Читать книгу A Yuletide Affair - Monica Richardson - Страница 15
ОглавлениеFriday morning, and she’d almost forgotten that she’d committed to tasting wedding cakes with her sister.
“I don’t know who he thought he was, barking orders at me as if...” Alyson stuffed a fork filled with red velvet cake into her mouth “...oh, my God, that’s good!”
“I’m partial to the white Amaretto. And oh, Lord, the chocolate Bavarian crème is simply delightful.” Jasmine took a forkful of her sister’s red velvet and tasted it. “But oh, this red velvet.”
“I’m telling you right now, Jazzy, I am not at all interested in that man!” Alyson eyeballed the baker who sat across the table from them. She tried to lower her voice to a whisper. “He’s so...so...egotistical.”
“He seems very nice and genuine to me,” Jasmine countered. “And you have to admit he’s gorgeous. Isn’t he?”
“He’s a womanizer. Already running about town with that young woman from the band.”
“Bijou? Oh, she’s much too young for him. And not at all his type.”
“Could’ve fooled me. And what would you know about his type? Do you even know this man?” Alyson asked her. “Does Jackson even know him? I know they claim to be friends, but how long has it been since he’s seen him last?”
“They’ve been friends for years. And Jackson knows him very well. He’s a great guy, Alyson,” Jasmine said. “You should give him a chance.”
“I don’t trust him.” Alyson licked cream cheese frosting from the side of her finger. “What does he even do for a living?”
“Well, as I understand it, he was an assistant district attorney for years. But recently he decided to run for mayor, and there were some issues that surfaced with his campaign. I don’t know all the details, but I understand there was a little scandal of some sort. There were rumors that he’d accepted some bribes. Somebody had it in for him.”
“See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about! Scandalous.”
“None of it was true,” said Jasmine. “But he was so devastated, he decided to come over here to clear his head and regroup.”
“You mean run away from his troubles.”
“That’s not what I said, Alyson. And I think you should stop being so judgmental. Give the man a break. Go to dinner! Find out who he is for yourself.”
“Not interested,” said Alyson. “And I’ll let him know that no one gives me orders. No one!”
Alyson pulled out her cell phone to check the text message that had just come through. Jennifer Madison wanted to know why the full-price offer on Madison Place had fallen through. She didn’t have the nerve to tell her that the buyer had changed his mind—found another home that suited him better. She needed the property to sell, and she needed it to happen soon. She had bills looming over her head.
“Thank you for filling in for Jackson today, sis. He hates that he’s not able to participate in all the little details of the wedding.” Jasmine grabbed Alyson’s hand. “But I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me, too.” Alyson smiled. “But don’t get used to me being here all the time, Jazzy, and I mean it. My life is in Miami. And I have a business there, too.”
“I know. I know. But I’m just glad you’re here now.”
“I’m leaving on Monday. Have an early flight out,” said Alyson. “You should come with me. Maybe we can visit a few bridal boutiques, look at some dresses. Maybe you’ll finally fall in love with one.”
“I might take you up on that. Jackson won’t be back until next Friday.”
“We’ll leave on the first flight out in the morning,” Alyson said. “I’ll have Jules check rates for you.”
“We’ll be back by the week’s end, right? We’re having our family dinner next Saturday. Did you forget?”
She hadn’t forgotten. Family dinners at the Talbots’ home weren’t an option. You were expected to be there when you lived as close as Florida. Their siblings who lived in Atlanta and Texas were given a pass. And their youngest brother, Denny, who was training in the Royal Bahamas, would also be absent. But Jasmine, Alyson and their brother Edward, who also lived in Florida, were expected to show up.
“I didn’t forget,” Alyson said. “How could I when Mother has reminded me every single day this week that I’m preparing the macaroni and cheese.”
“Macaroni and cheese? You got off easy,” said Jasmine. “I’m doing the conch salad and conch fritters.”
“It’s because you still live at home. You get all the grunt work.” Alyson laughed. “Maybe once you move into your own home, you’ll get some relief.”
“It’s so hard living with them sometimes. Always keeping tabs on me as if I’m still a kid. But with Jackson working and traveling so much, I prefer to be there with them. It’s better than being alone in some empty house.”
“You’ll be a married woman soon. And maybe your husband will quit working so much and spend more time at home, so you don’t have to spend so much time with the old people.” Alyson laughed. “Sitting on the porch listening to Daddy’s stories of the old days.”
“I love Daddy’s stories.” Jasmine giggled.
“I bet you don’t have an ounce of privacy. And how many nights do they sip on sky juice and play George Symonette albums?”
Both women laughed. While they enjoyed contemporary Caribbean artists, they knew that their parents still preferred old-school calypso and goombay music styles. It was what they knew and loved, and what the Talbot children grew up listening to.
“Every Saturday night I’m listening to George Symonette while Mother dances around the room, a highball in her hand. Daddy has to pry the glass from her and put her to bed,” said Jasmine. “She’s sipping on the sky juice more often these days.”
