Before the Party
Mornings. It wasn't like I had an aversion to them, it's just that we were not the best of friends. Knowing this, it was always a chore to get me up and out of bed to get to school. This particular morning, I was up early with a little spring in my step. As I gleefully bounded off the last step of our staircase, my father was emerging from his study. "Wait, do my eyes deceive me or is my ebony headed beauty up early today. To what do we owe this most auspicious of events." I slowly turned around to kiss him on the cheek and looked up at him and raised an eyebrow, " Daddy, sometimes your ability to be so coy amazes even me sometimes. You know today is the day I graduate from that wretched school I've been in with all those insufferable peons these many years." I looked down remembering all the chants of " Hey lonely girl" and "weirdo" and the many attempts at bullying that I had endured, all the while outwardly shrugging it off but silently suffering on the inside. Sure, I had my mantra, and it had hardened me, but every once in a while, my defense mechanism weakened so I had these moments of saddening reflection on the past. Most days I was able to put my frustration into my art, I painted and sculpted. Sometimes my art came in the form of poetry or song lyrics for the band I never could form because for some reason this town didn't like the Batiste family and no one would talk about it. Father cupped my face in his hand and hooked his finger under my chin to meet his honey hued eyes.
If Reginald Batiste had not been a part of this family, I would venture to guess he would have been a most sought-after man for the ladies in town. As a matter of fact, I had caught ladies of all ages that could muster hormones peeking at him. I once heard a girl from my class utter to her friend that, " it's too bad he's a Batiste. I would've loved for him to be my sugar daddy." After throwing up in my mouth at that thought because of her wanting touch my dad, one of the vial brats this town had raised, the thought of her touching my father made me ill. The notion that any lady would think that of him, made sense, though being his daughter to that point I had neither thought of him as ugly or handsome. He was just father to me but a look at him when this remark was made and I could see the appeal. He's tall, slight muscular build and his ebony hair and honeyed eyes could alone make women swoon. He also had a presence that anyone would notice, the type of person you would stop what you're doing just to watch him. I had always likened father to a panther, beautiful and majestic, a mystery to look at but these women thought to be guarded around him. If they had truly gotten to know my father, it would be his personality that would win them over. He's kind and gentle with a witty dry humor. His empathetic demeanor was something my mother always told me she loves the most about him. He's also fiercely protective of those he loves, especially his darling Xan. How many times had he come to my rescue growing up? He never once second guessed when I needed my hero. It seems this would be another moment he would rescue me in the quiet psychological way he was able to reach the depths of my heart. "My darling Xan, I know where your mind is right now. It's ok to feel how you do. We all knew when you came into this world that winter night that your path in life would never be easy but your new life at LDMU will be a major improvement and you have our party tonight to look forward to. You have many family members and family friends you've never met coming tonight and a big surprise your grandfather and I have been planning since the day you were born." The party was something I was looking forward to for some time but my mind lingered on the promise he made me when I became a teen and I wasn't about to let him forget.
I hooked my arm into the crook of his elbow that he had offered to me, he was always escorting me to the dining room. It was a game we started when I was little. He had started it telling me that I was a lady and should thusly be treated as one. "I'm teaching you that you shall demand the respect you deserve from any man who wishes to court you darling." He said this as if I really was some sort of aristocracy in a far away land but it never made sense. I know we seemingly came from old money hence our ownership of Blackwood Deep but it was exactly and English estate with a title. He wasn't Lord Reginald Batiste; the thought is very odd to me. "Darling, you seem lost in thought. Please tell me what it is that has furrowed your brow yet again this morning. I want to ease your mind, quiet the storm inside that troubles you so." I looked up at him, took a deep breath to let loose the one thing that was a taboo subject between my father and I, " I need you to remember your promise to me. I have held so many questions in my mind but keep them locked up because I never wanted to upset or disappoint you but I think it's time I get those answers. I'm sorry if this upsets you but I think I deserve to know." After I let it loose, I shut my eyes tightly to brace for the quiet growl father would get when he truly was upset. Awaiting a growl but instead I hear a low, quiet at first, jovial laugh. My eyes shot open and I look up him with a look of shock on my face. "Let's keep walking my little rose, your mother will be upset if I don't deliver you to the dining room so that you may properly eat your breakfast. And trust me when I say, today is not the day to test her patience. "
We continued our walk until he escorted me to my seat where he pulled out my chair. As I sat down, I questioned him, " Why did you laugh at my declaration earlier? This subject has made you upset before and I was expecting the same. It took a lot of courage to muster up for me to say what I did. What gives?" As father took his seat and folded his napkin into his lap, he smiled at me and said coolly, "Answering your questions tonight has always been the plan, this is part of why we are holding a party tonight. Our family has a tradition of when one comes of age, your coming of age happens to coincide with your graduation. For us to call your party tonight a graduation party, it isn't entirely accurate. These people who are attending are really just there to witness your ceremony." I looked at him quizzically, " Ceremony? Are we in a cult I never knew about? You guys aren't going to make me drink some special fruity drink, are you? I won't be doing this in a room fully of masked cloaked weirdos, will I? Because I'm not keen on dying. I'm too young to die, man." My father, who had been drinking a glass of water, had spit it out as he broke into laughter.
My mother raced into the room to wipe down the table where my father had spit up his drink, "Really Reggie? It's not enough that I am busting my rear end to make this party a success but now I have to clean up after you? Maintain your decorum sir!" She then turned to me, arms crossed which meant she was on the war path and it was at Xan protection level nuclear. Father never saved me from the wrath of Talia Batiste when she was like this. It was every man, woman, child and animal for themselves. Mother had a fiery personality that could get set off by little things at times. Father tells me she's passionate which he loves about her. At this moment in time, I didn't appreciate her passion. "Alexandra Rose Batiste, instead of clowning around with your fool of a father, you should be eating your breakfast so you're not late to school. Last thing we need is for you to get detention on your last day. I have a very tight schedule to keep and I need you back here straight after school for both your final gown fitting for the party and to get you ready for your walk across the stage. And for the love of Frigg, where is Darren?!" My father came up behind mother, wrapped his arms around her waist, crouched to plant a small kiss on her neck and gently, quietly said, " He went to the vault to retrieve the item for tonight. He should be home shortly." This instantly calmed her, "Oh my goodness, I forgot. I'm so sorry for losing it. I must be stressed out." As I quietly finished my breakfast, I got up and wrapped my arms around both my still entangled parents. "You guys are soooo cute. But seriously mom, if you can squeeze it in. A lavender scented bath, wine and a good book might not be the worst idea. I'm sure Deliah can handle preparations for an hour. Right D?" I turn towards our gray haired frail old housekeeper with a smile and a thumbs up. " Yes, young miss I should be able to handle it. Please miss, take a break." My mother pulled her hand across her face to wipe the small glisten that had formed on her forehead and sighed, " Yes, perhaps you're right. I will take a break right now. I don't have anything pressing. I can feel the tension in my shoulders."
As mother climbed the stairs for her much needed break, father stood beside me, " You'll have to forgive your mother. For us and our society, your coming of age is a most important event. She wants it to be perfect because surely amongst our family and friends this will be talked about for ages. Any hiccup could spell disaster for us for more time than you could possibly imagine." This statement did not marry up with the who cares what they think attitude that I was raised with, " Daddy, I thought we didn't care what anyone thought of us. Isn't that our family motto?" My father merely smiled, "No...it really isn't but you'll understand later. Go to school little rose. We'll see you tonight."