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Though Nina had definitely ruined her diet during dinner, her plan to get Rodney fed, drunk, and happy worked. After eating, they’d navigated to the living room, and Nina loaded the dishwasher before joining them. The doorbell chimed, and she wiped her hands on a dish towel then headed to the front door.
Rodney had reached the door first and opened it. “Hello there, Stan. Come on in.”
Nina’s dad walked through the door, a pleasant surprise. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
Nina gave him a quick hug. “Not at all. We just had dinner.”
Her dad’s hazel eyes focused on her forehead. “Oh, heavens. What happened there?”
Nina touched the lump. She’d taken her hat off during dinner and had forgotten about it. “I banged my head pretty good in the closet. What are you up to?”
Laila skipped into the foyer, Bree and Miles behind her. “I knew I heard you, Grandpa Stan. What are you doing here?”
Nina’s dad reached into a brown paper bag. “I guess I’m bringing you kids dessert. Good thing I brought a dozen. I hope I’m not interrupting the party.”
“Of course you’re not interrupting. It’s not a party. Come in,” Nina said.
Nina’s dad handed out chocolate chip cookies to the kids. Still handsome, he kept his salt-and-pepper hair short and his goatee trimmed. Seeing her dad always made her wonder what Isaiah would have looked like as an older man.
“Nina, do you have a minute?” her dad asked once the kids had gone back to the living room.
“Of course. Let’s go in the kitchen. I’m almost done cleaning up after dinner. Excuse us, Rod,” Nina said before heading back to the kitchen. The evening was turning out really well, and having her dad stop by only made it better.
Her dad took a seat at the table, and Nina did the same. “What’s going on, honey?”
Nina didn’t understand the question or the worry in her dad’s eyes. “What do you mean?”
He pulled up his phone’s email and handed it to Nina—a message from her, sent that morning. “I need your help, Dad. I can’t talk now, but please, come over when you can.”
A chill coursed down Nina’s spine, and she dropped the phone. “I didn’t send that.”
Her dad held up the phone. “It’s from you, Nina. I’m here to help, but I need you to open up to me. Does this have something to do with your forehead?”
“No. I mean... I don’t know...” Nina’s thoughts were jumbled.
Her dad touched Nina’s hand. “Please, don’t make the same mistake that Isaiah made, thinking he could handle it on his own. You asked for help, and I’m here.”
“Dad, seriously. I don’t remember sending that.” Nina stood and paced the kitchen. She tried to recall every minute of the morning. She’d gotten ready then drove to St. Timothy’s but couldn’t for the life of her place sending the email. She stopped. A thought crossed her mind: had someone hacked her email account? But a hacker couldn’t possibly know intimate details of her life like last-minute changes when picking up the girls from school or the type of flowers her mom liked. She rubbed the back of her neck. That sounded paranoid. No, no one hacked her account. She sat back down. “I don’t know what’s going on. I just don’t know.”
“It’s okay. I’m here, and we’ll figure this out. You have the appointment with your psychiatrist Monday, so maybe he can help straighten this out.” He seemed concerned, not accusatory.
“Yes. I think he will be able to help.” Nina’s voice gave away that she didn’t fully believe her words.
“Good, honey.” Her dad drew a deep breath then released it. “I know this time of year is hard for you. It’s hard on all of us. Has that been getting you down?”
Nina had been trying not to think about it, but the approaching anniversary of Isaiah’s death still affected her. “Maybe. I haven’t been feeling quite like myself.”
“Ever since everything happened, I’ve never quite felt like myself again.” Tears came to her dad’s eyes.
Nina had to look away. She couldn’t stand seeing her dad so sad. “I thought it’s supposed to get easier.”
Her dad cleared his throat. “I didn’t mean to ruin your evening. It’s been a long week, and I made plans to get drinks with a couple of friends tonight. I’m going to go, but please, call me any time.”
They both stood, and Nina hugged her dad tightly. “I will.”
