The Bad Twin (30 page)

“That sounds like a plan. I’ll call you back and let you know if you should add Pierre to the list.”

She immediately called Pierre after hanging up with Rose. “What are you doing handsome?”

“Thinking about you.”

“Rose called to invite us to her movie premiere Tuesday and also told me that she was getting married.”

“What? Well that’s good news isn’t it?”

“Yes. It threw me for a loop, but I did accept the offer to be her maid of honor.”

“I told you things would work out between you two.”

Violet twirled her hair with her fingers. “We’ll see. Are you available to fly out here for a few days?”

“For you, yes.”

They continued to talk for about an hour and then Violet called Rose back to confirm.  Rose informed her that everyone else had also accepted. “Sounds like a mini-reunion,” Violet said.

“Yes and I’m looking forward to having everyone here. I guess I better check to see what I have, so I can get the house fully stocked.”

***

Who would have thought that I would be happy about being your maid of honor and attending a Hollywood premiere? Rose baby, we’ve come a long way.

ROSE

Lance was giving Rose a massage and she kept dosing off. “Humm.  Lance, you’re better than my regular masseure.”

As he massaged her leg muscles, he said, “I’ve been meaning to ask you about your masseure, the last time he was here, he looked a little too happy and why he had to change his name? He’s no more a Frenchman than I am.”

Rose laughed. “Ramone is harmless. You have nothing to worry about.”

He kissed the back of her ankle. “I know I don’t. Can’t nobody love you more than me.”

She lay there as he aroused every cell of her body. They ended up making love all night. The next morning, she slid out of bed, trying her best not to wake him.  She took a shower and when she walked out of the bathroom, he was awake. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I need to go run some errands, because everybody will be here tonight.”

“Is there anything you want me to do?” Lance asked as he moved the covers.

Rose sat on the edge of the bed while she put on her stockings and replied, “Yes. Please make sure the gardener and the catering service are setup properly.”

“Sure love.”

She reached into her purse and handed him a set of keys. “These are for you. I think it’s about time you have your own set.”

He pulled her back on the bed. “Thank you dear.”

She tried to pull herself up and playfully hit him, “Lance. Let me up or I’ll get all wrinkled.”

He tickled her until she gave in to him. She kissed him and left.

She decided on driving her Escalade because she had a lot of places to go and wouldn’t have room to fit everything in the convertible. The first stop was to her favorite designer, Raphiel. The Rose Petals line was doing fabulous, Raphiel created the line in her honor. After she tried the dress on for the last time, one of the assistants wrapped it up. She was also given the accessories to compliment the dress. She wanted to buy Violet a dress, but thought better of it. They were making progress and she didn’t want to come off as if she was trying to be controlling.

She got home in time to give the caterer last minute instructions. “Ma’am, we have everything under control. We’ll be at your beck and call for the rest of week as agreed for all meals.”

“Thank you.”

Rose went to find Lance. He confirmed the arrival of the limousine. The driver had been waiting, so that he could take her to the airport to pick up her relatives. Lance nervously said, “I would like to go, if you don’t mind. They will be a part of my family, so I might as well meet them now.”

She loved the idea, so they rode together. Although her family was coming from two different places, their flight arrival times were close enough so she would only have to make this one trip. She asked Lance to meet Violet near baggage pickup, since she was the only one besides Rose who knew him. Rose was to go meet Pearle and other relatives in another area of the airport. They agreed to meet up at the limousine.

Rose was reading a newspaper left on a chair next to her when she heard Pearle say, “There goes my baby.”

She stood up and hugged everyone. “I’m so glad you all could come.  Let’s go get your bags and Mr. Pierre, Violet is going to meet us at the car.”

Pearle asked, “Is she here yet?”

“She should be. Lance went to meet her for me and he’s going to take her to the car.”

Her Aunt Mae tried to keep up. “How are all of us going to fit in one car?”

“I have rented a limousine to be at your disposal your entire stay here.”

Audrey walked next to her and looped her arm with Rose’s. “Thanks for the trip. I told my friends to look for me on the entertainment channel.”

Rose laughed. “You’re the one who should have pursued a career in show business, Ms Melodramatic.”

After collecting everyone’s luggage they headed to the limousine. Lance and Violet spotted them first and Violet hugged everyone and gave Rose a hug. Violet stated, “Thanks Sis for inviting me. Some of the passengers thought I was you on the plane and began asking for an autograph. The flight attendant had to announce on the intercom that I wasn’t you.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“For once, it didn’t bother me. The funny part, I had signed a few autographs for some people while I was waiting on my flight, and those same people sneered at me when they found out I wasn’t you.”

Lance assisted Rose with getting her family situated in their rooms. Rose pulled Violet to the side. “I have one room left. Do you want your bags to be in the same room as Pierre’s or do you feel like bunking with me?”

Violet looked at her. “Let’s see, which is the lesser of two evils?” Rose mouth dropped open and Violet laughed. “Just kidding. I’ll sleep in your room, because I don’t want Mama saying anything and besides Pierre and I have not gone there yet.”

“The way he was looking when he saw you, tells me it won’t be too much longer.”

After the whole family got situated, they all met up in the dining room. “Rose your house is lovely. I really like how you have everything decorated. I must say I’m impressed,” Aunt Mae stated.

After dinner, they all lounged around on the patio and enjoyed the night air. Rose stood back and observed. Lance came up behind her and commented, “Seems like everyone is having a good time.”

