dinner was uneventful. We all sat around the expensive oak table and conversed on everything that wasn’t about race relations, injustice, or politics. It seemed like everyone – my father included – didn’t want the first meeting to go sour.
No one was being fake, but it was clear people were being overly cautious. They didn’t want to say the wrong thing to appear to be an asshole. My father laughed at the appropriate corny jokes from Eric. Cameron was embarrassed when Heather talked about his Little League days.
The siblings didn’t stop by for Cameron wanted me to meet his family without his siblings involved. I found it weird but I didn’t press further. Robert is married with a family of his own and Jamie is away at college at Georgia. They probably didn’t have time.
After dinner, Heather gave my father some of her extra peach cobbler with promises she was going to tell of her friends about my Daddy’s coffee shop. Daddy smiled and accepted the pie and the promises. He knew he wasn’t going to eat both.
Cameron pulled me to the side and hugged me. “Thank you for tolerating my awkward family.” He whispered.
“They were lovely, even your mother.” I whispered back. It wasn’t a joke. I barely interacted with Eric. He seemed to be more interested in Daddy than anyone else at the table.
“I want you to spend the night at my place tonight.” Cameron holds me tight. “Pack a bag and I’ll pick you up in about two hours.”
“I have finals next week, Cam.” I whisper back. “I need to study this weekend.”
“Just spend the night and I’ll bring you back tomorrow.” He pulls back and caresses my face. “I just want you to be with me tonight.”
“Okay.” I have so much I could be doing but none of it sounds better than lying next to Cameron all night. “I’ll stay with you tonight.”
“Hey lovebirds,” Eric finally comes over to us. “Taylor, it was a pleasure to meet you and your father tonight. I hope to see you all again soon.” It feels like he’s giving a speech, yet it’s his normal speaking voice. I guess the politician within him never quite turns off.
“Thank you for the hospitality.” I shake his hand and Eric pulls me in for a surprise hug. I meet eyes with Cameron and his eyes narrow in on his father. He’s not happy with his father’s warmness but he wouldn’t dare to speak against him.
“See you around, kid.” Eric smiles and rejoins Heather.
“See you later, baby.” Cameron gives me a sweet kiss and joins his parents.
I join Daddy in his car and we pull out slowly from the estate. Once we’re outside of Buckhead, Daddy pulls over and breathes a sigh of relief. He briefly closes his eyes before he turns to me. “They’re nice people, but I’m not sure if they’re good people. If Cameron is who you want, you need to accept everything that comes with him, regardless if you like it.”
Daddy noticed something with the Pages I didn’t see or haven’t discovered yet. Memories of my convo with Hayley and the Harlem trip flood my brain. If I want to leave Cameron, now is the time to do it. “Yessir.”
“Good.” My Daddy rolls down the window and tosses the peach cobbler out the window. “I wasn’t going to eat that bland shit no matter who baked it. Karen with the peach cobbler head ass. Let’s go home and have some real cobbler!”
