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“You can call me August or Gus. My family calls me Gus and thank you for having me. Yes, we saw him when we first came in. Torrey, how are you?”
“I’m great. Thank you for asking,” Torrey answered unenthused.
“Huh?” Keeva called out. “Vee, Mommy wants us.”
Taking Keeva’s hint to give them some space, I stood and followed her out of the room.
Kenzie arrived later in the day. She flew in for the party but was going to stay in town to plan her wedding. She and Travis finished their part of the project they were working on. She found Keeva and I standing in the kitchen trying to eavesdrop on Torrey and August.
“Sisters!” she put her arms around both Keeva and me, “I’ve missed you guys!”
“We’ve missed you too,” I smiled. “How long are you staying?”
“For a while. I’ve been sick with worry even though y’all told me not to be. Travis got so sick of me that he sent me back and told me to stay as long as I want!”
“I’m glad you are here,” I said while hugging her again.
“Good choice on your outfit for today,” Kenzie remarked while giving me the once-over.
We’d had a three-way call about what I was wearing today. They both seemed to be very invested in what I chose to wear today. Then Keeva explained that she was trying to borrow something to wear and wanted to know what I was wearing so she would know what not take. After going through several outfit choices with them, I’d settled on a dark denim jumpsuit with a light denim shirt with a bow, underneath. I added my gold Fendi boots to finish off the outfit. It was comfortable but fashionable at the same time.
“Thank you although my confidence was rattled a little after you both vetoed the outfit I’d planned on wearing at first.”
“I mean, it’s Samuel’s party, so it’s sorta your party as well. We just wanted you to feel good and look good,” Keeva explained.
“Yep and you look great,” Kenzie added.
* * *
I wentin search of Samuel and found him sitting with Roc and some other men talking. I was going to leave him alone until he locked eyes with me and beckoned me to him. He patted the seat next to him. I sat down, and he put his arm around my shoulder pulling me closer.
“I’m going to give you a nice rub down tonight,” Samuel whispered in my ear causing me to smile, “Thank you for all of this.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Vivian. She has been planning this since you went in the hospital, no lie.”
One day in Samuel’s hospital room, after he’d only been there about three days and was still considered to be in critical condition, I saw Vivian writing notes in a notebook.
“What are you writing?” I asked sitting down next to her.
“I’m planning Samuel’s welcome home party. I know it may sound silly since he is in a coma and is not doing the best, but this is my faith work. The Bible says faith without works is dead. So, my faith work is planning this party. I want everything ordered and deposits paid by the end of the week. I will let them know the date the closer we get to it.”
“I can believe it,” Samuel said.
Princess came over with a friend in tow who looked to be about a year or so older than Princess, but it was clear who was running the show. Princess climbed on the couch settling into the small space between Samuel and me. Her friend surveyed the remaining space and determined she wouldn’t fit, so she stood in front of Princess.
“Hey, Uncle El,” she smiled up at Samuel.
“Hey, Princess,” El responded, “What’s your friend’s name?”
“Oh, this my cousin, Ariel.”
“Hi, Ariel,” Samuel smiled.
“Hi,” she responded.
“Hi, Princess. Your shoes are very pretty,” I said.
She had on a pair of red trimmed Burberry, double Velcro strapped tennis shoes. She surveyed her shoes then ran her hands down her pleated Burberry dress.
