Folle Sagesse
AnniKay
Sam/Mercedes/Puck
Disclaimer: I own Nothing…Murphy, Falchuk, and Brennen along with Fox and others own this fandom and all the characters there in…Anything you recognize obviously belongs to them
*****PLEASE NOTE: I had no intention of splitting it since that was how you all voted…But refused to allow me to Post it all in one. *****
Good Life (Kanye West feat. T-Pain)
Hudson PoV
It was funny how much Junior and I were able to get done while Puck, Sam and Mercedes where supporting their friends. While life moved slower in Ohio, errands moved a hell of a lot faster. The first thing we did was to go to the Easton Town Center and I was able to put hands on a lot of things I had to get for the tour buses. I needed to make sure the blanket that looked soft and durable online, actually was. I wanted to check the actual sizes of the small pots and microwave safe dishes Mercedes wanted available in each of the kitchenettes. After leaving the mall, I was able to meet with the contractors who would be rebuilding the house my bosses were buying just off campus for their friends to live in the next school year. It was a very productive day. The second day Junior and I actually went back to Lima after taking KAMA to the Franklin County Municipal Courthouse. I had a ball playing with the children at Mother Richardson's Day Care center, while I talked with her to make sure that she had everything that she needed for her new space. The Day Care Center would open on the first of June, so it was getting closer every day. I also made sure that everything was in readiness in the house for all the family and the couple of guest we'd be hosting for Tessa's Graduation. Her godfather, George's college best friend, Noah Werner was staying with us as was her godmother, her biological mother's older cousin, Samantha Jones.
With the trial in its final stages, Thursday morning, I asked if they needed me to go with them at all. Moma Dee had texted me before I came down and asked me if I could give her a hand with something. As I wasn't needed at the court house, I had plenty of time to help her however she needed. I took the keys to Mercedes' Tahoe…the car was huge…but it was also not brand new or a cherished Christmas gift so I preferred to borrow it when I needed to get around Lima. Lima was the only place I voluntarily drive. I'd taken classes and had a license, but no one drove in New York, the very thought of driving in LA scared me more even more than the idea of public speaking. And that was saying something, death didn't scare me more than the idea of public speaking.
When I got to the new Jones Family Dental office, Moma Dee took a break from her paperwork. She was, luckily, between patients when I got there, so we went and had a cup of coffee at Baristas in the shopping plaza in front of their new office park. "Okay, so I was thinking, since tomorrow night everyone will be home, the jury should have rendered their verdict and I have a good feeling about that…I was thinking that we could have a dessert party after the senior dinner. I'd like your help getting everything set up for it."
"Of course, I'd love to." I told her happily. I needed something to do. I didn't do idle very well. "What kind of things should we have?"
Moma Dee looked thoughtful for a moment. "I'm not sure. I'll call my favorite bakery and order a big cake to be delivered Friday evening…you handle everything else. I don't want anyone to have to cook a lick, so just order everything." She handed me a prepaid visa. "I put five thousand on here, so just get enough for, we'll say everyone who was there at Christmas…and get what you like. They're desserts so everyone will love them. I've already ordered the paper goods, so if you'll handle that side of things I'll invite everyone and grab the decorations on the way home. Anything left over on that is for you."
I agreed immediately. As far as I was concerned, I had the fun part and she was going to do the hard work. I had to say I really enjoyed getting to do it. I went straight to Cold Stone Creamery and ordered one of each of their signature ice cream cakes and a gallon each of Shock-a-cone, Cake Batter Batter Batter, Founder's Favorite, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and buttered almond. I even got a variety of small containers of sorbet. I spoke with the five catering services in Lima and found one who was not only available but would take the job on such short notice without over charging us like crazy. Just because the families were doing well, that was no reason to allow them to be taken advantage of. I ran back to the house and put all the ice cream in the freezer, I grabbed up the red and white table linens Puck and Sam had picked up from that place that was going out of business and I dropped them by the dry cleaners that Moma Dee used and asked for twenty-four-hour service. Then I headed back over to Lima's newest, and…in my own humble opinion…best, shopping plaza. That was where Alabama's Catering had their shop. I sat down with Alabama Johnson herself and we created a fun little dessert party menu. Her suggestion was to make sure that there were three to four choices for each person and to be sure to include something like a fruit tray for those who couldn't indulge in sweets the same way. She had a valid point, especially since there would be people like Grandma Mae and MeMaw and Joe's great grandmother who were on carefully regulated diets.
So, I counted the ice cream and the cake Moma Dee was getting as one selection. I knew that the grandmothers would probably get a small bit of that and the fruit. For the rest of us, I just went with what sounded best to me. Honey custards with blood oranges and candied lemon, forty would be served in four ounce ramekins, and forty others in sake cups. Rhubarb verrines with salty macadamia crumble sounded delicious and looked so pretty. Walnut shortbread cookies with flake salt and candied Meyer lemon slices were simple and pretty and not as unhealthy as the chocolate mousses that would be served in edible spun sugar and chocolate martini glasses. Mini chocolate truffle pies that would be topped with amaretto cream and chocolate-buttermilk pudding that would look so pretty topped with Chantilly cream and a little sprig of mint. I left Alabama's shop absolutely delighted.
Then I remembered how many children would be there and so I walked down a few doors to Ashley's Pastry Shop. There I spoke with the baker and I was able to order four different types of cookies that were completely nut free. Tahini Cookies looked almost like peanut butter cookies without putting Nikki at any risk. Pumpkin seed brittle cookies were sweet and salty and delicious. Triple chocolate Brownie bites…were more brownie than cookies, but they still counted in my head. I picked the last cookie just because it was the healthiest option…cranberry blueberry oatmeal cookies had two different fruits and oatmeal. After I left the bakery, I went into Once Upon A Bottle and made arrangements for several bottles of dessert wines of various types to arrive the next afternoon as well. Everything was paid for and set for delivery on Friday afternoon.
I was done a lot earlier than I'd really expected to be. So, I decided to explore a little bit. There was a pretty little florist. With a small smile, I made arrangements for a nosegay of purple blue bonnets for Nikki's bedroom, a bouquet of blue, pink and white delphinums for MeMaw's room and a bouquet of red oriental lilies for Bubbie Ruth's. I ordered simple arrangements, that the florist said would complement their rooms, for the rooms Tessa's godparents would occupy. Despite having read their Rangeman background checks, I didn't know either of them well enough to pick a more personalized arrangement for them. I also left there with a nice arrangement of Gerber daises for my own bedroom and a bouquet of purple orchids for Commune's bedroom. I put those into the Tahoe and left the windows down a few inches and put their stems in some ice water. A walk through the Target Express gleaned a few finds for me personally, and a few things for Triple S, Nikki, Beth, Sloan, Mara and Maea. The same thing occurred when I walked through TJMaxx, though there I found a few things for Moma Dee, Angel Mom and Becah too.
I was on the way home when I got a text from Mercedes saying the verdict had come back in favor of Mr. Hudson and Ms. Zizes. I let Moma Dee know that her feeling was correct. I also sent her a list of the desserts and other things I'd gotten for the party she wanted to hold. She texted me back that I was the best and that she hoped that I hadn't worked too hard. I assured her that I'd had fun. Cedes texted me to tell me I was on my own for dinner. So, I made a last stop to pick up Chinese for my own meal. I put everything away, created a pretty arrangement of the orchids in the Waterford bowl on Cedes dresser in their room. Then I ate dinner while reading a novel. I loved living with Darcy but living with Darcy did not lend itself to quiet. Having a night of peace and quiet before the cacophony of sound that would happen with all the Altman's and select Jones, Harrises and others that would be descending on the house the next night was almost as good a birthday present as I could have given myself.