They walked back through the house, and her dad said goodbye to everyone before stopping at the door. “You’ll be fine, Nina.”
His voice lacked confidence.
“Yeah, I will be,” Nina said, equally unsure.
“Nina, you coming back in here?” Deja called from the living room.
Nina didn’t want to go back to the living room. She wanted to run far away from everyone—but especially herself. She’d worked so hard to make this evening perfect, but her mind had a way of sabotaging all her efforts.
“Nina?” Deja called again.
Nina had to get herself together. “I’m coming.”
Loud neo-soul music flowed from the speakers in the living room where Rodney danced with the girls, twirling them in circles.
Next to them, Deja stepped side to side with the music. “One two, one two,” she instructed Miles, bobbing her shoulders. “Feel the music.”
Nina sank onto the couch. Everyone was having a great time, and she’d be damned if she would be the one who would spoil it.
“September” came on next. “This is my jam.” Rodney snapped and picked up his steps. “My momma used to love this song!”
Deja stopped dancing. “What song is this?”
“What song is this? You’ve never heard of Earth, Wind, and Fire?” Rodney held out his hand. “Let me show you how it’s done, youngster.”
Deja placed her hand in Rodney’s, and Miles and the girls watched from the loveseat. Dipping his shoulders and swinging his hips, Rodney sang aloud. Deja caught the beat, shimmying and snapping the fingers of her free hand. They fell into a groove, Rodney taking a step toward her, Deja taking a step back, then vice versa. As the song climaxed, Rodney dipped Deja. When he brought her back up, he must have miscalculated, because she ended up only a few inches from his face. The scene with the two of them in the kitchen flashed through Nina’s mind.
Nina clapped her hands, not sure if it was to break them up or show she enjoyed their dancing, which she didn’t. Her husband and friend’s dancing belonged in a nightclub, not her living room.
Deja dropped Rodney’s hand and stepped away from him and toward Nina. “Nina, get up here with us.”
Nina didn’t move. “No, thanks.”
Deja danced to Nina and tried to pull her onto her feet. “Come on.”
“I said no,” Nina snapped, all desire to socialize completely gone.
“Okay.” Deja sat on the couch next to Nina, and Rodney joined them, sitting on Nina’s other side. Deja removed her phone from her pocket, held out the camera, and aimed it. “Say cheese.” She snapped a picture of the three of them.
Nina hadn’t even had a chance to smile, though she probably wouldn’t have. The kids jumped onto their parents’ laps.
“Take another one, Auntie Deja,” Laila said.
Deja obliged then passed the phone around for everyone to see the pictures.
“I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.” Rodney wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Nina’s sour mood lifted. If Rodney was happy with her, the night hadn’t been in vain.
“Thanks, Deja,” Rodney finished.
The last straw broke for Nina. She rose from the couch. “I’m pretty tired. And the girls should be getting to bed. Let’s call it a night.”
“I’m not tired at all,” Deja said, her words a little slurred.
“Yeah, why don’t you go ahead? We’re not ready. Right, girls?” Rodney said.
“Nope,” Bree said. “I can stay up all night.”
“It’s been a long week, and it’s time for everyone to go home.” Nina surprised herself with the stern tone she usually reserved for the girls. But she wouldn’t go to bed and leave a drunk Deja alone with Rodney.
“Yeah, you’re right, Nina,” Deja said. “It’s getting late, and the kids have gym class in the morning.” Deja rose and held her hand out to her son. “Miles, say good night, and let’s get ready to go.”
“Do we have to go, Mommy?” Miles whined.
“Oh, come on.” Rodney’s eyes pleaded with Deja. He clearly was either not ready for the party to end or not ready to part with Deja.
“Yes. We have to go.” Deja broke her gaze with Rodney then smiled at Nina. “Thanks for dinner, girl. Have a good night.”
Without answering, Nina headed to her bedroom. After the evening’s turn of events, a good night was the last thing Nina would have.