“No, not really.”
“Anika mentioned Aldridge has agreed to be Dante’s best man.”
“That’s news to me.” She wasn’t getting a crumb of intel from me.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit fortuitous?”
Jemini and her big fucking words. “I’m not following.”
“You’re the maid of honor and Aldridge is the best man. Just feels like fate is working overtime to get you two back together.”
“Dante and Aldridge are friends. In fact, it was Aldridge who introduced Dante to Anika. So, him being involved in the wedding makes sense.”
“You know Danessa …” I rolled my eyes, readying myself for a lecture. “I know you think I’m just some gold-digging bitch?—”
“I don’t.”I did. Not proud of it but if it walks like a duck …
“You do. I taught you girls to know your worth. You’re smart, beautiful, and personality wise, you do what you can. We work with the tools we are given. Everyone wants to be provided for. It’s not a dirty word. Men like Aldridge have the desire to provide coded into their DNA.”
Anika entered the suite, saving me from this conversation. “Second dress. What do you think?”
My mother shook her head. “The dress is wearing you. You’re not wearing the dress.”
Anika looked to me for a varying opinion. “Your body is tea and that dress is hiding all the hours you’ve spent in the gym.”
“Okay, I’ll try on a form-fitting one next.” We both watched Anika swoosh out of the room.
“That dress was a mess.” My mother poured herself another glass of champagne.
“Like seriously what was she thinking?”
“Maybe she’s trying to impress his parents. Word on the curb is they’re bougie as hell.”
“Well, that dress was not screaming welcome to the family.”
It wasn’t always a fight with my mother. Jemini was funny, and smart as fuck. She’d never gone to college, but she learned quickly and knew a little about a whole lot. She was an avid reader, mostly romance because in the pages of those books she could revel in the type of love that seemed to only exist in happily ever after stories.
“Have you ever heard of the Black Cat Golden Retriever theory?”
“No.”
“It’s all about opposites attract. Now a golden retriever is loyal, kind, and funny. For the purposes of this conversationthat would be Aldridge. Then you have the black cat who is introverted, reserved, not funny.”
“That would be me?”
“Yes, in theory. You need to be the black cat so Aldridge can spoil and worship you as God intended.”
“So, I’m not a black cat?”
“You’re one of those feminist, unhoused black cats who’s always talking about equal rights.”
“Wait, you’re also a feminist.”
“While I agree a woman can do anything a man can, why would she want to? Aldridge was ready to turn you into a SAHWNK.”
“What the hell is that?”
“A stay-at-home wife with no kids. But no you wanted to be Danessa, attorney at law and you couldn’t even do that.”
