A Holiday Romance (4 page)

“Yes, my dear, I am a mulatto, didn’t he tell you? My mother was full blooded black and my father was white. That makes Guy a quarter black. There’s a name for that, isn’t there Guy?”

“Yes mother, I think the word is interesting.” 

His mother laughed saying “You know what I mean.”

The stunning woman turned and looked lovingly at her son. “He didn’t tell you I suspect. Guy likes to keep his little secrets.”

“Now Mother, Guy started, but his mother waved him off and continued.

“He took after his father in coloring though; it could have gone either way. It really was a very romantic situation, his father and me. I was the daughter of an employee of his grandfathers. Back then it was unheard of for the son of a wealthy family to fall in love with a girl of mixed race. I was considered a “colored” then. When I got pregnant with Guy, oh Guy, don’t look so shocked, those things happened, even back then.

 I thought I’d be sent off to have and raise the baby alone, but then Guy’s father surprised everyone, including me and married me. Turned more than a few heads I’d say. After a while, people just kind of forgot that I was dark. It was never an issue after that.”

Latisse was in awe in the presence of this amazing woman who had lived through so much. “Loved him till the day he died, I still do,” Guys mother said wistfully.

Latisse thought “talk about secrets, I didn’t even know his name until an hour ago.”

“Now young lady, do you have anything to wear tonight? You are so pretty; we just have to show you off.”

Mrs. Blanchard called to her personal assistant and whispered quietly. With an hour, a young lady was sitting at Latisse’s feet performing a pedicure as her newly manicured nails were drying.

Latisse wonder how she had gotten someone to come out on Christmas Eve. Just as her toes were finished, a very effeminate black man with shoulder length hair swished in.  He took one look at Latisse and announced “Girl, we have got to do something with that nappy hair.” Latisse took minor offense, her hair wasn’t nappy, but it could use some help she thought. She liked being pampered and felt like a princess. She just couldn’t quite believe Guy’s mother was doing all of this.

About halfway through the hair treatment, Ja’que, that was the stylist’s name, not Jacky, but said with a French accent “Ja’que” had applied some fruity smelling paste to her hair and covered her head in a foil wrap, there was a knock at the bedroom door.

“Are you decent? A familiar male voice inquired.

“Yes” she answered Guy.

“Then I’ll come back later.” He joked.

He entered with a young lady carrying two wrapped garments.

“Mother wasn’t sure if you had brought anything to wear, so she had these sent over. I hope you’re not offended. If you don’t like either, you can wear blue jeans.”

Latisse was far from offended, she was over-whelmed.

The woman with the dresses came in and unwrapped two of the most beautiful and expensive formal gowns Latisse had ever seen.

The woman said “Mrs. Blanchard guessed you to be a size zero, or a one at the most. She estimated your bust at about a 36.” It was spot one. “I can do some alterations if needed. She wasn’t sure about shoe size, so I bought along a couple of sizes in each.” For the second time in 24 hours Latisse was speechless.

It was just before the party; Latisse could hear quests starting to arrive. She was dressed and ready in a pale yellow chiffon gown that exposed one shoulder and displayed Latisse’s almost perfect figure. With the help of extensions, her hair had been transformed into a chic French braid with a small sprig of miniature yellow rosebuds. She wore perfectly fitting matching yellow open toed peeps with a moderate heel. Mrs. B sent her assistant to ask if Latisse would join her for a moment in her private bedroom.

As Latisse entered, she saw the woman standing alone, reflecting on her image in a large antique mirror. She was absolutely stunning as she turned to receive Latisse.

Mrs. Blanchard gave a slight gasp as she saw Latisse standing there.

“Oh my, you are beautiful” the woman commented. “I see why my son is attracted to you.”

She crossed to Latisse
and took her hand. She gazed directly into Latisse’s dark eyes with her own and said, “I’m going to ask you a very personal question my dear. Please take no offense, I have my reasons.”

There was a pregnant pause before Guy’s mother directly asked “Has he bedded you yet dear.”

Latisse didn’t know what to say, she felt her cheeks burn as she looked downwards and started to mumble a reply.

Mrs. Blanchard waved her off and continued “I thought not.” The elder woman smiled broadly and continued. “He has had many “girlfriends,” but he has never brought a woman home unannounced to a family occasion. I have met several of his “girlfriends” and asked them the same question. They all answered discretely in the affirmative to let me know how important they were to him.

But I had hoped that you were special, and by your answer, I now know how special you must be to him. You make me very happy, my dear. You are very beautiful and intelligent, a rare combination, you’ll match him. You will be very good together, I’m sure of it. I’m happy for him.”

