A couple of dozen people mingled, danced, and sipped drinks in fancy glasses. The cathedral ceilings were painted in a vibrant gilded gold. The floor-to-ceiling windows were framed in deep mahogany wood that looked as opulent as the house itself.
“Girl!” Destiny said it all in just one word. Men in tailored suits and women in fabulous looks and flawless makeup enjoyed themselves. Conversation and laughter filled the room.
“He’s handsome,” Destiny said, gesturing toward the opposite corner of the room where a full bar had been set up. An older man stood talking to a group of people, all seeming to hang on to his every word.
“Cut it out. He looks old enough to be your father,” Sydney muttered under her breath.
Destiny frowned. “I just said he was handsome. Get your mind out the gutter.” She looked at him again. “I should hook him up with Mama.”
Sydney laughed. “Stop trying to hook us all up with Troy’s family. I heard you in the car.” She finally got the chance to pinch her cousin and she did so. Destiny squirmed. “Cut it out,” Sydney warned.
Destiny smiled guiltily. “I was just fishing for information. You hardly know this guy. Clearly.” She looked around them. “All this money came from barbershops and dry cleaners?”
Troy rejoined them after speaking with a few people nearby. He was wearing all black tonight, his suit seemingly custom-made for him.
“Thanks again for inviting us,” Sydney said. “This is a really beautiful home.”
“Thank you.” Troy nodded graciously.
“You grew up in this house?” Destiny asked, looking around in awe.
Troy nodded. “Yup. But, we didn’t get to hang out in here much. When we were kids, this room, the study, my parents’ bedroom—those were places kids weren’t allowed. You know how it is, right?”
Sydney nodded. She knew all too well. Georgi Scott had very clearly drawn the line, enforcing the rule that the living room and Georgi’s own bedroom were off-limits. If Sydney had company, she had to entertain them in her own room, the kitchen, or the yard. Destiny, though, had a different experience. Pat was much more liberal than her sister. Destiny slept in her mother’s bed even now.
They listened, intrigued, as Troy continued. “Me and Wes spent most of our time away from home. My mother had an apartment on the Upper East Side that she pretty much raised us in. This house was my father’s.” He looked at Sydney, almost apologetically. He knew that growing up without her own father she hadn’t been afforded the same luxuries. “I know it sounds crazy.” He shrugged. “My parents weren’t like a traditional couple. They lived apart most of the time. This house was more or less where they entertained. Or where my pops came when my mother was mad at him. We all spent weekends here when family was in town. But my mother was a simple woman. She preferred the smaller space, the closer feeling she got in that apartment.” He thought back on those days when his mother had reigned over the household like the queen that she was.
“My pops likes the limelight. The wow factor. When we were here, this room was where my father and his cronies would hang out. My mother and her friends would have parties here sometimes. Now that I’m grown, it still feels like I’m a little kid, sneaking downstairs to see who would drink too much, who would fight.”
They all laughed. Sydney and Destiny both glanced around, trying to imagine who it might be tonight. It was hard to picture any of these poised and polished people getting twisted.
Moreover, Sydney was amazed at the opulent life that Troy was living. She couldn’t believe that the cocky guy she had fallen for was connected to a very wealthy, successful, and powerful family. The possibility that Troy might be rich had never occurred to her.
“Is your father here?” Sydney asked.
Troy nodded. He gestured toward the older gentleman Destiny had noticed when they walked in. “That’s him.”
Sydney and Destiny both gasped. It seemed that each of the Mitchell men was finer than the last.
“What’s his name?” Sydney stared at the man she now allowed herself to admit was quite handsome. He stood now, speaking closely with a beautiful woman, who looked vaguely familiar. Sydney tried to recall where she had seen her before.
“William Mitchell. His friends call him—”
“Troy, there you are. Have you been hiding from me?”
He turned to find a lovely familiar face smiling up at him. She hugged him around his waist and he pulled her close, smiling at Sydney.
“This is my little cousin, Zoe. And this is my girl, Sydney, and her cousin Destiny.”
Sydney felt her heart race at his introduction of her. His girl.
“Your girl? What?” She stared at Sydney in wide-eyed amazement.
Sydney smiled at Zoe, trying hard to steady her racing heartbeat. “Nice to meet you, Zoe.”
“Nice to meet you, Sydney!” Zoe was beaming.
Sydney liked her already. She could see the resemblance between the cousins.
Troy smiled at her proudly. “Zoe’s my favorite member of this family to be honest. She’s a big brat, but she won’t admit it.”
The girl pouted in a mock tantrum, her arms folded across her chest in protest.
Sydney laughed.
“Whatever!” Zoe said. “How long have you had a girlfriend? And why am I just hearing about it?” She stared at him accusingly.
Troy’s father now joined their group.
