The Long Ride Home
Lily hugged her new step-grandmother and her grandfather absently, her brain having overloaded and crashed at his stunning announcement. Seventy-five percent of the billions he was worth? Was he fucking kidding? "W-we will need to talk about this at another time, Grandpop." she finally managed quietly under his son's roaring tirade.
"Looking forward to it," the smug man said in a weird parody of her words to her father last Saturday. "But know that our decision is final. We've put a lot of thought and effort into this." Stunned silence met this declaration. She wasn't used to not getting a say on the rare occasions that she butted into her grandfather's dealings. Sylvia followed her out of the mansion, trying to talk to her about a contract or something, but Lily wasn't paying attention. She climbed into her Kia Hybrid and drove away in the pouring rain as soon as her passenger was buckled in. How was she supposed to remain out of the press' spotlight once this news hit? How was she supposed to manage billions of dollars? She could barely keep up with her stipend as it was! She didn't want the money, damnit! She wanted her grandfather to be okay. Was he sick? Was he dying? The idea of losing her Grandpop was so intense that she had to pull over and cry.
Lily, what's the matter?
"What if Grandpop is dying? I don't know what I'd do if he was suddenly gone! I don't want the m-money! I want my Grandpop!" She dissolved into tears at that, hugging her boyfriend close as if he was going to disappear out of her life too. Nick sighed and gathered her close to him, his own mind spinning with tonight's revelations. Lily was a businesswoman? But she'd said that she had no head for business. She'd lied to him. And then there was the fact that she'd paid his hospital bill without telling him. He was a man, damnit! He'd thought he was standing on his own and it turns out that he wasn't. And what was this about her paying down mortgages and buying apartment buildings? Was his woman a secret business tycoon? He wanted answers but didn't know how to get them out of the emotionally destroyed woman in his arms.
"You w-weren't supposed to find out about the hospital bill," she suddenly pulled away from him, sniffling. "I don't like people feeling indebted to me. And I like being a guardian angel to my friends. I have a private real estate investment banker that handles my investments. I just tell him what I want done and he makes it happen legally. I've got no head for business. I told him that I wanted a one-time small grant set up to pay for your hospital stay and he made it happen. I use the shell company Larry set up for me because I don't want to be in the spotlight. He doesn't understand since I'm not doing anything illegal, but he's the junior partner in the firm I use and is well paid to keep me out of the spotlight and intrepid reporters off my scent. I just want to help my friends," she blubbered. Nick pulled her back into his embrace, feeling better about the situation already. So little Lily liked to play secret Santa to those she cared about. He could understand that. More importantly, she hadn't lied to him about business. True, she'd gone behind his back to pay off his debts, but what was done was done.
I feel a little salty about the hospital bill, but I understand why you did it. And I can see you playing St. Nick to your friends and co-workers.
Just… Don't ever deceive me, Lily. I need to be able to trust you
"I promise you that was the last of my secrets. It just started with me wanting to have something if Grandpop ever cut me off and it turned into this whole secret network of homes and apartments. I'm not even sure how it all happened. But now…" Nick kissed her, pouring all of his tenderness and sympathy into the kiss. A knock on her window interrupted their tender moment.
"Yes, officer?" she asked, using a tissue to wipe her eyes and nose. Officer Helsinki shined his flashlight into the car, noting that both occupants were buckled in, that there was no drugs or alcohol in view, and that the girl looked truly upset.
"Is everything alright in here, miss?" he asked.
"My boyfriend was just comforting me. I just got some bad news tonight about my grandfather and I'm worried about him." She started crying again and the officer looked uncomfortable.
"Well, I'm surely sorry to hear about your grandfather and I hope things work out for him and you. But maybe you should move along."
"Of course, officer. I'm sorry." With that, she pulled away from the curb and back into the flow of traffic.