This admission from this majestic woman seemed too much and a single tear slipped down her the young girl’s cheek. It was formed as a result of the intense emotional roller coaster she had enjoyed over the last two days. Again, Latisse could find nothing to say.

“Oh sweet girl, don’t ruin your make up, you look so perfect.” Mrs. Blanchard soothed as she dabbed the tear with a hand stitched tatted hanky pulled from her sleeve. “Come over here for a minute please.”

She brought Latisse to her makeup table and presented her with a small box. From it she took a solid gold choker necklace with a single cameo depicting a black woman’s portrait. It was flanked by two diamonds.

“This was my Mother’s dear; I’ve waited a long time to give it to the right person.”

“Oh, Mrs. Blanchard, I couldn’t possibly—“Latisse started but then was crying in earnest. Tears were flowing down her high boned cheeks like a waterfall against a chiseled cliff.

“Oh yes you can, and you will do this for an old lady. If I’m wrong about you, and young lady, I am seldom wrong where my son is concerned, you may return it. Until then, you would honor me to wear it.” She clasped the necklace around Latisse’s slender neck.

The intimate family dinner party tuned out to be over fifty guests. Despite all of the opulence and beauty in the room, all eyes were on Latisse. She indeed felt like a princess and worked the room flawlessly, spending time on Guys arm and yet giving him space alone to reconnect with important people in his life.

They met people, drank, danced, supped and opened presents in the grand Hall. Every now and then Latisse noticed Mrs. Blanchard looking at her, smiling.

As the last guest left, Mrs. Blanchard bade her son and Latisse good night, making her promise she wouldn’t leave the next day until after they had spent some time together. In truth, Latisse had completely forgotten the Napa vacation.

Latisse turned and quietly said to Guy, “What an awesome experience. It was perfect, wasn’t it? I know I should be tired but I feel great, energized, and alive.”

Guy held Latisse and kissed her gently. “Thank you for tonight, I had a wonderful time. You made all of the guy’s crazy jealous of me.” With that he bent over and kissed her again, passionately.

Without further words, he scooped her up and carried her up the huge spiral stairway to his room. There was no hesitation, no discussion at all as he slowly undressed her and then himself. They fell asleep entwined some several hours later, totally spent, and totally happy and fulfilled.

He awoke her in the morning gently nuzzling her ear with gentle little kisses.

“What time should I have the jet ready for California?” he asked.

“About that,” she whispered, “will you come with me?”

“I thought you’d never ask” he said. And they made love again.

A Valentine’s Day Gift For Him

“Hello Momma, Merry Christmas.”

“Oh thank you Momma, Daddy all right?”

“At the hospital?”

“Of course.”

“Yes, yes I know, he’s not changing now.”

“Yes, just got here. Yes the Napa where they grow the grapes. They make wine too Momma.”

“Yes Ma’am, I know you know.”

“Well no, I didn’t actually have the business meeting with him. Oh Momma I got a lot to tell you.”

“Well no, I don’t have to go back to see him, he’s here with me now.”

“Yes here in Napa.”

“No Momma, No, I’m not that kind of girl.”

“Well, yes, it does look that way so maybe I am.”

“No Momma, let me just tell you Momma, it’s unbelievable really.”

“No Momma.”

“No Momma it is not like that time in college.”

“No Momma.”

“Yes Ma’am.”

“I do want to tell you if you give me a chance.”

“No Momma, I’m sorry Momma.”

“Okay then, here’s what happened. My flight got delayed in Washington. Yes, Dulles. So this man sits next to me and Momma, he smelled so good.”

“Yes a white guy, funny you should ask because his name is Guy. And he’s part black.”

“Momma!”

Yes, well anyway he sat next to me in Dulles and when the flight was delayed he invited me out for dinner.  Oh Momma, it was a wonderful night.  We went in a limo!”

“Yes, a limo, and we saw all the lights and had an unbelievable dinner.”

“Momma, there are just a few things I’d rather not discuss with you and no, I did not sleep with him in D.C.”

“Uh, huh, yes Momma.”

“So he asked me to go to this Christmas party, he lives in Chicago. And guess what Momma, we went in a private plane. Yes, and the plane flew us here, too.”

“Yes Momma, I know men like that, no, wait, he’s not like that.”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“No, yes really.”

Know what the weird thing is Momma? I’ve only known him for two days, but it feels like I’ve known him my whole life.”

“No Momma, I don’t think it’s a silly schoolgirl crush, I’m 31 years old, remember?”

“Yes Momma, I’m sorry. I know you know how old I am.”

Yes, well kiss Daddy for me, will you? I know you will.”

“I love you too Momma, good bye now. Yes, I’ll call before New Years.”

“I love you too. Merry Christmas Momma.”