“What’s up, Dad?” Wes grinned, but didn’t appear to Sydney to be especially excited to see the man.
“Wes.” Fox’s smile seemed more like a sneer.
Sydney watched them closely, wondering what the story was with these two. She recalled Troy mentioning that his father and brother shared a contentious relationship. Clearly that was true, judging by the unspoken tension between the two of them now.
Troy stepped forward. “Dad, this is Sydney. And this is her cousin, Destiny.”
Both ladies smiled at the handsome man and his eyes widened as he took them in.
“Sydney!” His smile was wide and sincere now. “Troy has told me all about you.”
Sydney’s heart raced. Troy had spoken about her! She wondered what he had said, how he had described her.
Troy had spoken of her, although he wasn’t pleased to hear his dad mention it now. Sydney was a name he uttered often lately. He really seemed to like this girl, which got his father’s attention. His father was eager to learn more about her.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Mitchell.”
He shook his head. “Call me Fox. ‘Mr. Mitchell’ makes me sound like an old man.”
Sydney smiled, nodding.
Fox looked at his son and winked. “She’s prettier than you described.”
Troy smiled, happy that Sydney had his dad’s approval.
Another man approached the group, and Sydney couldn’t help noticing how handsome he was. The man was tall like Troy and appeared to be in his midfifties with an unmistakable swagger. He had a deep ebony complexion and jet-black hair, his sideburns thick and perfectly lined, and his goatee full and beautiful. His eyes were deep-set, piercing, and thick eyebrows hooded them. He wore a dark suit with a charcoal gray shirt unbuttoned at the collar and no tie. To Sydney, he looked like a work of art.
Destiny’s mouth fell open at the sight of him and Sydney nudged her to snap her out of it. Destiny corrected herself quickly. But it was clear that both women were intrigued by the beautiful stranger in their midst.
Troy noticed their reactions and laughed.
“Ladies, this is my uncle, Don.” He gestured toward the women. “Uncle, this is my girlfriend Sydney Taylor and her cousin, Destiny.”
Don nodded in greeting. “Very nice to meet you, ladies.” His voice was deep like Barry White’s and Sydney got goosebumps.
“Don is my younger brother. But he still tries to boss me around.” Fox smiled as he said it, but Sydney knew some of their history. She was aware that, at least in Troy’s opinion, Don was the head of the family. Birth order did nothing to change that.
Don shrugged. “I’m just the voice of reason.”
“With that voice, you could reason with me anytime.” Destiny muttered it under her breath and looked Don up and down like a hawk.
Sydney smiled and discreetly pinched the shit out of her cousin.
“Oww!” Destiny said, squirming.
“Uncle Don, Sydney’s from Staten Island. Didn’t you say you used to date a girl from there back in the day?” Troy smiled at his uncle, recalling the stories he told him and Wes growing up.
Don nodded. “I did.” He looked at Sydney and winked, sending shivers up her spine. “Italian girl from New Dorp. She used to let me drive her car all the time.” He smiled, revealing a perfect set of teeth. “Red Camaro. I loved that car!”
Fox shook his head, laughing. “Don had them white girls going wild back then.”
Sydney and Destiny laughed. They both tried imagining how fine Uncle Don must have been in those days. Sydney noticed that, like his nephew Wes, Don didn’t smile much. But when he did, it made his handsome face absolutely irresistible.
A woman took the mic and announced that dinner was being served in the dining room down the hall. She urged the guests to make their way over.
Troy whispered in Sydney’s ear. “After dinner, I want you to come upstairs with me.”
She glanced at him with her eyes narrowed. “For what?” She wasn’t about to risk doing anything frisky and getting caught during her visit to Troy’s family home.
“I want to show you something,” he said, taking her by the hand. He led her toward the dining room, where guests were heading to dinner. She tried to imagine what he had up his sleeve. Along the way, Zoe caught up to them and whispered to Troy. Unable to hear their exchange, Sydney wondered what had Troy’s cousin so fired up.
Destiny was at her side again.
“Oh, my God, Sydney. All these men are so fine!” Destiny didn’t know which of the Mitchell men was the sexiest. “Damn! Did you see Uncle Don?”
Sydney laughed. She was glad that Destiny was here with her tonight. “I saw him,” she said, nodding. “Fox, too! I’m starting to feel like we should have brought both of our mothers here tonight. There’s a Mitchell man for all of us!”
Destiny laughed. She caught sight of Troy and his younger cousin whispering conspiratorially on the side. “You think she’s talking about you?”
Sydney shrugged. “Who knows? But, I’m not worried about it.” She smiled triumphantly. “I know Troy cares about me. I’m not too concerned about what anybody else thinks.”
Destiny nodded. “You’re right.”