I was turning twenty-six the next day and, I'd not told a soul. I hadn't really celebrated a birthday…not in all my years in foster care, certainly not in my time in college…I doubted any of my roommates had even known when it was. But I did always acknowledge the day, even if it was just a chocolate bar on a very meager budget. That birthday, I'd gotten myself a few gifts as I shopped for the party that would happen the next night. Once I cleaned up behind myself in the kitchen and made sure that the subzero was set for the ice cream it contained, I headed up to my bedroom and found the Nubian Heritage Abyssinian & Chia Bath Bombs I'd gotten at Target. I set up my iPod to a great, slow classical playlist then ran myself a wonderfully hot bath. I sunk into the depth with a paperback copy of Marion Zimmer Bradley's 'Firebrand' and read in the steamy quiet until my twenty-seven-song playlist was exhausted and I was forced to acknowledge that I'd been in the tub for over an hour and a half. I let the water out and took a quick shower to get actually clean.
Moisturizing was not something I could avoid after being in hot water for that long…so I bit that bullet and pulled on my favorite silk pajamas before climbing into my bed and resuming my book. When I finished the ridiculously long modern Greek tragedy, I wished myself happy birthday and fell happily asleep. It never entered my mind that the way I acknowledged my birthday wasn't how most people did the same. I certainly never thought that those who had become closest to me might have a different idea of how to mark the event.
I slept a little late, then threw on some exercise clothes and went and did fifteen minutes on the treadmill then twenty minutes on the treadclimber. I showered after I finished working out. It took a certain level of fitness to keep ahead of KAMA's needs and their schedule. The elevator being right next to my room was great. I was able to go down and work out and get back up to my room to shower without bothering a soul. I wasn't exactly sure what I would be doing for Sam, Cedes and Noah that day, it might be nothing at all. Still, I decided to err on the side of caution and get dressed for a comfortable day out. I pulled on a simple pair of jeggings and an ivory and gold tunic top. I French braided my hair then rolled it into a bun at the back of my head. Simple earrings, my pretty Christmas watch and a pair of sketcher Mary Janes and I was ready for most anything. I took my iPad down with me. It was time to send everyone the suggested packing lists for the tour. I also had some shopping to do for the group. Lamar, the tour manager, had asked about backup instruments. If we didn't want the band to bring their own personal instruments to act as backups, which Mercedes did not…she didn't think the aesthetic of all the different colors and styles was pleasant…then I needed to place orders for duplicates of all of the stage instruments, ASAP.
When I got down to the kitchen, I was a little surprised to find it empty. As I was grabbing some juice and fruit, the door opened from the courtyard and I realized why the house had been so quiet. Everyone, Sam, Cedes, Puck, Junior, and all of the Limans who weren't at work or school…or day care, came in looking like they had all run a serious triathlon. Even Lauren was with them. Artie came rolling in looking as fresh as a daisy though. "Alright, Sam can you go in the laundry room and get everyone towels and washcloths." Mercedes said as she huffed. "Nobody sit on anything other than the floor until you go shower. Junior, you have your bathroom, of course…Finn, you can shower in the bathroom off the home office. Vince, the one off the library. Dave, LaKeith, Az…you three can take turns with the shower down in the gym. Tina, Mike, Lauren… there are three empty bathrooms on the third floor. I can trust you three not to bother MeMaw's bedroom. Santana, Britts, there are two guest rooms on the fourth floor. You can share or you can separate. But EVERYBODY has to CLEAN UP behind themselves. We'll have a full house starting this evening and Momma's throwing a party here after Tessa's senior dinner." She stressed. "This is gonna be the first time Joe's extended family is meeting all of us…we want to make a good first impression."
Noah took over. "We're meeting back down here in less than an hour…we're going to go and grab the seniors after their last rehearsal and take them to lunch…And Hudson for her birthday. If you ain't back down by the time we roll out, you're shit out of luck." He warned.
I chuckled as everyone yelled out Happy Birthday. It was really embarrassing. I just knew my face was so red it was throwing off heat. "Uh, thanks everyone." I stammered. "Cedes, Sam, Puck…I need you to okay a few purchases before you go shower." I caught them as everyone headed out with their small book bags to get cleaned up and changed.
"Sure, what's the what?" Sam asked as he wrapped an equally sweaty Mercedes in a hug, with Puck leaning on his shoulder.
I went over the issue with the instruments and they signed off on my ordering the second set. "Hey, while you're on that site, can you go ahead and order a few more sets of everyone favorite strings and sticks and whatever." Puck added. "Plus, you have our full permission that if something breaks irreparably, you can immediately order the replacement. We don't want to be stuck with just one instrument and no backup for long."
"Oh, yeah and when we were in L-Boogey, Finn and Vince's dorm yesterday, I saw something I think we should totally do. I know each kitchenette has a fire extinguisher in it and that's great, but I want you to get a really good first aid kit for each bus." Mercedes added.
I nodded. "Anything else?"
"Yeah, sorry for making you work on your birthday." Sam apologized. "But can you also look into something nice we can have in each bunk for the crew when they get on the buses for the first time? Something you guys will like and use even after the tour and everything?"
"I'll look into it while I'm here this afternoon." I told them.
"After lunch, we'll all be at your disposal to help you set up for the party." Sam assured me.
I laughed. "No, you won't…you told George and Becah that you three and Junior would be happy to go to Dayton and pick up the family from the airport this after noon."
"Oh, shi…sessssse…we did, didn't we?" Sam sighed. "Well, we'll leave you the guys. That's ten people to help you out." He said definitively.
I shooed them on to go and get their shower, then I dragged Artie into helping me to find something good to act as the gift Sam wanted for the bunks. We also reasoned out which first aid kit would be best and decided that an extra small fire extinguisher for the kitchenettes wouldn't be a bad idea. I went ahead and ordered the pots, small sets of knives, microwave safe but unbreakable dishes, cutting boards and paper products for the bus kitchenettes while I was working on stocking them with safety materials. By the time I was done with all of that, and I'd sent out the packing essential's list, almost all of Commune's friends were back in fresh clothing, lounging around the great room area. Tina and Mike came over to ask me a few questions about the list I'd sent.
"Is this really all the clothes we'll need to bring? I mean, ten pairs of regular underwear plus five sets specifically to wear under our stage gear…that seems low."
"I can understand why you'd worry, but there is a limited amount of space for each person and there are washers and dryers in each bus and I have a list of laundry mats near our hotels in every city we are going to." I assured her.
Mike looked relieved. "Okay, that makes sense. So, should we bring our own detergent or something?"
"Not unless you have a special allergy or something. We're putting a set of free and clear Tide, OxyClean, Clorox 2, Bounce, bleach crystals and LeBlanc Lingerie Wash on each bus. Those are the same things the wardrobe matrons are going to be using on the stage apparel…at least the stuff that doesn't have to be dry cleaned. We tried to go for all hypo-allergenic and free and clear things." I explained.
"Whoa. That's cool." They both said happily.
