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A small, cool hand closed over my clenched fist, and it was as if someone flicked a switch, shutting everything off. I exhaled forthe first time. It was shredded and wet in the cavity of my chest. I glanced down to find Kami peering up at me, her features light and warm, but her eyes watchful and focused. She gave my fingers a light squeeze that I felt straight swaddle me like a comfort blanket before she turned her attention to the people around us.
Her expression never wavered as she greeted them calmly and effortlessly, all the while, I could feel her nudging me back, tugging me behind her as she maneuvered us backwards to where my parents stood on the outskirts of the chaos. Only when we were out of the swarm did she release me and turn to greet my parents. She hugged them and said things I didn’t hear. I was only faintly aware of Lavena and the girls already there, focused on something Edmund was saying. I took the moment of reprieve to inhale and exhale several times, retraining my lungs on how to work properly. It helped, but just barely. There were still so many people.
“There’s nothing I can do,” Mom was saying to whatever question my father had asked. “I can’t just tell people to leave.”
My father pulsed with an air of disapproval. There were deep creases between his eyes that matched the lines around his mouth, but we both knew she was right. The party had only just started. Asking people to leave was rude and would absolutely start a lot of backlashes.
“I can pull the fire alarm,” Lavena offered.
“Don’t you dare!” Mom hissed.
“This technically is a fire hazard,” Kas supplied helpfully. “There are way too many people in this space and not enough fire exits.”
“Which would cause mass panic and deaths if you pull the alarm,” Kami pointed out wisely. “But there are way too many people here.” She looked to my mother. “We need to get them out before someone gets hurt.”
“I can pretend to faint.” Lavena suggested. “Edmund, catch me.”
“Stop it,” Mom muttered before Edmund could get into place behind Lavena. “You’re not helping.”
“Well, you’re shutting down some of my best ideas.”
“Those are your best ideas? Fainting and false fires?” Sasha grumbled.
Lavena rolled her eyes. “I could start a real fire, but something tells me you guys will say no to that, too.”
Mom ignored her completely. “I said, family only. Why would you bring a bunch of random people to a private dinner? I don’t even think we have enough food for everyone.” She pressed a hand to her chest and looked to my father. “I just wanted a nice, family dinner. Now what?”
The irritation softened in my father’s features as he slipped a hand around her middle and tugged her to his side. He pressed his lips to the side of her head and mumbled, “I’ve taken care of it.”
Mom jerked back, eyes wide. “You … what?”
As if perfectly timed, a small cluster of men in navy uniforms appeared in the hallway. The music was shut off as all heads turned to the newcomers.
“Alex!” my mom hissed, horrified as police officers declared a noise complaint and something about safety regulations that was drowned by a loud stream of protest.
“You called the cops?” Lavena muttered just under her breath, amusement curling the corner of her lips. “On your own party?”
Father shrugged but said nothing as people were ushered into the elevator and down the stairs in two single files.
“Cella. Cella!” Grandma Josephine — the only person on the planet allowed to call my mother Cella — elbowed her way briskly through the moving throng of people to stand before herdaughter. “Cella, what’s happening? Are we being raided? Do I need to slip into the bathroom and empty—”
“We’re not being raided, Ma,” Mom sighed as Grandma clutched her massive bag to her abdomen. “I think someone reported all the noise.”
Grandma Josephine blinked heavily mascaraed eyelashes. “Noise? We were practically mice up here.”
Mom narrowed her eyes. “Do you have your hearing aids turned down again?”
Grandma Josephine deliberately avoided her attention to me. “My sweet, beautiful angel. I didn’t even see you.” She took my face between her soft, warm hands and kissed both of my cheeks. “Come see me, okay? I’ll make those cakes you like, and you can tell me everything.”
Thirty plus years and I could never tell her I hated fruit cake with a passion beyond imagination. I smiled and promised I would and watched her march up to one of the police officers and square off with him in all her four feet glory.
“You’re harassing the wrong people. There’s a gang of misfits outside my apartment every day at three pm, just swarming the sidewalk like they have the right. You should be asking them what they’re doing.”
Mom face palmed. “They’re kids, Ma. They’re going home from school. We’ve talked about this.”
Grandma huffed. “They all look suspicious, and I know suspicious. I was married to your father for twenty-six years.”
“I love Grandma.” Lavena smirked as the officer gently took Grandma’s elbow and guided her to the elevator, promising he’d look into the gang of misfits first chance he got. “I strive to be that level of delulu at her age.”