I'm sure that your grandfather is fine, little one. He's awfully resilient and healthy
"Yeah, so was my grandmother," the girl shuddered, more tears leaking from her eyes. "And she barely lived to see me before she passed away! Six months and she was gone. I never even knew her!" The deafmute ran his hand over her shoulder and caressed her cheek. By the time she made it back to Philly, she was a little more at peace with the situation. The music was once again blaring, the rain had stopped, and she was very happy that she'd taken Monday off. These dinners of his were bad for her heart! Rubbing the side of her face against his hand as he continued to caress her, she turned the car towards her boyfriend's neighborhood. There was a gathering of Latinos outside his apartment. They were just hanging out, talking, laughing, and drinking. She put the car in park and smiled at the group.
"Hey dios de la tecnología," one of the men laughed. "Is that your old lady?" Nick turned to his woman and noted her amused smirk.
"Tech god?" she giggled. He shrugged and pulled out his tablet, almost running into a couple of kids running down the street Trick or Treating as he opened the car door. She pulled him back into the car and kissed him fiercely, seemingly out of the blue. "Thank you for coming to Grandpop's with me tonight. It couldn't have been easy to meet my whole family like that," she whispered. He looked dazed but pleased as the group broke up into raucous laughter. She addressed the people relaxing on the front stairs.
"Buenas noches, caballeros y damas. Soy la mujer de Nick, Lily," the woman introduced herself politely. (Good evening, gentlemen and ladies. I'm Nick's woman, Lily.)
"Mierda! ¿Tu hablas español?" one of the men asked in amazement. (Holy shit! You speak Spanish?)
"De hecho lo hago. ¿Qué hace que Nick sea un dios tecnológico?" (Indeed I do. What makes Nick a tech god?)
"Su Nick ha estado revisando todos los apartamentos del edificio, mejorando nuestro ancho de banda y haciendo que Internet funcione más rápido. Incluso solucionó un problema con mi televisor," another of the men informed her. She grinned and scratched his head gently, giggling when he started shaking his leg like a dog being scratched. (Your Nick has been going through all the apartments in the building, improving our bandwidth and making the internet run faster. He even fixed a problem with my TV)
"That's my Nick," she grinned at the group. They all cheered for their friend. The deafmute grinned, reaching up to take his lady's hand and kissed it. He quickly typed a message on his tablet for her.
Now that I have the means to do it, I'm going to call out tomorrow so that I can go with you to your grandfather's house. He's not going to change his mind, but I know you'll want to try and convince him to put things back the way they were in his will.
"I have to try, Nick," she sighed. "This is going to be disastrous. And it's not something I asked for. I was raised by the staff 'cause my folks were too busy partying. Nothing in me is interested in that kind of life, but really? 75%? I can't handle what I have now on a yearly basis! I'd rather not-" He covered her mouth before she said something that would cause him to have to move buildings and typed another message for her.
It seems you're going to have to develop a head for business, love. Or at least keep in close contact with your grandfather's lawyers and businessmen. It'll be alright. I should get inside.
Just then, the track changed and the group picked up on it.
"Hey, what's a black girl doing listening to 'Let the Bodies Hit the Floor'?"
"I listen to all kinds of music," she answered and started singing along to the violent, metal song.
One - nothing wrong with me
Two - nothing wrong with me
Three - nothing wrong with me
Four - nothing wrong with me
One - something's got to give
Two - something's got to give
Three - something's got to give
NOW!
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floo-OOHR!
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floo-OOHR!
The drunken crowd cheered her on, blinking when the track changed from the heavy metal song to a R&B jam.
Other dancers may be on the floor
But my eyes will see only you
Only you have that magic technique
When we sway I grow weak
I can hear the sound of violins long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth
Sway me now
From there it went to a swing dancing song. "Hey, I know this one. It's from that Brendan Fraser movie, right?" At Lily's nod, the woman laughed and clapped. Turn it up, DJ!" The girl did just that and sang along.
He's got great big feet, he's jumping to the beat
He's been dancing in the street
He's dressed so fine, got lots o loot
We like to call him Mr Zoot Suit
He drives a great big car, smokes a big cigar
He looks like a king and he acts like a star
When we see him drive by he goes, 'Toot, toot'
We all shout, 'Hey Mr Zoot Suit'
He's got purple suspenders and a yellow tie
(Say what?)
