Placing her hands on mine, she squeezes them, and so much of me just wants to curl up in her embrace all night long as I did numerous times in my childhood. It used to be because I was scared of the tales she told, the ones without a book in her hands. They were stories she spoke from her heart, like a glimpse into a diary, and finally, in this moment, I understand. They were her tales. I look into her eyes, and I can see an aura of gray surrounding her, a dark cloud hovering over her beautiful soul. My mind’s on rewind, frantically trying to remember the stories. The dark angel, how he came in the night and took her to the woods where he stole what she was holding onto. Sometimes she called him the big bad wolf, depending on her mood.
But standing in front of her as an adult, I finally understand the ending of her story. Her heart had been stolen, by who, I have no idea.
“Mom… we need to talk. Who was he?”
“Corazon, we will. First, we have to celebrate your last night as a single woman.”
As soon as she says the words, Nikki pulls us along onto the back porch of Finn and Jen’s house. Colorful lanterns hang from the patio roof, above a long table decorated with hot pink flowers. But on closer inspection, they aren’t flowers, they are penis-shaped candies, and as my eyes dart to the tableware, I notice penis-shaped straws which sit in the glasses alongside penis-shaped plates. Where on earth did they get this from? I look above and hanging from the beams of the patio is a penis-shaped piñata. Oh, dear Lord.
“Um, Nik, there’s a hell of a lot of dick in here,” I complain.
“Woman, please, there can never be enough dick in here, at least for now. Here’s to the best bachelorette party ever.” She grabs her penis straw and takes a sip of her Long Island iced tea. “Ooh… nice.”
We laugh, and I make my way over to the buffet table. It had been teasing me since I arrived, more so than the penis-shaped candy. The candy is strangely satisfying, and I can’t help it if I have more than one in my mouth.
“Effing hell, there’s corndogs. I tell you what, if there’s one thing you Yanks do well, it’s corndogs.” Kate piles them onto her plate and starts talking about some American football player she is obsessed with when a group of men standing at the door catches my attention.
“Kate,” I whisper.
“Like you need to google the words ‘locker room pecker’ because I tell you what, Charlie, Eric knows where to find the…”
“Kate!” I interrupt.
“What?”
I’m trying not to be conspicuous as I tilt my head to make Kate look at the men.
She bursts out laughing like a private joke plays in her head. “Oh, dear… Nikki went all out.”
“Why are they dressed like that?”
The three men are dressed only in black leather thongs, dog collars, and leather masks. Please don’t tell me they are doms. It’s fun reading about them in erotic fiction, but standing only a few feet away from us makes me extremely uncomfortable.
Nikki is aware I’m pregnant, and obviously, I can’t participate in their naughty games unless they are for her. Horny bitch. I wonder if Rocky gave her that hall pass they always joke about.
“Nikki! Your subs are here,” Kate yells.
Nikki abruptly turns, her game face in place as she walks over, and without saying a word, she pulls the chain, and the subs gets down on all fours. It so explains why she’s wearing black patent 8-inch pumps. So, I’m wrong, they are subs, and Nikki clearly is the dom and loving every second of it. Kate doesn’t hesitate either, mouthing off to one of them who just stands there tolerating her abuse.
I, on the other hand, am worried about the other guests. I rush over to where the older ladies stand chatting, hoping they will understand the hilarity of the situation. “Mom, Debbie, Emily, I’m so sorry.”
“Sweetie, it’s just a bit of fun. The one on the right looks like he may need a good spanking.” Emily giggles as she drinks her cocktail, her constant swaying hinting she’s just a teeny bit intoxicated.
Okay, yes, I’m jealous. It sucks I can’t drink.
I realize as I stand among the three of them that I haven’t really introduced Debbie and my mom. They have been chatting quite animatedly, so I assumed they know of each other. This is awkward. How do you introduce two people who have shared a lover?
OMG, did I just refer to my dad as a lover? Stop Charlie, just stop.
“Mom, this is Debbie. Have you guys met?”
“No, but I know you are Mark’s girlfriend,” Mom clarifies with a pinched expression.
Is there a hint of jealousy in that remark?
“Mom, please…”
“Hi, Maria, it’s nice to finally meet you.” Debbie smiles.