Yancey's Engagement Party

We didn’t arrive at my parents’ until 5:20. The backyard had full decorations—twinkling fairy lights draping across the area, casting a soft, golden glow; lanterns with flickering candles placed along the garden path. At the entrance sat a framed sign reading YANCEY & CHRISTIAN in bold, black letters.

The young man on the guitar played soft acoustic music, sounding like a ballad to Taylor Swift’s Lover. We saw Mom talking to Katrina—the maid—and other staff about the food, welcoming guests as they showed up.

She came over to give us a hug, kissing me on the forehead. “It’s nice seeing you here so soon. Both of your dresses look stunning! Where did you get them from?”

“We went to Target a while back,” I replied. “Yancey helped me pick this one out, and I helped Lyndsay get this one.”

“Target has the best deals and offers.” Lyndsay grinned.

“I can tell.” Mom gave me another hug. “It’s great to see you here already. We’re almost through putting together the food, and once that’s done and over with, we’ll begin. Great job doing your sister’s hair yesterday.”

“Thanks,” I said. “She and the girls stopped by—Jena, Alyce, and Blaire.”

“I know. We can’t wait to see them here with us. Make yourselves comfortable inside the tent for now.”

“Will do, Mom. Thanks.”

As Lyndsay and I went inside the tent to greet Dad, we saw how gorgeous the decorations looked—each round table with a vase consisting of lavenders, white roses, and soft pink peonies, arranged in champagne-colored linens with Chiavari chairs.

Dad came over to give us a hug. “Your dresses, girls… What can I say?”

“Only from Target,” I said playfully, and we laughed.

“That I figured. Once the food is done and ready, we can grab ourselves some appetizers. In the meantime, let’s just sit back, relax, and enjoy some nice music to kill some time until the others get here.”

“Don’t mind if we do,” Lyndsay said as she and I took our seats at a table not reserved for Yancey and Christian.

We sat there, thinking there’s no way this was all Yancey’s idea of “casual.” The decorations looked a little over-the-top to be considered casual, the way Yancey wanted it. I knew right then and there she had some parental influence. I wondered what she’d wear, but at this point, nothing about her surprised me anymore. Just another hour or so of this, and I’d be on my way to meet with Darrin.

Darrin… I hadn’t messaged him at all today.

No cute, lighthearted messages or remarks about what I was wearing or how I looked. I wondered if he still planned to keep true to his promise for whatever “surprise” he had for me.

As time went by, more people began showing up, which not only included Jena, Alyce, and Blaire, but also more of Yancey’s friends from school and wherever else. Jena wore a pink, spaghetti-strap floral dress; Alyce a strapless yellow top with a black skirt, and Blaire a three-quarter-sleeved lavender top revealing a tiny bit of her belly piercing, and jeans.

Yancey and Christian showed up together, and I hated to admit it, but she looked stunning. She wore a white dress blouse with black pants and flats, looking semi-casual—her hair styled in the same neat blow-out we’d given her and her friends at the salon yesterday. I guess that was her own idea of dressy casual.

Christian, on the other hand, wore a white dress shirt and dark blue pants and black dress shoes. Okay, so they didn’t flaunt their outfits, but it seemed to match the general mood of what they wanted. His family and friends showed up, and for the first time, I was able to confirm that Christian was, indeed, biracial—white mother, black father.

At this point, we all began to acquaint ourselves with each other. Lyndsay and I introduced ourselves to the Lewises. His mother was Melinda, and his father was Calvin; he had an older brother, Paul. I noticed the striking resemblance between the Lewis brothers; the only main difference was their hair—Christian’s was shaved, while Paul had some curls.

Paul jokingly told me, “He looks just like me without the curls. His hair used to be more like an Afro, actually.”

“Is that so?” I smiled.

“Yeah, let me show you some pics.” Paul grinned as he showed me younger photos of himself and Christian. He told me Christian’s hair looked more like an Afro, then curled before shaving it off to look “more professional” for law school and the general law profession. I had to admit; he was super cute, as my sister’s fiancé. I could see why he’d felt the need to shave off some of that hair to look professional for law school. Apparently, you won’t be taken seriously in the law profession if you sport a very long hairdo. That made perfect sense.

“I miss those curls,” Paul chuckled, “but it’s totally cool and understandable. Law is all about appearance, so if he wants to make it, he certainly has a chance—now that he looks the part.”

“What got him interested in law in the first place?” I asked him as we went over to the buffet for appetizers.

“When we were little, our aunt and uncle were obsessed with watching Law and Order, along with other law-related shows, so I don’t know… I guess something about watching a particular episode brought out a passion in Chris like nothing else. Which I know he didn’t discover until much later in law school.”

“Well, I guess he and I are different in that way.” I smiled. “Lyndsay and I love to watch Orange is the New Black. A complete opposite of a show like Law and Order that deals with catching the bad guys and bringing them to justice.”

“Agreed.” Paul nodded. “A show like that, which deals with incarcerated women. Opposites attract, but in a good way sometimes. He’s got Yancey involved in binge-watching the show with him whenever they get the chance. I really like that.”