I decided that many of the others would probably be wondering the same things, so I typed up a quick memo and sent it out to all who would be on the tour with us in just over a week. I no sooner hit send on that than Commune came running out, Cede wearing an outfit that made me feel comfortable with my choices, though I was sure any one article she had on cost more than all of mine added together. It was really interesting how quickly we rolled out once everyone was ready. We poured into a multitude of vehicles, Mercedes behind the wheel of her Tahoe, since her Mercedes was in New York. Artie, Brittany, Santana and I rode with her, while Junior took the rented SUV, Sam drove his truck with Vince in the front passenger seat and Puck his Charger accompanied by Azimio, Mike and Tina were in Mike's car, Dave and LaKeith were in Dave's ride, an older model Chevy Malibu. There would be plenty of room for the nine seniors and for Jake if he popped up, which I was sure I was not the only one who wasn't surprised when we saw him slip into in the car with Puck and Azimio. I think we were all a little surprised that Kitty Wilde hopped into the car with Junior, Regina, Chase, and Jessica. Still, no one said anything rude to her. I thought a few things…but I didn't say them. As soon as everyone was in the cars, we motored over to Lock Sixteen Steakhouse for lunch.
The more casual but more expensive restaurant wasn't one I had been to on any of my previous trips to Lima. Of course, that meant that I had a hard time deciding on my meal. But another part of that was laughing behind my menu watching all the friend laughing and joking with each other. The college sophomores all had a ton of tips for the soon to be freshmen. Sugar, Mike and Tina were getting a boat load of advice from those of their friends who'd been on tour with KAMA the previous year. Some of the advice was really silly, but most of it would be very helpful. It was a lovely lunch. The Philly cheesesteak I'd gotten was perfect. I was treated to a rendition of the Happy Birthday song that can only happen when everyone at the table is very used to singing together. None of us wanted dessert, because over the course of lunch, I may have spilled the beans about the dessert party and what I'd picked. Santana was the first to say, "Yeah, I'm saving all my sugar allotment for the day for tonight."
I was so very happy that we ran by the dry cleaner and made it back to the house in plenty of time to get everything all set for that evening before the delivery people started showing up. After we dropped the seniors back at the school to get their cars, Cede, Sam, Puck and Junior swung by the house just long enough to empty their cars before they headed to go and play chauffeur for the out of town guests. Their friends were perfectly willing to stick around and move the furniture and brought out several of the tables. Not all of them, but enough that the older people would have plenty of places to sit. Those circular tables and their chairs were covered and made ready for people. Three other tables, two rectangular and a square were arranged as a display area for all the desserts. The large island in the kitchen would hold the ice cream and later the cake. Once things were all set up, people wished me happy birthday again before they disappeared to go and get changed…either they were going to the senior dinner, or they were going on dates and then would come back for the party after.
After they left, I went upstairs and printed out pretty little signs to show what every choice was. Thank goodness that the Moms had made sure the home office was fully stocked. For some reason, there were even printable, ivory business cards that worked perfectly for what we needed that night. The stands for that kind of thing was kept in the butler's pantry. I had to climb on the counter to reach the cabinet but I got the twenty I needed and had the signs up where I wanted them when the delivery from Petals arrived. I managed the florist delivery, making sure that all the correct flowers ended up in the right rooms and looked great. Just as I was showing them out, Moma Dee and Papa Bent showed up with Sander, Angel Mom, Burt and Carole. Moma came in and looked around. "Hudson, darling girl…you are a treasure. Now if you will tell me and these chuckleheads who all we're expecting to make deliveries…I'll make sure that the rest of the work is done."
"Oh you don't…" I started.
She cut me off. "Yes, I do have to…you are going to take your birthday gifts upstairs and have a nice shower and get dressed." Angel Mom handed me a prettily wrapped dress box, while Papa Bent gave me two other bags.
I know I looked gobsmacked. "Thank you. I…you didn…I…Thank you." I didn't know the words to tell them how much it meant to me that they thought enough of me to want to celebrate the day I was born, even though they hadn't met me until twenty-five years later.
They each gave me a hug…even Burt and Carole. Burt gave amazing hugs, by the way, I felt comforted and celebrated at the same time. That was kind of weird. "There are no thanks needed. Just look as good as I know you will." Moma Dee said happily. "Now go, we have some decorating to get done."
What could I do but take my gifts and go and do as I'd been told. As soon as I was in my room, I tore into the dress box. The sleeveless, blue and ivory jacquard dress was a traditional party dress. It was a petite sized version so it would hit at my knees rather than being longer than it was meant to be. It had a bateau neck in the front and was nice and high in the back. It even had pockets. I absolutely loved it. I laid the dress on the bed and found that there were three pieces of lingerie under it. A matching set of an ivory, lacy chemise slip, racer back bra and boy cut panties had been lovingly washed…neither Moma Dee nor her daughter believed in putting anything next to the skin that hadn't been washed. It touched me that she took the time, given her schedule, to do that for me too. In the heavier of the two bags I found a pair of simple ivory, grosgrain, Uggs wedges that had long strands to wrap around my ankles or tie up my calves. They wouldn't add a lot of height, but I wasn't a fan of very high shoes in my personal fashion any way. The last bag contained three boxes. The first held gold tone, diamond studded letter H earrings. I opened the next box to find an Anne Klein gold, bangle watch set with three choices for the bracelet part of the watch. The final box was a small Clinique beauty set that give me a Quickliner for Eyes Intense in intense peridot, High Impact mascara in black, and their Pop Glaze Sheer lip color and primer in melon drop pop. That was perfect too, those were all the makeup I tended to voluntarily wear. I showered and dressed from the skin out in my birthday gifts. I used the new makeup and put on my new jewelry and shoes. Looking in the full-length mirror in the corner of the room, I felt as pretty as I had ever felt before in my life.
I finished dressing and was just in time to greet Junior who was back with Bubbie, Nikki and Manny, who'd been relegated to the pull out chair and a half in the library for the weekend. Before I could make it downstairs, I was being introduced to Noah Werner. He must have considered himself something of a lady's man because as soon as he realized that I was unattached, he started flirting with me. But he was walking with Devon, Kevon and their wives. The big brother vibes from Cedes' brothers and Junior and Manny were almost stifling. Tonya wasn't even about to just glare though. "Hudson is completely off limits to the likes of you. Touch her, and Tessa's god father or not…I will make a soup from your bones."
"Wow…dark…beautiful…but dark." He said with a charming smile. Something told me that he flirted like he breathed, so getting shot down didn't faze him as much as it could have bothered a regular guy.
I heard the elevator and realized that MeMaw must have arrived. She and Artie were the only ones who used it regularly. I don't know that I will ever understand how they managed to get everyone back settled, changed and all of us back out the door, without ever letting me see the great room and kitchen to make sure it was already. But sure enough, we were at dinner and eating and I realized that I hadn't made sure that when we got back, things would run smoothly. Unfortunately, we couldn't all go to the senior dinner…there just wasn't room to allow every senior as many guests as Tessa would need, so George, Becah, Sarah, Jake, Ruth, George's Mark and Louise, Noah and Samantha, Tessa's godmother, went with Tessa while the rest of us had a birthday dinner at Lourdes, Michael Symon's restaurant in the new shopping center. It was another lively meal. I hated all the attention, but I loved the fact that I felt loved and a part of something for the first time since I was almost too little to remember. I was floating on a cloud of joy. Maea and Mara had given me great big hugs and given me pictures they drew for me. Even as little as they were, their talents were already becoming apparent. Maea's picture she drew of her and Mara and I looked like people, it looked identifiably like us. She was going to be talented in an entirely different way than her older siblings…amazingly talented. Mara's artistic endeavor was good for her age…but not like Maea's. But that was okay. Mara told better stories than most kids twice her age, so I was sure that she would be just fine.