Come on, boys, I tell you no lie
He's got all those hats, and funky spats
He is the hippest cat
No, no. He can't be beat
Wherever he goes, he turns up the heat
So when you see him drive be with that big cheroot
Don't forget to shout, 'Hey, Mr Zoot Suit'
The woman started a drunken attempt at swing dancing while the others egged her on. Lily laughed and got out of her side to join her, wanting to get in on the action. The two danced like a swing dancing couple while the group cheered them on. Turns out that Lily made a pretty impressive 'guy', twirling the drunk woman around and letting her jump on her to the beat. After a while, the Latino girl grabbed her mouth and stomach and ran into the building to the jeers of the crowd. Lily continued dancing, smiling at her man as she did.
He's got purple suspenders and a yellow tie
(Say what?)
Come on, boys, I tell you no lie
He's got all those hats, and funky spats
He is the hippest cat
No, no. He can't be beat
Wherever he goes, he turns up the heat
So when you see him drive be with that big cheroot
Don't forget to shout, 'Hey, Mr Zoot Suit'
The next song on the playlist was a Portuguese song. The crowd picked up the beat and suddenly everyone was dancing.
Vem Magalenha rojão, traz a senha pro fogão te te te coração
Hoje é um dia de sol, alegria de xodó, meu dever de verão
Vem Magalenha rojão, traz a senha pro fogão te te te coração
Hoje é um dia de sol, alegria de xodó, meu dever de verão
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Te te te te te
Calangulango, do calango da pretinha,
'Tô cantando essa mudinha pra senhora se lembrar,
Daquele tempo que vivia la na roça com uma filha
Na barriga e outra filha pra criar
Lily called for her man in the middle of the song, beckoning him sexily. Everyone expected him to blow her off or for them to do some fancy dance. But she only swayed with him to the music until the song ended. A gospel song came on next, and it was starting to turn into an old-fashioned block party.
When Jesus say 'Yes', nobody can say 'no'
(When Jesus say 'Yes', nobody can say 'no')
When Jesus say 'Yes', nobody can say 'no'
(When Jesus say 'Yes', nobody can say 'no')
I'm not worried 'bout a thing
'Cause I know you are guiding me
Where you lead me, Lord, I will go
I have no fear 'cause I know who's in control
There's no limit to what You can do
'Cause it all belongs to you
Yes, it all belongs to you
(The world should know)
You're almighty and all powerful
And it all belongs to you
Yes, it all belongs to you
When Jesus say 'Yes', nobody can say 'no'
(When Jesus say 'Yes', nobody can say 'no')
When Jesus say 'Yes', nobody can say 'no'
(When Jesus say 'Yes', nobody can say 'no')
A beat cop walked by, observing the dance party. "Alright, let's break it up," he laughed. The group booed but dispersed back to the front steps. That gave him room to do his own little dance for the group before moving on. Lily turned down the music to a sane level and giggled along with the rest of the group
"Damn girl, you brought the party with you!"
"That's the way it's supposed to be," she grinned at the tall man, all but wrapped around her own man. "I'll pick you up tomorrow around two in the afternoon, okay? I'm likely going to sleep in. Today's been a trying day."
Yes, it has been. And I'll be ready to see your grandfather whenever you desire
Try not to worry too much tonight. No use getting riled up until you know the details, okay?
"I'll try," she promised him, heading back to her car. "Buenas noches a todo el mundo. ¡Disfruta el resto de tu Halloween! Happy birthday again, baby!" She waved and drove off. (Goodnight everybody. Enjoy the rest of your Halloween!)
I wonder what's going on with her Grandfather? Why did he change his will? Well, one thing's for sure. Frank and Sylvia are going to have a lot to say about it. Where I grew up, there were impromptu dance parties like the one I was trying to simulate in this chapter. One minute you're relaxing in the front step and the next you're dancing and laughing along to the beat as if it was your day job! It's so much fun!
Anyway, thank you for reading. Please join me next time to see what happens next. Remember, reviews are loved! ^_^
Drowning Pool - Let the Bodies Hit the Floor
Anita Kelsey - Sway
Flying Neutrinos - Mr. Zoot Suit
Sergio Mendes - Magalenha
Michelle Williams feat Beyonce and Kelly Rowland - Say Yes