Rose continued to look at the happy setting. “It appears that way. Thank you for all of your help today.”

“I told you if given half the chance, there’s no telling what would become of us. Together we’re remarkable and unstoppable.” He turned her around and gave her a long sensual kiss.

They stopped kissing when the family started to applaud them. She blushed and turned toward them. “Ladies and gents, I’m going to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a long busy day. You’re welcome to stay out here all night if you like. Make yourselves at home.
Mi casa es su casa.”

Her Aunt Mae looked at Pearle. “What did she say?”

Pearle responded, “She says, my house is your house. That’s Spanish.”

“I know it was Spanish. I just didn’t understand what she said.”

Rose heard their interchange and laughed as she made her way up the stairs.

VIOLET

Pierre wrapped his arm around Violet and said
,
“A nickel for your thoughts.”

“I thought it was a penny,” Violet stated.

“It was, but because of inflation, it’s now a nickel.”

Violet laughed and said, “You’re something else.”

Pierre took her hand, picked up a beach towel off the rack, and they went for a stroll along the beach located behind Rose’s home.  As they walked and held hands, the waves from the ocean became soothing to her soul. They found a quiet spot and Pierre placed the long towel on the sand and commented, “This is so relaxing. I can now see why you like the coast.”

The stars were bright and as she looked into his eyes, she got caught up in the ambiance. “I love it here. In San Jose, I have to drive about twenty or thirty minutes before I get to the coast, but its well worth the drive.”

He embraced her, leaned down and gave her a long tantalizing kiss. She moaned and debated on what to do. Things were moving faster than she had anticipated, but she had vowed to let their relationship take its course. She was really feeling him and from the bulge in his pants, he was feeling her too.

He was the first to break their embrace. “I think we better stop. I don’t know how much more of your sweet kisses I can take without wanting to please you.”

She gazed at him, and with her eyes reflecting desire said, “I guess we better head back.”

He held her in his arms and they both forgot about their previous protest.  “Baby,” Pierre said as he moaned. “Come on, before I take you right now.”

They brushed the sand off themselves and went back to the house. As she was about to open the door to Rose’s room, she turned around and whispered to Pierre, “I think I’m ready.”

 “Ready for what baby?” he asked in his sexy voice.

She reached up and kissed him.

He was almost panting. “Whew. Let’s take this downstairs to my room before someone walk out and see us.”

She agreed, so they walked hand in hand to his room. Fortunately, everyone else’s bedrooms were upstairs, so they would not be heard or disturbed. They made love for the first time and as she lay embraced in his arms, Violet felt as if their souls were entwined and that she had finally met her destiny.

The next morning, when she woke up she realized she didn’t have any of her clothes downstairs, so she would have to sneak up to Rose’s to change before Pearle or Aunt Mae saw her. “Baby, I don’t have any of my clothes down here so I need to sneak upstairs.”

Pierre in a husky voice responded, “You’re so cute.” He placed kisses on her shoulder. “I can’t wait to get you to myself again. Last night was better than I could have ever imagined. It just confirms our connection. It was as if our souls connected.”  They kissed again and Pierre walked her to the door. He whispered, “Hurry back.”

When Violet walked in the room, Rose was up and getting dressed. Rose joked, “I take it you enjoyed the ocean view.”

Violet tried to ignore her comment. “How are you this morning?”

“I’m fine and from the looks of things you’re feeling GREAT.”

“I planned to sleep upstairs,” Violet said as she went through her suitcase. “But I got side-tracked.”

Rose bent down to fasten her shoes. “I’ll say. I should have told Lance to stay over, so I could have gotten side-tracked.”

They both laughed. “Thanks for understanding.”

“I’m just glad to see you happy.”

Violet wanted to share what happened with her and Pierre with someone and Janice wasn’t there, so she blurted out, “Although we only recently reconnected, he does his best to keep a smile on my face.”

“I knew I felt chemistry between you all. I’m happy for you.”

“You really do mean it, don’t you?” Violet asked with a curious look on her face.

“Yes I do,” Rose said. “Now let me go make sure breakfast is ready to be served.” She kissed her on the cheek and left Violet in the room to herself.

***

When Violet made it downstairs, everyone had eaten. Pierre was out on the patio reading a book. “What are you reading?”

“I found this book of poetry and was wondering which one I should recite to you.”

“Did you find one?”

“I sure did, but it’ll have to wait for another time.” He smiled wickedly. “When we have some privacy.”

Violet smiled and said, “I’ll be ready in a few. I can’t wait for you to meet my friend Janice.”

Borrowing Rose’s convertible, they hit the highway headed to Janice and Terrence’s place.  When they arrived, they couldn’t keep their lips apart. They were kissing when the door opened and acted like teenagers who got caught doing something they weren’t supposed to do.  Violet asked the person who opened the door, “Is Janice here? I’m her friend Violet.”

The guy who opened the door responded, “Violet, you don’t remember me?”

Violet looked and then said, “Marcus? You look so different. What happened? I mean how are you?”

“Can a brotha get a hug?”

She ignored his question. “Marcus, this is Pierre. Pierre this is Marcus who was a professional ball player.” Under her breath she said, “One that played himself out.”

They shook hands and as they were talking, Janice and Terrence walked into the front room. “Violettttttt!”

They hugged and she introduced them to Pierre. “Pierre this is my best friend and her husband Terrence. Terrence and Marcus are friends.”

Pierre extended his hands out to both of them. “Nice to meet you both.”