We took our time with dinner. So much so that I was a little worried. Moma Dee must have realized what was on my mind. "Stop fretting Darling Girl. Becah is going to go to the house and set out the ice cream when they get finished. Everything else just has to be uncovered. We'll have to turn the AC back up to seventy when we get there, but it will all be fine. I promise. Now enjoy your meal."
I stopped fretting and I ate. With a weird feeling of happiness, I finished my lobster thermidor. I'd had to try it. I remember making my Sims make it for dinner whenever they had dates in the game one of my foster families had had for the kids to play back in the day. We finally headed back home a bit before nine. People would be there before we could get back. I was in such a hurry to make sure that it was all going to be perfect, I didn't notice quite a few things, even the fact that Commune herded me towards and through the front door, while the rest of our group went through our usual courtyard entrance. As soon as I crossed the invisible threshold between the foyer and the great room, everyone there, pretty much everyone I knew or knew of in Lima Ohio yelled out, "Happy Birthday Hudson!" I was so shocked I almost peed myself.
I looked around the room. It was all perfect. Exactly as I had envisioned for the celebratory dessert party. But there were differences too. The sideboard in the dining room had wrapped boxes and bags. I could see a birthday banner above the island. A cake that looked almost like a wedding cake stood beside the ice cream with candles in the shape of the numbers two and six atop. People were there for me. I looked around totally confused. Moma Dee came up and gave me a hug. "I'm sorry that you had to do so much in planning your own party, but I could not think of any other way to have things you'd love here without spoiling the surprise."
"Its…I've never…I didn't mind…I don't know what to…Oh my." I babbled. "Thank you…thank everyone. You didn't have to…Thank you. But it seems wrong to take attention from Tessa and Joe. I'll have a birthday every year…but they will only graduate high school once. Oh, and Lauren and Finn, we have to celebrate the judgement and…please, this is all just too much. But thank you."
Mercedes laughed. "I think I owe Sam and Noah some money." She grumbled before going over to a wall near the island and did something with the ribbons that were coming from it. It was flipped and now read congratulations graduates.
The rest of the night was amazing. I tasted all the wonderful desserts. MeMaw, Grandma Mae, Bubbie and Joe's Gammy Bee all held court at one of the tables. The kids had another. There was laughter and dancing and singing. At about eleven, I opened my gifts. Most of them were simple little things. Blouses or costume jewelry or bath accessory baskets…things for my room here or in New York. It didn't even matter what the individual gifts were, all that mattered was that I had people in my life who cared enough to give me a gift on the anniversary of my birth. Then Cedes, Sam and Puck, plus all their parents wrapped a scarf around my eyes. They guided me outside. "Okay, your last gift…" Sam said happily.
When they wiped the scarf off my head, in front of me was a silvery blue Audi Q3 with a big bright blue bow on top. Noah handed me a keyless entry key dealie. "This is yours…it's from us and it's from George and Moms. It's from Sand and Angel Mom and Moms D and Hell Bent. Dev and Tonya put in, Kev and Tricie…Tessa, Jake, Triple S…Your whole family put in on this. You can keep it here. You can take it back to New York…whatever you want to do with it because it is yours." He stressed as he then handed me the clear title to the vehicle with my name on it as the owner.
I may have cried. But it was okay because I was safe and I was loved and I was happy.
Do I Make You Proud (Taylor Hicks)
Tessa PoV
After Hudson opened her gifts, and got her huge one from her new family, we all kind of gave her hugs and called it a night. I for one was not comfortable with all the emotion she was chocked full of. But there was also the fact that eight of us had to be up the next morning to get ourselves ready for graduation. Coach Sylvester had moved them to Saturday afternoons rather than the Friday nights they used to be held. It made sense, on Saturday afternoons, you didn't have to use the stadium lights, just the PA system. That was a lot better cost wise. She also moved them out of the April Rhodes Auditorium for the same reason. Another benefit was that we weren't so limited on the amount of tickets we had. I thought was pretty awesome. Not quite as awesome as having both my godparents in the same place at the same time. Noah and Samantha politely hated each other. Not for any good reason, just because they had slept together once upon a time. According to Noah, Samantha was a raging she-bitch afterwards and therefore he couldn't stand her. According to Samantha, she had not been a raging she-bitch. Noah had just sucked ass in between the sheets and not in the fun literal way. She had refused to fake an orgasm and he hadn't liked the fact that she tried to explain to him how to improve his performance. Even though Noah was Dad's best friend from way back…he said that he was pretty sure that Samantha was telling the truth. But he also said if I ever told Noah that he said that he would deny and disown me. He wasn't serious…not really.
As I got ready for bed, I couldn't help but remember the senior awards dinner. Unique had been the first of our Choir Clique to get called. She'd worn a pretty blue, teal and white, one shoulder, jersey, macro-floral, ankle length, column dress with white wedge sandals. They said that she'd be attending Ohio State and received her scholarships for her soloist wins and the one time monetary award from the NHSSCA. Then Coach told us all about the scholarship she won from an LGBTQ youth advisory group and the other she got from OSU itself. After her list of clubs and honors, I zoned out until it was my turn. I went up when they called me a short time later. I was comfortable in a Norma Kamali, sleeveless shirred-waist jumpsuit that made me feel beautiful and yet as badass Linda Hamilton from Terminator 2. I rocked it with my black, cagey, Louboutin sandals, straightened hair and appropriate, but kind of edgy makeup. Coach big upped my school and the creative writing program I'd been accepted to as well as all my clubs and honors.
Chase was up next. She wore a petal pink, knee length, sheath dress with black abstract florals strewn there. Her black heels were fabulous. While U wore her hair down and lightly curled under, Chase's hair was pulled back into a very mature chignon. She really looked like she was about to give a speech as to the House Ways and Means committee or something. She was going to Harvard. She'd gotten a metric shit ton of scholarships. She'd even gotten a couple of stipends to help her with books and shit. I wasn't surprised, if there was a scholarship out there that she thought she might qualify for…even if she only fit the qualifications when she squinted and turned her head sideways…she applied for it. I was glad that she'd closed the gap between the college she needed to attend to have the future she wanted to have and the college she could easily afford. And she'd done it her way. Her list of clubs and honors could have been summed up in three words…ALL OF THEM.
Joe was the next name I actually paid attention to. He looked so handsome in a simple navy suit, with a white shirt and no tie. His locks were pulled back neatly. His face was just about perfect, even if there were some crazy people out there like Kitty Wilde who was stupid enough to disagree. Coach was herself in the telling of his awards, scholarships and honors. Basically, she intimated that he only had all that good stuff because he was Teen Jesus. Gammy Bee loved that even if the more sanctimonious members of Joe's family seemed a bit scandalized. Regina was up next. I loved her business, appropriate, navy blue, scalloped hem, neckline and half-sleeve dress and nude heels. She had only one or two fewer scholarships than Chase, an extra stipend…and all the same clubs and honors. Then there was Sugar, who had quite a few honors and clubs herself, but who was proudly taking a gap year. She was continuing her trend of colorful clothing in a Trina Turk, Faraway, one-shoulder, abstract multicolor, jersey dress and weird looking, but Gucci heels. Steven still looked like Eminem to me…that night he looked like Eminem going to court or something. He was going to Colorado for college to major in marketing and business. His dream was to own his own weed shop. Jessica was only a few names after Steven. She looked cute and happy in a multi-layered, multi-colored, silk tunic dress and dark tan booties. She was very happy with her scholarship to go to The University of the Arts in Philly. The last-minute change had been all about finances. They offered her a full and complete ride. It even included money for books and such. As much as she and Regina had been looking forward to being in the same city for college…no one was happier for Jessica than Reggie.
