“Much better.” Allison answered her.
“And you, how is the knee?” She directed the question towards me.
“No problems.” I reassured her.
“Good.” Nicole smiled. “I have something to show you Allison.” Nicole was practically beaming.
“She doesn’t know yet?” Their Father inquired.
“No I was saving it as a surprise Pops.” Nicole reached in the pocket of her jeans a pulled out a plastic chip.
“Nikki your five year chip.” Allison swept her up in a hug. “I’m so proud of you little sister.”
“It is still one day at a time.” Nicole confessed as Allison released her. “I never thought I would see the day when I would earn this.” She said proudly as she clasped the chip in her hand.
“Great day in the morning!” Jefferson shouted once again. I couldn’t help but notice he was facing the window and not the television. “What is it Pops? Another bad play?” Allison teased him.
“No.” He answered sadly. “The whitest woman in America just pulled up.”
“Grandma’s here!” Allison and Nicole shouted in unison.
“Someone had better go and warn your Mother.” Jefferson advised gravely.
“I will.” Allison and Nicole jointly volunteered.
“Cowards.” Jefferson scoffed. “Go ahead then.” He said as he waved to his daughters.
“Wait the pool!” Nicole stopped us. “Drinking, homosexuality, democrats or those people? I will go with homosexuality.”
“Drinking.” Allison stated with a shake of her head. “She’ll be thirsty.”
“I’ll have to go with Nicole on this one.” Jefferson answered. “Sorry Allison but the new girlfriend.”
“She’s not my … ugh!” Allison groaned. “Never mind I’m sticking with drinking and I say ten minutes for those people.”
“Five.” Jefferson threw in.
“No way.” Nicole argued. “Matilda just left I’m going with fifteen.”
“Standard wager?” Their Father inquired.
“Of course.” Nicole answered.
“What the hell was that all about?” I asked in confusion as we made our way from the den down a long corridor. “Just wait.” Allison stated simply as we entered the kitchen. The kitchen was a mix of modern fixtures and colonial architecture. At the stove stood a woman with jet-black hair that appeared to be graying slightly. By her stature and chiseled features I could see just where Allison and Nicole had gotten their striking good looks. She flashed a familiar brilliant smile at us as we entered the kitchen. Seated in a wheel chair at the kitchen table was a tiny woman with gray hair. Her tanned features reminded me of something out of a southwestern painting.
“Allison.” Her mother greeted her pulling her eldest child into a warm embrace. “Gaia!” The woman called out. “Allison elle est ici!” The elderly woman simply smiled up at Allison. Allison made her way over and bent down and gently kissed the frail woman on the cheek. “So this is what families are suppose to be like?” I thought to myself as I watched them interact. “Mom this is my friend Stephanie Grant.” Allison introduced us.
“Welcome Stephanie.” Her Mother greeted me with a warm hug that surprised me greatly.
“It is very kind of you to invite me, Mrs. Kendell.” I offered.
“Pauline please.” She instructed me. “Gaia, je vous pesente Stephanie. Une amie de Allison.”
“No Mother.” Allison protested. “Did you put them up to this?” Allison asked Nicole in an accusing manner.
“Now would I do that?” Nicole chuckled as she climbed up to sit on one of the kitchen counters.
“Yes!” Allison scolded her. “You little rat.”
“Hush girls.” Pauline scolded her bickering daughters.
“Just what did I miss?” I had to ask since it appeared that the Kendell siblings were not going to volunteer any information.
“My Mother just introduced you as Allison’s girlfriend.” Nicole chuckled.
“Mom.” Allison began wearily. “Stephanie and I are just friends.”
“It’s true Mrs. Kendell.” I added finally deciding it was time to help Allison out.
“Pauline.” She corrected me. “Mrs. Kendell is my Mother-in-law.”
“Speaking of the wicked witch of the east.” Nicole cut in with an ominous tone. “She’s here.”
“Merde.” Pauline grumbled as her daughter’s eyes widen at her expression. Heck even I know that one. I could detect a slight Tsk from Gaia who obviously disapproved of her grandchild’s use of language. “Put me down for drinking and seven minutes.” Pauline announced.
Just then an extremely thin and overly pale woman burst into the kitchen. Although she was very well dressed there was something about her attire that just screamed of ostentatious ness. Perhaps it was the fur coat and jewels in the middle of the afternoon. That or the way her make up appeared to have been applied with a spatula. She was definitely trying to appear much younger than she was. Her attempt failed miserably.
“Why is it that I am forced to meet with my family in the cook’s area?” She demanded in a shrill tone.
“Because I’m cooking.” Pauline explained turning her attention back the stove.
“Children.” The woman snarled at Allison and Nicole.
“Good afternoon Mrs. Kendell Ma’am” The siblings responded absently in unison.
“Sorciere.” Allison muttered under her breath.
“What was that child?” Mrs. Kendell demanded.
“Do you really want to know?” Allison answered flatly while raising a single eyebrow in a challenging gesture.
The elderly woman wisely chose to ignore Allison’s challenge. “Nicole get off of that counter and fetch me a martini.” Mrs. Kendell ordered.
“Mother.” Jefferson spoke firmly. “I’ve explained to you before that we no longer keep alcohol in the house.”
“Nonsense.” She sniffed.
“You know that it is true and we do it out of respect for Nicole.” Jefferson asserted.
“Ridiculous.” She sniffed once again. “Why on earth would you do that?”
“Because I’m an alcoholic.” Nicole said dryly. “And everyone including myself is more comfortable with my living in a house where there isn’t any liquor.”
“There are no drunks in the Kendell family.” She protested in horror. As she did this money began to change hands around her. I watched as Nicole and Jefferson handed over twenty dollar bills to Allison and Pauline. “Now Nicole get down off of the counter and fetch me a martini.” I noticed something familiar in the manner in which Mrs. Kendell spoke. It was the same way the matrons back in New Haven spoke with their lips barely moving. They could be saying, ‘nice weather we are having’. Yet it always sounded like a put down.
“Our children have been allowed to sit on the counters since they could lift their bottoms up there.” Jefferson countered.
“It is uncivilized.” Mrs. Kendell chastised him. “And I repeat there are no drunks in the Kendell family.”
“That would explain Father’s twelve martini lunches.” Jefferson snickered.
“Don’t be fresh Jefferson.” She responded coldly. “I don’t know why I even bother coming over here? I just came over to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and once again I find myself being treated in a most unpleasant manner.”
“Mrs. Kendell we do not celebrate Thanksgiving out of respect for Gaia.” Allison spat out in a terse manner.
“Please.” Mrs. Kendell scoffed. “The poor thing does not even speak English.”
I looked over to where Gaia was sitting happily shelling peas. She seemed quite unaware of what was happening around her. For the briefest of moments I wish I could be as oblivious as her. It was quite clear that Jefferson’s mother was a first class snob who didn’t care about her family. It was also painfully clear by the reaction of her family that the household rules had been pointed out to her on more than one occasion. I did not like this woman, perhaps it was the way the temperature dropped the moment she entered the room.