Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Hello, Wanda. You look nice.”
“Hey, Will. Thank you.” Mama looked the man slowly up and down, as if not certain what to make of him. “You look decent, too.”
Azure took her mother’s coat and purse and placed them in the foyer closet. When she turned back around, she found the woman sitting right next to Caspian, while Daddy remained on the other side of the room, looking at his phone.
“…Is that right? Ain’t that somethin’!” Mama stated, smiling at Caspian. “Playing the guitar ’nd such. You’re like a renaissance man!” Mama’s husky laughter filled the room. “Got a nice career. Such a wonderful storyteller! My nephew helped me figure out how to hear your podcast. I was just tellin’ my mama how well-spoken you are, too. Can play instruments and you’re world traveled. Educated… Handsome, too. I enjoyed having coffee and pastries with you. It’s great to see you again.” She patted Caspian’s hand.
“Thank you so much for all of the compliments. I’m not sure they’re all true, but I’m appreciative all the same.” Caspian looked extra meek and mild. Azure almost went blind from rolling her eyes so damn hard.
“Yeah! My girl done did good!” Mama cackled, patting Caspian’s leg now. Azure didn’t miss the side-eye Daddy was giving her, checking her out on the sly.
Sometime later, Caspian helped her set the dining room table, leaving the two ex-lovers to their devices. When the four of them sat down, Daddy said the dinner prayer, then they all dug in.
“Since it’s so quiet in here, I take it the food is up to par?” Azure grinned while she cut into her serving of the pot roast. It practically melted in her mouth. She took another piece, scooped up a forkful of the mashed potatoes, and enjoyed that even more.
“It’s delicious, Azure!” Mama complimented.
“Amazing, baby!” Caspian chimed in.
“You shole can cook! You got that from me!” Daddy added.
She laughed at everyone talking at the same time, their mouth full of her hard work, made with love. The mood had settled and the tension dissipated. Mama and Daddy were acting a bit awkward, but that was to be expected. Nevertheless, they too were talking, discussing things here and there. She knew Mama didn’t want Daddy back, even if he were single, which he wasn’t. She just wanted to rub in his face what he’d messed up and missed out on. At least, that’s the impression she had from Mama’s over-the-top but nice-looking makeup, and her hair dyed that typical dark honey blonde color she liked, which always seemed to turn heads.
After plenty of laughter and stories shared, Daddy grabbed his second beer and leaned back in his chair, his tongue loosened.
“Caspian, I ain’t gonna lie to you. When Azure told me she was getting married, and I hadn’t met you yet, I felt some kind of way about it. But like I told you on the phone, and I’m telling you now,” Daddy leaned over and patted Azure’s back, “I trust my baby’s judgment.”
“Thank you, Mr. Quill. I plan to be a good husband and son-in-law. I love her more than words could ever express.”
Her parents shared a quick glance while ‘Always,’ by Atlantic Star, started to play—one of Mama’s favorite songs. Azure half-listened to everyone’s chatter. Dad was complaining about some new insurance that a few of his dental patients were trying to use for his services. Caspian brought up his cousin Noah’s recent dental work, and the two went on and on about that.
Caspian sure knows how to put on a show and blend in with ease. Got my parents thinking he’s just a perfectly ordinary gentleman. Not a bad bone in his brawny body. He’s fooled my friends. He’s fooled his therapist, and his coworkers. He’s fooled just about everyone he’s come in contact with, except for me and his two best friends. He got a little caught up in that information about that maniac… I could see the eagerness to discuss it in his eyes, though he kept a calm demeanor.
She wanted to clap, give the man a standing ovation. After all, it was a splendid act.
Mama leaned over and tugged at her arm, interrupting her thoughts.
“I like him, baby,” she whispered in her ear, a big smile on her face.
“He’s wonderful, Mama. We’re good for each other.”
Mama’s eyes sparkled. “Hey, don’t your father kind of look like a seahorse now?”
“Don’t do this…” Azure resisted the urge to laugh.
“I’m serious! Look at his hair. It’s combed upwards, spiked… kind of like in a fauxhawk, but he didn’t mean for it to be. It looks silly and his face reminds me of an aquatic creature. I had him in his heyday. He can swim on ’way from here.”
Azure shook her head, refusing to fall into Mama’s pit of pettiness. She picked up her napkin and dabbed the side of her mouth while she looked straight ahead. Right across the table, Caspian and her father were now deeply engaged in the topic of football. In particular, the Kentucky Wildcats and a Saints game from last year.