The final Gleerio of the night was Kitty Wilde. She was going to Indiana Wesleyan University…to get an MRS degree, though she claimed she was going to major in interior design. I did like her dress though. A nude Ponte mini dress with a wraparound asymmetrical ruffle. It was cute. I'd have liked it better if it hadn't been the almost blush shade of nude. But it was cute. "With such a boring color choice for her dress, she really should have gone with better shoes. From head to toe she is now officially boring." Samantha commented. She had been doing that all night. Whenever my clapping was only polite, she would vivisect the person's outfit…or anything that came to mind about the person.
Samantha Jones was closer to Bubbie's age than Mom's, but much like Bubbie she lived her life unapologetically for herself and what made her happy. Unlike Bubbie, what made Samantha happy was pretty much just herself…her job, friends and I was in there in an abstract kind of way. She connected with me more the older I got. She was not a 'kid person'. To be honest, the only reason she was my godmother was because she was the only one of Alex's family members to give a shit about me and Dad after Alex left. Granted that was showing up one day out of the blue about a month after it was just Dad and me. She had a bottle of vodka and a nanny. She then proceeded to get Dad ripped…totally wrecked. He has always said that there was no level of drunk that would make him forget her words of wisdom that night. "There's always a contest with an ex. It's called 'who will die miserable'. It will damn well not be you. Because that little girl in that ridiculously handcrafted crib in there needs you. Women with bad mothers turn out just fine maybe a little neurotic…but mostly fine. The ones with shitty dads, they end up fucked for life. Well, except me…I'm fucking fabulous." Dad told me that he'd had to agree with her because she drank three times as much as him and never seemed drunk, nor did she have a hangover the next day.
I personally just worried about her and Santana meeting. It was part of the reason I never introduced them to Samantha when I was visiting. I just wasn't sure the universe wouldn't implode if Samantha and Santana, like, shook hands or something. The dinner didn't last much longer after the Wilde child's name was read. Dad, Jake and Noah were, of course, still hungry. Samantha just made me promise there would be wine at the dessert party. "I'm sure there will be Samantha," Mom said with a grin. "My mother fully stocked the kid's wine cellar. I know that has a Riesling and a Gewirtztraminer that she loves that we can break out if Danica and Hudson didn't think of wine."
It wasn't a problem. Hudson and Danica were both amazing. They had every kind of dessert one could think of and the wines to go with them. Fruit trays…there was a Sauternes and a pink champagne. Honey Custard…Hudson had a demi-sec champagne. Delicious, amazing…I kind of wanted to eat them all…dark chocolate mousse and there was a great port. Samantha let me taste all of them…but only while I was eating the appropriate dessert. As we mingled, enjoying amazing music, pipped through a house wide surround system I was pretty sure was Dad's brain child, I introduced Samantha to Gammy Bee and Joe's parents. I was not introducing her to anyone she would feel the least bit of judgement from. She might have been different from what most people considered a positive role model, but she loved me and I loved her. "Tessa. We really have to have a conversation about how you have come to be a family member of the biggest sensation in the free world and you've not introduced me to them until now."
I sighed. "Sorry, but it was for the greater good. I'm scared just having you and Santana Lopez in the same room…having you touch could unravel the fabric of space and time. You both live by the credo that it is better to be harsh and right than to be nice and wrong. You both consider yourselves to be the epitome of fashion, beauty and fabulousness. You're both pretty well right on that one, if in slightly different manners. So, yeah…"
She laughed. "You darling child…don't you know that the more beautiful, honest, fabulous women in the world the better. We should all meet and hold cabals as to how improve the world." I shook my head. That would be exactly Santana's, and Bubbie's, take on the subject. "Fine, you'll meet all three of them by the end of the night…I'll make sure that they put you on the must invite list."
Samantha gave me a hug. "Good. Isabelle thinks she is the only one with famous friends…she does get us invited to some of the best parties…but her KAMA invite specifically stated plus one. Whereas if we're both invited to the next KAMA event, then Miranda and Charlotte can both come with us. A party really isn't a party without your friends."
"I'm sorry…this one must really suck for you. I mean, you're in OHIO. Your girls are back in New York. I'm pretty sure the only unattached guys here are the Rangemen…and Noah, but we all know how you feel about him."
"I hate him with a passion most people reserve for pedophiles and IRS agents." She said with a wicked grin. "It is one thing to be bad in bed. Most men are. It is another thing all together to refuse to accept directions to get better." Samantha paused in such a way that I knew I was not going to like what she said next. "Speaking of men and bed…you're allowing your little religious icon to follow you to college. How is he in between the sheets?"
I shook my head and pulled a grossed-out face. "Samantha, as much as we both find it strange to think…for the better part of my life you were the closest thing I had to a maternal figure. There is no way on earth I'm answering that question."
My godmother was unbothered by my answer. "Actually, I think I'd rather not know. I like him. He seems to love you. He seems to be the rare male who would leave before schtuping anyone other than you. He seems the rare religious person who is able to walk the walk rather than just giving lip service to the talk. You should let him know that if he ever hurts you and I find out…his cause of death will be misadventure with stiletto." She said casually.
"Yeah…you and Santana can never touch." I grumbled. "I never knew that the same soul could exist in the world in two separate bodies at the same time."
Samantha gave me a smile. "Every group needs a Samantha, a Santana, a Ruth…women who support and love and are brutally honest. Remember that. Now…introduce me to that lovely Latin man with the third leg in those Armani slacks."
I introduced her to Manny, after warning her about the fact that he wouldn't really do more than flirt until after his charge was in bed for the night. But he must have joined her after he finished his duties and been very, very, very good in bed. Samantha was smiling like a crazy woman when I saw her the next morning. She told me that part of her gift was that she was treating me at Veronica's. Lamar took one look at her and dragged her into his chair. By the time he was done with her hair, it looked amazing and she was contemplating flying out to visit him every six weeks. I would have been offended that she was more willing to visit for a hair colorist then her goddaughter…but I actually liked Samantha best when she was in New York and I was in Lima. Living in the same city with her had been hard on both of us because neither of us really got what her obligations were…how much we should talk or see each other, or whatever. She was a perfect long distance god mother. She called once in a while, sent me cool stuff every now and again, popped her head in for major events…she was a great long distance god mother. Samantha had insisted I get a mani-pedi with her too so we were heading up to Jewel's As soon as we were done in Veronica's. I literally wasn't considered done until Veronica was finished pinning my mortarboard to my 'Ronica enhanced curls. Cede and most of her crew came in as we were, finally, paying. They had gone up to Jewels first, before coming down. Not that there weren't enough chairs or anything at Veronica's…Cede just wanted to let me and Samantha have some quiet time for the two of us. It was nice of her, but pretty unnecessary. I took Samantha back to Commune's house to get dressed. The guys and Nikki were still there, they would make sure that she had a ride.