I never really considered Yancey to be a fan of Law and Order. I thought of her pursuing law only as a favor to Mom to follow in her footsteps, but then again, it made perfect sense if she’s a fan of the show as well. “I like that, too,” I said.

By 6:00, our backyard was already packed with all the invited guests, most of whom I assumed might not make it to either the wedding ceremony or the reception itself. We’d just have to see, then. The guests included our aunts, uncles and cousins from Mom and Dad’s sides, and I knew right in my heart Mom and Dad would use this as an opportunity to showcase Yancey as the “perfect” daughter who found love first and shove me off to the side like I was irrelevant and didn’t matter because I was older and still single.

For a whole hour, we ate the food and enjoyed the music. Sometime around 6:40, Darrin messaged me, saying he and his family were on their way to the hotel for Julia’s engagement party. I wanted to see if I could find someplace quieter to talk to him.

I said to Lyndsay, “Darrin just messaged me, giving me a little hint as to what our plans for tonight look like. Do you mind if I just go somewhere quiet to talk to him?”

“Not a problem, girl.” She smiled. “After all, you’re not the focus of the night, so you can be out for as long as you can until I come get your ass for the speeches and toast.”

“Anything but that.” I groaned playfully.

“It’ll be okay.” She held my hand. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll get up with you and we can both say something together. How about that? They need to know we’re helping Yancey plan all this.”

She had a great point. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” I shrugged. “Anyway, I won’t be out for long.”

“Take your time,” she said.

I grabbed my purse and went inside the house. My house, just as I remembered it before I moved in with Lyndsay to start cosmetology school. I went to my old bedroom—the way it had always been, before and after I left—and shut the door.

I gave Darrin a call, and he answered. “Missing me already, Barrenfeld?”

“So much.” I sighed wistfully.

“I’m in the car now, waiting for Owen to come out and stop being such a freaking slowpoke!” I heard him raise his voice, honking for emphasis. “Can you be a little slower here, Chapman?”

I laughed, finding it amusing for some reason.

“I’m coming, Schroeder!” I heard Owen yell in the background. “Sorry about that, man!”

“Is it that funny to you?” Darrin asked me as he laughed. “Damn, now you got me doing it, too!”

“What can I say, Schroeder? You’re a barrel of laughs to me.”

“A barrel of laughs? What is this, the 1950s? Where’d you hear an old-school phrase like that?”

“I don’t know, man… There’s this thing called the Internet that tells me this information.”

“Oh, ha-ha, real adorable. Now you’re a barrel of laughs, Barrenfeld!”

“I love you,” I said softly.

“Love you too.”

“I’m having a great time so far, hitting it off with Yancey’s friends, Christian’s friends and family. I just…” I sighed. “I’m supposed to give a maid of honor speech, and then I’m expected to stick around to listen to my parents brag about her greatness.”

“Ouch. That must sting, right?”

“Yeah, it does. I’d like to protect myself from the pain, but I don’t wanna give away that I’m in such a rush to leave, just so I can be with you. What am I supposed to do now, Darrin?”

“I can’t tell you that, Taylar. I wanna see how things go at Julia’s party before we can think about doing anything together. Just try to toughen it out, if you can. Don’t let anyone know how you really feel about Yancey’s life choices. I hope you hear me clearly right now.”

“I hear you. I guess I’m not the type of person to play pretend when I have to. I’m normally the type to speak up when something’s wrong. I’m not the passive little-girl type to just let things go.”

“Well, I think that’s what makes us both different from each other, but that’s another story for another time. I want you to remember what I’ve said before, Barrenfeld—always take a deep breath before you say or do anything. It helps you to stay calm so you don’t put too much stress on your heart, which is already weak enough as it is.”

I was speechless for a moment. “I know you’re right. I miss you, and I can’t wait to see how you look.”

“Can’t wait to see how you look. What, you won’t even send me a pic?”

“In your dreams, Schroeder.” I chuckled. “It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

“Ah, so now we’re playing that game of surprises?”

Owen’s voice came on the line. “Hi, is this Taylar?”

“Owen, silly!” I giggled. “Are you eavesdropping on a private conversation between your roommate and his girlfriend?”

“No, I am not!” Owen tried his best to deny it, but sounded more hilarious in the process. “I just happen to be an innocent bystander who’s overhearing this conversation.”

“Knock it off, Chapman,” Darrin said playfully. “Sorry about that, Taylar. Chapman just got inside the car now, so we’re heading over to the hotel. I’ll message you soon when we’re ready to leave, but for now, you go on and enjoy yourself as much as you can. I’ll do the same for my family’s sake. Is that a deal?”

“No problem! Thanks for chatting with me, Schroeder. Nice hearing from you too, Owen,” I added.

“I’m not here!” Owen cleared his throat.

“All right then, we’ll talk later, Barrenfeld. Farewell, my lady,” Darrin said in a fake British accent I found irresistible for a few seconds.

“Farewell, Romeo,” I said in a seductively fake Southern accent—or what’s supposed to sound like a Southern accent—before hanging up.