“I agree. The only thing I’m greeting at sunrise is a hot cup of coffee.” Then he wraps one arm around a woman sitting next to him, who is wearing an elaborate diamond necklace. “And my wife. If she’s in the mood.”
His petite, graceful wife swats his arm playfully. “Oh my goodness, Thomas. Please. Don’t listen to him.” She reaches across from him and extends her hand towards me. The ring on her ring finger could blind a small village. “Hello, dear. I’m Angela, and this is my corny husband, Thomas.”
I laugh softly, slipping my hand into hers.
“Hello to you both.”
“We’re glad to have you here, Marley. Othello, you sure know how to pick your women.” Thomas lets out a booming laugh, his round belly shaking with every chuckle.
Othello puts his arms around my shoulders and then kisses the side of my cheek.
“How long have you known Othello?” Collette asks.
“Not too long. Three months.” I say without missing a beat. Because in reality, that is when we met.
“Things must be pretty heavy between you two?”
“Not too much,” I insist bashfully. “It’s only been three months.”
“I proposed to Angela after two weeks of knowing her. When a man knows. He knows.”
“We’re taking our time, right now,” I say. “Right, honey?”
Othello takes my hand in his and brushes a kiss across my knuckles in response.
Angela lets out a rich, melodic laugh. “Oh, sweetheart. A man doesn’t take a woman he’s taking his time with to a wedding, dear.”
If only they knew that we came here separately.
The servers set our first course before us. A Caesar salad with Parmesan crisp and garlic breadcrumbs. The conversationsplinters into smaller ones by the time our main courses arrive. Given the choice between fish and beef, I opt for the miso-glazed sea bass while Othello chooses wagyu beef with roasted mushrooms and rice.
Angela and Collette commend me on my journey withMod, giving out pointers and asking about its future plans. James and Othello fall into an animated discussion about sports. The one conversation I am hoping to see happen never comes. I’ve waited to see Othello and Gavin converse about something.Anything. But it’s a lost cause. They don’t even acknowledge each other.
“You know,” Collette says in the middle of our conversation. “I was going to wait until after dinner, but I simply can’t keep it to myself any longer.”
This phrase piques a few ears, and even Carina turns, looking just as confused as I feel.
“Mom, what are you talking about?” she interjects.
“I know I’m no longer in thegame,” Collette air-quotes. “But apparently, I still have no patience when it comes to a good story.”
“Mom, please let her enjoy her vacation.”
“And her dinner,” Jerome adds, stuffing his mouth with red snapper.
“She shall! She shall! I just keeping seeing this vision and Marley can bring said vision to life. It won’t be like work at all. ”
“What won’t be like work?” I ask, itching for her to say whatever it is she’s building up to.
“My latest idea.” She leans into the table, her eyes glittering. “I wantModto cover Carina’s wedding.”
My brain short-circuits, struggling to catch up with the words that just came out of Collette’s mouth. “Wait…you what?”
Then, from Carina, who looks beyond mortified. “Mom,no!”
“I think it would be perfect for you, dear. And forMod, don’t you agree, Angela?”
Angela nods, her smile as bright as the diamonds sparkling around her neck.