I barely had enough time to get changed, pick up Unique and make it to the school by twelve thirty. McKinley's Graduation Robes were red…Titans red. So, girls were required to wear white dresses and the boys were in white dress shirts and light pants. I wasn't really feeling a dress that day…or any day I didn't have to be in that damn Cheerio uniform. I'd never minded skirts before I got drafted onto the Cheerios. After spending almost three straight years in that short ass skirt…I was loving pants. When U and I went looking for our graduation dresses, neither of us wore much white, I'd lucked upon a two-piece white jumpsuit with almost culottes like pants and a cold shoulder, cropped top. U loved dresses…which made sense. A white, floral lace, fit and flare, sundress made her ridiculously happy. We found two different pair of white wedge sandals. Mine were, of course, higher than hers. I guess it wasn't her fault that she'd been a somewhat shorter guy, but as a woman, she was positively Amazonian.
There may have been a bit of speeding, but U and I were not the last of the seniors to arrive. No one was technically late. Not a single one of us was brave enough to see if our Coach-Principal would really make any late comers babysit a freshman summer school class to get their diplomas. Sue Sylvester-Motta liked to pretend she was a total bitch who didn't give a damn about anyone who wasn't useful to her in that particular moment. But she let us wait in the air-conditioned area at the threshold of the locker rooms. There were water stations everywhere and special seats for those people who were either elderly or otherwise more susceptible to the heat in the visitor's section outside those locker rooms where things were shadowed and cooler. The stage was covered, not enough to make lights a necessity, but enough to make the dignitaries not have to swelter.
At one o'clock people were allowed to enter the stadium. At one thirty, the seniors lined up. Chase and Regina side by side followed by those of us who made up numbers three through thirty-five of our class rankings. After the last of the top ten percent, everyone else lined up in alphabetical order. It was hilarious to me that the only senior Gleek who wasn't in the first fifty was Kitty Wilde. It was too bad she had always been too busy to study with the rest of us. We walked out to Pomp and Circumstance and took our seats. Chase and Regina were on the stage with the important people. The opening was nice and short. Regina gave her speech. She focused on all the work it had taken to get us to this point. Then she and Chase presented Sue with the gift from our class. Why on earth Quinn and her crew thought a senior class gift was a good tradition to begin…I would never understand. Our class refinished the trophy display case in the main hall. It had needed expanding anyway. McKinley was crushing competitions everywhere. Sue accepted the gift graciously. Of course, she mentioned that we needed a bigger one anyway. Then Ms. Pillsbury read off the honor students by category. The Mayor of the city of Lima gave a speech about how they had named a street after some long-ago home ec teacher who had retired before I moved to Lima and died that school year. It was boring as hell. But her family was endowing a scholarship for someone who wanted to go to school for culinary arts. That was cool.
The nine senior Gleeks were up next. We made Taylor Hick's 'Do I Make You Proud' sound amazing. They gave us our diplomas. Or the cover for them. We had to get the actual diploma after the ceremony. I was so proud of Joe and U. They treated us to an awesome cover of Cede's 'The Climb' from the SongBird soundtrack. She didn't even charge the class to use it. When they took their seats, it was time to hear from our valedictorian. Where Regina's speech looked back, Chase's speech was about our bright and shiny futures. It was a damn good speech. I was totally yoinking it if I ever wrote a great American coming of age story. I was good with that being the end. But Coach Sylvester had gotten the District 4 Ohio State Representative to speak about…I could honestly not even begin to try and remember what he'd talked about. He was just so smug…I kind of wanted to punch him. Undeserved Smugness always moved me to at the very least imaginary violence.
Once that windbag finally sat his but back in his chair, Chase and Regina led the assembly through the alma mater and we seniors moved our tassels to the other side and we were officially done with the bullshit. It was awesome. Sue was a smart cookie. We had to go and get our actual diplomas and parents wanted pictures with their new graduates. So, she set up a really nice photo area, with two chairs and a McKinley High Class of twenty-fifteen background, just past the table where the other two guidance counselors and Coach Bieste were handing out the real diplomas. Everyone moved through the line grabbed their diploma, snagged their parents, and David, Shelby and an actual photographer, from one of Mr. Motta's businesses, took pictures. Dave and Shels did it with the students or parents' phones and-slash-or cameras and the photographer took his with a nifty CAMERA that was wirelessly connected to a photo printer. For ten bucks, the parents could have a great picture of them with their graduate. The school got five and Mr. Motta got five. A win-win for everyone. They made like fifty bucks off my family alone. I took a picture with Dad and Moms and another with my grandparents, Bubbie included. Then I took one with Samantha and another with Noah, finishing off with a picture of all of the above and my siblings. It was cool though. It kind of felt nice.
After the ceremony, we all took pictures with our friends and all that jazz, then we took our happy asses home and showered…it was hot, the extra shower was a must. The gleeks and our families then gathered at the Hart's farm. They had the most space of any of us. Otherwise we'd have had to go to the state park for the celebratory barbeque. It was a feast, which was great…I was starving. Gammy Bee and her family were pretty awesome. The few sanctimonious ones seemed to have married in, but thankfully they also got hemmed up trying to decide between being judgmental or stars truck when it came to KAMA, so they didn't bother anyone much. Since KAMA was having to fly out to Vegas that night to be there for Billboard Awards the next evening, they were giving us graduates their gifts that night. The parents were all good with it, even if I heard a few other people get scandalized. They did wait until everyone had finished with their meals…basically, too full to move much. "Okay, so…umm, Chase…we'll start with you." Puck said when they had everyone's attention. "You've been good to Jake. I know that you two aren't going to be together much longer and I can respect why…but you've been good to my bro, so you might be getting a little bit more than your non-biological sisters." He told her honestly. "First, the regular gift." Junior appeared with a big ass Rubbermaid, ninety-five quart, clear storage container filled with rolled up something and Chase's name frosted into the plastic of the top and side. "Umm, two fleece blankets with your name on them so no roommate thievery can occur. Two microfiber sheet sets Plus, two sets of monogrammed towels, washcloths, and a fluffy, monogrammed robe. All of you are getting that. But for you…you proved to me at Christmas that even if you and Jake aren't forever, you do love him. Since you're going Ivy League, you need a set of pearls." He handed her a black bag that read Mikimoto.
Regina and Jessica got the storage containers filled with the same things, then, despite what he said about Chase being special, Sam gave them each a really cool Yeti tumbler. Okay, so they weren't Japanese pearls expensive, but they weren't cheap. Steven got the storage container and a really nice watch. Kitty just got the storage container and a tee-shirt from the college she would be attending in the fall. She could so suck it. That made me really happy. Sugar got the storage container of stuff too. "But since you won't be able to bring that container on the tour bus, we got you a Tumi duffle bag to bring with you when you leave the bulk of that stuff at your cousin's apartment." Sam told her with a big smile.
Unique was up next. After she got the big thing, Mercedes gave her in an envelope. "I know that there is only a certain level of Diva that you can obtain at the Lima Mall. So, next week, before you go for your surgery, you're coming to New York with Tessa and Joe. Once there, you have an appointment with Ruth Mayzer and Kurt Hummel…and a shopper at Saks. They're gonna make sure that you go to college with everything a Diva needs. Especially so that when you feel like dressing up and diva-ing out…you'll have everything you need." U would blame her hormone therapy for the tears that slid down her cheeks, but I didn't have anything I could blame for the tears I shed in that moment. How awesome were my brothers and sister? "Oh, and you know that your spiritual Papa Kurt has something for you too."
