Page 51 of Dahlias, Sapphires, and Cool Autumn Dusk
His twin arched a brow. “She didn’t.”
“Well, that’s that then,” Phoenix said and stood, brushing his hands off on his legs. “She can’t be allowed to intimidate my girlfriend. I don’t want Alatheia worried about Murial on top of everything else. I mean, Maggie is cray-cray but this wasn’t her. It stinks of Murial.”
I sat up, reaching for him. “Phoenix, be honest. She’s more powerful than you. I might not know much, but I recognize powerful. Even Dina can’t control Murial. There isn’t anything you can do, and besides, she says we’re going to hang out. Shepromised to show me art like I won’t believe, and she wants me to learn about a painter. I think she wants us to be friends?”
“She doesn’t havefriends,” Phoenix said, with emphasis on the word before he rubbed his eyes like they hurt which, due to redness, appeared to actually hurt. “No, I’m gonna call that one. You’re not hanging out with her. If you want to look at paintings, you can go with Tiffany.”
Jer imitated Julian from earlier. “I like paintings, too.”
Barrett arched an eyebrow. “This isn’t about us, it’s about her having female companionship.”
Phoenix frowned. “Fine, but if she is hanging out with Murial, one of us should tag along. Just show up wherever you’re going, even. It would be stupid not to make sure you were safe, and she has to respect that. If you look at art with Queen Murial, you have one of us as an escort. You guys can’t even disagree, because she could take it too far, or Davis could show up. I hate him more today than I did yesterday.”
My head pounded, so I rubbed at my temples in frustration. “Why does everything have to be so complicated all the time?”
“It doesn’t,” Julian said and squeezed my foot. Barrett didn't say anything, seeming lost in thought.
He finally stood, clapping his hands as if he’d made a decision. “We need brunch. Food for everyone, that’s what we need. Get dressed. We’re going to brunch.”
I rolled my legs off the bed quickly, happy at the idea of food, since my stomach growled at the thought. “The jazz club was really fantastic, by the way. I feel like it got lost in everything that happened after, but I wanted to thank you.”
Barrett’s smile made it worth remembering to take the time to thank him. “I wish we’d gone home then, because it would’ve been easier.”
I shrugged, since Murial would’ve found me at some point.At least it is over.
“She was barefoot,” I told Julian, as if it mattered. Then again, he would understand because I’d told him about my shoe theory.
He lifted his eyebrow. “You might need a new category.”
Somehow, I didn’t think Murial fit into anyone’s categories.
They showered, which gave me a few minutes to myself. Instead of worrying about how I looked, I opened Dina’s journal, because I missed her. Life got busy, so we didn't have as much time to stop and see her lately. I intended to check on her later that day, and made a mental note before I started reading.
AUGUST 16TH1966
I’m married. I can hardly believe I am writing that. I am married. There, I said it again. How many times do I have to say it before it feels real? It’s Tuesday now, but we got married four days ago in Louisiana. We couldn’t get married here in New York City, because I’m eighteen, which is illegal here without my uncle’s permission. I wouldn’t bother to try to get that, but in Louisiana, they feel eighteen is an adult. Due to that, we got married on our way out of town.
My mother-in-law—officially family now—handed me her pearls as we left the house. They’re lovely, but I didn’t understand her choice of gift. Was it a wedding gift? She lifted an eyebrow at me, then pointed at the necklace. “So no one will ever make you feel small again.”
For a second, she squeezed my hand, so I almost forgot her strange coldness all week leading up to the elopement.
Regardless, now I am Mrs. Nathaniel Lent. He’s the oldest, so in their family, I guess that’s how it works. Despite the words onthe marriage certificate, I’m married to all of them now, which is magical. We took vows quietly, privately—all of us together, making promises only we would understand. Afterward, we went to the judge who gladly signed the papers to legally make me wed to Nathaniel. We dressed up formally, standing together as if in ceremony despite our lack of audience.
Then Ed drove us to New Orleans. It took seven hours, but we laughed the whole journey. Victor blushed at some of the bawdier jokes, but when our eyes met, I knew it wasn’t just me. They could feel how intense everything became for us.
The sun had long set, and the hour was late when we arrived, but we checked into the Roosevelt Hotel. I stared at the beautiful marble floors, shined to an almost unbelievable gloss, while Nathanial took care of things, then followed them and the bags up the elegant stairwell. Colors seemed brighter, the sheen on things glossier, the vibrancy increased by my knowledge of my new grooms following me down the hallway. They booked us three rooms, so as to not raise eyebrows, but we all entered the same room with two beds without hesitation.
It shouldn’t work. But it does. It really does.
The next morning, we flew from Moisant to JFK. Eastern Airlines. We dressed in Sunday best variety clothing, and the propeller plane lifted us off the ground with a lurch that tumbled my stomach as we rose into the clouds. I am a married woman. People wouldn’t ever understand our arrangement. Not ever, even if I bothered to try. Regardless of the world’s thoughts, I am now Mrs. Dina Lent. Mrs. Dina Newport Lent, and that won’t ever change.
I don’t know what will happen to us, but I am in this with them.
This is my happiness,
D
“Red,”Phoenix said as he flopped down next to me. “I was fucked up last night, and I’m sorry I messed up.” He turned his head away for a second, then focused on my eyes with deadly seriousness in his gaze. “I get that you couldn’t get to me. I understand, and I don’t want you to feel like I’m blaming you for not getting me. I wouldn’t have expected you to face that kind of social pressure, if I’d realized.” His lips trembled, as if emotion made it hard for him to continue. “But Barrett is never that drunk, so I figured he had things under control. The next time—if there is ever a next time—you find him. Do you understand? Do not leave without one of us. You don’t have to face things alone.”