Joe and I had been saved for last. "Alright Joe, you're next. You know that you're going to benefit from our gift to Tessa even if you don't know what it is yet. But by the same turn, you're so special to us too that we couldn't just rest on that laurel." Sam told him with a gentle smile. "Now, we got your mom and dad's permission before we did this. So, don't worry…" Another envelope was handed to him. "First thing Monday, before you and Tessa fly out on Tuesday, you're to go to Tom Ahl's Dodge, Jeep, Ram. They are holding a Jeep Patriot for you…you're to pick your color…that is the only decision that you have to make. It's already been paid for, so if you don't go pick, you're just giving them our money."
Joe threw his arms around Sam and then swung Cedes around in a big hug before doing the same thing to Puck. He didn't try not to show his happiness. I knew he'd been worried about his transportation since he'd be spending his college fund on tuition and room and board and everything. He had some scholarships, but out of state tuition was a bitch. "Thank you. I…I…Thank you." he said solemnly.
Gammy Bee cut the tension. "Get up early Joey. I want to take a ride in your new car before I have to go home."
"Gammy Bee, say the word and you can have a new car of your own." Puck said, probably only half kidding. Gammy Bee was that awesome. "You know, you're the only woman I'd consider breaking Cede's heart for."
"Boy, you're a cutie…but I'm so far past the stage where your anything but an extra grandbaby to me." She shot back sassily. "Now, if'n I was only twenty years younger."
That made everyone laugh. Even if she were twenty years younger, she'd have still been older than Bubbie. I was the center of attention then, it was my turn. I got the big storage thingie…then I got a folder that reminded me of the ones Dev and Kev had pulled out their boxes at Christmas. "Tell me you didn't?"
"We could say it, but we'd be lying." Puck shot back.
I opened the folder and the first thing I saw was print out of a map. The pointer showed an address less than ten minutes from campus. I looked behind that and there was a picture of a cool red two story house. There was a real estate summary behind that. I blinked a few times. "Three bedroom, two full baths, gourmet kitchen, seventeen hundred and twenty-eight square feet. Attached garage, basement meditation and exercise room with laundry. Completely remodeled. I…I…" Great, my eyes were leaking again. There was a free and clear deed of ownership…with my name on it in the back of the envelope. The house wasn't just where me and Joe could stay the next four or so years…it was mine, forever. Wow.
"We figured that just buying you the house would be cheaper than paying Ethan and Antwan to get you off when you inevitably killed whatever roommate the school assigns you since they think you're a normal cheerleader, not one who only cheered under duress." My big brother teased.
Sam gave me a big hug. "The house is fully furnished, so all you'll need to do is just get things like you would for a dorm, your personal stuff. There are three bedrooms so you can have a library and Joe will have his own room. If you aren't paying room and board, we didn't see any reason for him to have to either." Joe started to say something. "Don't worry Joe. We know that you won't be comfortable if you consider yourself to be freeloading. So, you'll pay some rent and you're going to be our Mr. Fix-it. Your dad swears that you've kept half this farm running since you were twelve."
Joe beamed under the praise and the fact that he was certain that the new circumstance, well new to us anyway…something told me the parents have all known all along…would be far less expensive than the room and board at the University of Iowa. "I'll keep everything in the best shape ever." He promised. "Especially Tessa." He added before Sam or Puck could poke at that question.
One of Joe's married in aunts seems a little verklempt at the prospect of the two of us sharing a house, since we weren't married or anything. But Gammy Bee knew all, even about his father's side of the family apparently. "Oh shush, Amy…you and Jacob's brother shared a one bedroom apartment for two years before you got married. And your eldest was born at eight pounds, that doesn't usually happen when they are two months premature, does it?"
Mrs. Sanctimonious looked to her husband for help but he just put his hands in the air and shook his head. "Nope, I told you that it wasn't any of our business in the first place and that Joe was a good kid and his Tessa seems like one too. You just had to keep harping on this and that until you got slapped down. Well, hope you're happy now. I'm not getting on Mrs. Bee bad side."
Smart man. Gammy Bee is kind and gentle, but something had always told me that she didn't survive all her late husband's scandal and all she'd gone through without having a back bone of solid diamond. I noticed that Racheal, Joe's mom, went over to have a little conversation with his aunt Amy. Very soon thereafter, the aunt looked more than suitably chided. But she didn't storm off, like I'd almost expected. She was just quiet for the remainder of the party. The rest of the night was filled with food…Hudson had brought over the leftover cake, ice cream and cookies, plus there was a huge 'Congratulations Graduates' sheet cake. It was a good haul. It was a great day. I had a really great time. Before I left I had to carry little Phoebe to bed. She was seven and the youngest of Joe's siblings. She loved me. Whenever I did things with the Hart family she was my shadow. But she was such a little sweetheart I never minded. I was pretty sure that she and Nic were my favorites. It took forever to day good night to everyone. Especially since I wouldn't be seeing many of them again until Christmas break. There were more tears. Until Moms D reminded us all that we had Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Facetime, Skype and a wealth of other ways to keep in touch. Still even she knew it wouldn't be exactly the same. That was what growing up was. It never truly changed.
I slept like the dead that night…we all did. No one in our house moved until ten. We got up and I had a nice chat with my rather neglected, abandoned grandparents. Mona and Richard Altman were good people. They just…they were so boring. They never approved of any of Dad's or my life choices. Even having graduated as one of the top ten students of my class, my grandfather thought that I should have been higher. My grandmother felt that I should have worn a nice dress under my robe like my pretty friend with the unfortunately strange name. once they had those trivialities off their chests that was when they decided to broach the subject that had really been sticking in their craws. "Tessa, I know that for those type of people, money is just another way to show their success, and that is nice for them. But do you really think that it is appropriate to accept such an expensive gift from them?" Grandma said in what I'm sure was supposed to be a tone of question rather than censure. She didn't make it. Her tone was totally judgy.
"Or to be planning a future with a young man who would do so?" Grandad added gruffly.
I managed to keep myself from rolling my eyes…barely. "Okay, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that when you said those types of people, you mean world famous musicians."
I had to give her credit. Grandma looked really confused as to what else she could have possibly meant. "Of course, I mean…I know that it is perfect acceptable for people to make that their career, and I have to say Mercedes Jones has a voice that comes around once in a lifetime. But I grew up believing that a lucrative career in the arts was as likely as winning the lottery. Sure, it happened to some people…but it was rarer than getting struck by lightning."
"Okay, I get it. Anyway…Grandad, I remember at Great Uncle Rob's funeral you said that he'd played the lottery from the very beginning…as soon as he could. Every week like clockwork he bought two tickets."
"Yup. Sometimes he'd win little pots. That was how he took Gladys and their kids on that cruise in the nineties." Grandad said fondly. "He never did win the big one he was hoping for though."
"Yeah, but if he had, do you think he'd have brought you and Grandma that retirement condo in Boca?" I asked pointedly. I already knew the answer to that one.
"Of course, he would. You can't get money like that and not take care of your family." Grandad sounded offended that I would even ask. I just looked at him for a second waiting for the light to come on. Thankfully, annoying they may have been, my grandparents were not dumb. "So, you can accept it because in your hearts and minds…Noah is your brother."
"Exactly. You know that Dad and Mo-Becah…they consider all of us to be theirs…even Jake. And we consider each other to be family too. Sam and Cede too. No steps…no in-laws…just brothers and sisters." I tried to impress upon them. "Though, I cannot figure out the car for Joe. I mean, they are paying us enough for our summer working on their tour for him to get one for himself."
Grandad's smile was a funny bit of smugness. I felt my face scrunch up. I hated it when my Dad or Grandad knew something I didn't know or worse- figured something out before I did. "Maybe they wanted to make sure that he had that particular kind of car. One of our neighbors down in Boca bought one for his granddaughter's college graduation gift. She's moving to Rochester, New York…lots of snow in Rochester. Those Patriots are supposed to be amazing in the snow. You're driving a Focus, great on gas mileage. But those are small cars, light…not good in snow at all. I might have wondered about the boy taking the car, but I can't fault your brothers for making sure that you're taken care of. Your grandmother and I, we just worry. We know that it was partly our fault that your father ended up with your mother." Wow, those two words conveyed an entire wealth of hatred and disdain. "We may be overcompensating now a little bit I suppose."
"That or we just feel like outsiders in your lives." Grandma sighed.
I smiled. "Well, the cost of living in Lima is pretty low. I happen to know of a development of townhomes across town being built next year." I said conspiratorially. "But you didn't hear that from me." Hell, it could make them happier, and it wasn't like I would be in Lima all that much longer.
They exchanged a look. "We'll never tell." They promised solemnly. "Now, don't we need to get ready to go. What time are we meeting the rest of the family so we can all give you our gifts?" Grandad asked casually.
He was right. I ran upstairs to get showered and changed and we herded everyone into the cars and over to the Commune house. It was the only place that could hold all of my family. Moms D handled feeding us all…she had it catered though. With Mara and Maea running around now…she never really had the energy to do massive amounts of cooking without all the help she had at Christmas and Easter and such. I knew that after everyone left later that day, she and Mom and Angel Mom would go over the house to make sure that things were in their right spots and such before the cleaning ladies came in Monday. The house would be cleaned from top to bottom, every sheet and towel washed, all the beds remade then the moms would lock the house down, including the garage and courtyard, until the next time Commune came home.
But that afternoon, every one there was there for me. My Grandparents, Grandma Mae, MeMaw and Aunt MJ gave rather traditional gifts. Grandma and Grandad gave me a set of really nice Samsonite luggage, including a steamer trunk. Grandma Mae gave me linens, which totally prove to me that everyone had known what Commune was getting me before I did. The linens Grandma Mae gave me included a percale sheet set for a queen bed. MeMaw got me a pretty desk lamp that came with a detachable, rechargeable book lamp. Aunt MJ gave me a rolling backpack that had a laptop pouch and was stuffed full of school supplies and a Costco Club Membership. Essie couldn't make it, but she sent me three gorgeous handmade sweaters. I could almost feel the love that she'd poured into them. They were amazing colors too. One was a vibrant teal, one a slightly shimmery oatmeal and the last a pure black with subtle silver threads among the black yarn. A lot of the others gave me money.
When I counted later, I realized that I had a little over five grand between all the Joneses, Altmans, the Puckermans, and some of the closer Harrises. I was floored. But there were also plenty of gift gifts. I got a great piece of art from Stevie and a box set of the Chronicles of Narnia hardbacks from Stacey. Bubbie Ruth gave me clothes, and towels. Samantha looked me up and down, before handing me a card with three gift cards, one for La Perla, one for Agent Provocateur and one for Victoria Secrets. According to the gift receipts, all three cards had a thousand dollars on them. "You're a young lady now. It is time for you to own lingerie instead of underwear." She said with a smirk. "I see that your friends have made sure that you understand the difference between shoes and footwear. Hopefully they have begun the process of educating you on foundation garments. The Victoria Secrets and La Perla are for everyday…the Agent Provocateur is for when you decide to get serious about making your Joe break his vow of chastity." Damn. I wondered for a moment who had told her. She clearly gave me a 'we'll talk later' look though so I didn't jump on that grenade.
My godfather, Noah, was usually a cash or gift card guy…in fact, the box he handed me that afternoon was the very first gift I had ever received from him in eighteen years of birthdays, Christmases…first communions…Noah Werner gave gift cards. It was a rule of the universe as I knew it. "Your dad told me all about how you're spending the summer crisscrossing the country with your brother's band." I love how he made it sound like I would be huddled with KAMA and their backup band in a passenger van like most hard rock bands do their first tour. Anyway…that can be dangerous. And I know they will have security with them. And I know that you aren't still the little girl with pigtails and the missing bicuspid from the picture on my desk, by the way…can I get an updated picture for my desk. I know school pictures are still a thing and you do know that cameras don't actually steal your soul, right? Anyway. I did a little research online. Tasers are not legal in all fifty states…not even stun guns. So, I got you some barely legal everywhere, and only really legal in states where Bubba is an acceptable nickname. Yeah, so last year I put a little bit of money in a company called Undercover Colors. It's not on the market yet, but when they asked me why I wanted to invest, I told them that my goddaughter was almost college age and a few weeks ago they sent me a sample. It is supposed to tell you if a drink has been spiked. Sorry there are only two colors right now. I also got you a door stop alarm. You can put it under the door of a hotel room and it will wake you up…and most of the people on your floor, if someone tries to break into your room or whatever. Oh, and that bracelet in there is actually a hidden USB drive. You can put all your important documents on there and hide them in plane site. The scarf has hidden compartments. Plus, I did get you a money belt. I know that people don't really use cash anymore, but it wasn't expensive. Anyway, there are some gift cards too…because tradition says that it must be so." He was adorable. I couldn't not hug him. He may have had trouble behaving like a normal human being, but he did care about me. I thought about it for a second. Hell Bent and Moms D were the only normal dentists I'd ever met, so maybe that was a thing.
"Thank you, Noah. I'm shocked that you still have my first-grade picture…I thought for sure that Dad would have sent you the next year. Though second grade was the last time I brought the sheet home. So, yeah." Thankfully everyone in the room found it funny. But it was true. Dad and I had long ago reached an agreement I didn't run from his camera when we were out and about and he just had to take a picture, and he didn't force me to face the conformity horror that was school pictures. I mean, yeah, I still had to take them for the yearbook and he always made me buy one…but no more did he make me get the big packages of stupid posed pictures that we'd never seemed to run out of.
Moms D and Hell Bent got me three really cute bed sets for a queen bed. Sander and Angel Mom got me a bunch of emergency car things, like a Triple A membership, a rechargeable battery jump kit, a big ass Mag Flashlight a roadside emergency kit, snow chains for my tires…things I might need between the time I went to school in September and Christmas break. Nikki gave me a bunch of random things…I think she found one of those high school graduate's gifts list online. She got me two sets of travel chargers for my iPad, Pod & Phone. She got me really cute, waterproof case for carrying one set. She got me a really nice journal and a great pen set. Bubbie and Samantha shared a mind. She'd gotten me the All in all it was a great end to one stage of my life. I was enthusiastic about beginning the next.
Ladies & Gentlemen...first, I apologize for the later posting. Been fighting life this weekend. Can you get a weekend off from your weekend?
Now, that said, Lets go out with a BANG.
Review like you've never reviewed before.
It is my plan to start posting the first chapter of Summer Menage IV starting on or around the Fourth of July.
I've got a few of the tidbits of info up at the Yahoo Group about KAMA's Summer Tour to hold you over. (Just Info...not story)
The Summer will start with the Billboard Music Awards
(I am spending the next two weeks doing a little work for Illy's stories first. I've edited the first few chapters of her Reptillia Challenge Fic, and written some of the next chapter of her BabeTart story already...I just need to get them entered and posted. Pray for me)
Lets hope that Life treats us all kind in the mean time.
Again, drop me a line to let me know how you liked it all.
TTFN,
Anni