They followed the stream of guests flowing into the formal dining room. As they made their way to their seats, Troy introduced Sydney to a few people whose names she tried to remember. Family, neighbors, and friends all found their places in the large room. The same floor-to-ceiling windows that dotted the rest of the home were present here as well. Two large chandeliers hung from the center of the ceiling. Directly beneath them was a long, grand Art Deco dining table. The head table had ten chairs on either side of it with one seat at each end of the table. The setting was exquisite. Tall candlesticks flickered from two extravagant candelabras in the center. Fox took a seat at one end of the table. Uncle Don sat at the other.
Sydney took note of where Troy and Wes opted to sit. Troy sat nearest to his father, while Wes took the seat closest to their uncle, Don. Sydney took a seat next to Troy and Destiny sat across from her.
“Mr. Mitchell, you have a beautiful home,” Destiny said.
Troy’s father smiled graciously. “Thank you.” A member of the staff whispered to him discreetly about wine choices.
Destiny spread her napkin in her lap like her mama taught her. She sipped her water and watched everyone at the table closely.
She saw Troy and Sydney whispering and laughing together. Zoe watched them, smiling. Destiny could tell that Zoe was like a little sister to Troy. Watching her smile at the young couple in love, she could see that the young lady meant Sydney no harm.
Uncle Don, meanwhile, sat back in his seat, looming large like the lord of the manor. Like Destiny, he surveyed the table, eyeing everyone and watching how they interacted. The two of them locked eyes and he offered her a weak smile. Destiny swooned and looked away shyly.
The guests began to indulge in the soup and salad that was served. It offered Destiny a welcome distraction from the penetrating gaze of Troy’s uncle. Looking into his eyes had shaken her. He had a gaze as if he could see right through you. As if he could read your whole life just by staring at you.
And then there was that voice! She trembled now as he addressed the room.
“Thank all of you for being here tonight. My brother doesn’t really see the need for us to throw this party year after year. But it’s important. To me, at least.”
He looked around at each guest at his table. His gaze settled on Sydney, then Destiny. She shifted in her seat, uncomfortable under the weight of his stare. Sydney seemed not to notice. She was too preoccupied with Troy’s stolen glances, his tickles, and whispers. The two of them could scarcely keep their hands off of each other.
Don continued. “Family is the most important thing in life. Good friends are, too. Most of you have been a part of the Mitchell family for many years. We trust one another. We look out for one another. We break bread together, prosper together.”
“I know that’s right!” some lady called out. Several of the guests laughed and cosigned the sentiment.
Don grinned. “My brother and I get a lot of the credit for the success this family has enjoyed over the years. But, truthfully, everyone in this room helps make it possible.” He raised his glass. “But this party every year is our tribute to all of you. There’s gifts for everyone, of course.” He smiled and several of the guests voiced their approval.
An immediate wave of alarm washed over Sydney. It had never occurred to her that she should bring a gift. It was a silly oversight. She had been so focused on looking good that she had come to the party empty-handed. Her head snapped in Troy’s direction, eyes wide.
“You didn’t tell me—”
“Don’t worry about it.” Troy smiled at her knowingly. “You didn’t need to bring anything. At the end of the night, after everybody leaves, my uncle gives us all the stuff they gave to him. It’s like a grab bag.”
Sydney relaxed then, but marveled at the same time. “What kind of things do they give him?” She wondered what kind of gift you would give a man like that.
Troy smiled while he chewed. It was an odd expression that he somehow still made sexy. “Cases of wine. Watches. Season tickets sometimes. He has everything he wants and then some.” He shrugged. “He doesn’t need their gifts.”
“What does he do again?” she asked.
Uncle Don’s voice interrupted them.
“Here’s a toast to all of you. You’re family whether you’re blood or not. And we appreciate you all for what you add to the mix.”
Everybody toasted. A few clinked glasses. Then they all took a drink. Sydney and Destiny indulged, too, smiling at each other giddily over the rims of their wineglasses.
Uncle Don looked at his brother. “Fox, you want to say something?”
Fox shrugged. A slow smile emerged on his handsome face. “Everybody knows I’m not the social one. I leave that up to Don. But I’m glad to see you all.”
A few people chuckled at Fox’s lukewarm greeting.
“Most of you are no strangers to this house. But for those of you who are”—he looked at Sydney and Destiny—“welcome. Make yourselves at home. Mi casa es su casa.”
The girls both thanked him for his hospitality. Sydney’s cheeks were sore from smiling.
“Troy, how long have you and Sydney been dating?” Zoe asked.
Sydney shifted in her seat, uncomfortable now that everyone’s gaze had shifted toward them. She focused her own eyes on Troy, wondering how he would respond to the question and to everyone’s scrutiny.
“Not long,” he said coyly. He looked at Sydney and smiled. “We met at school.”
A couple of “aah’s” and smiles fluttered around the table.
More bread came out and Destiny’s eyes darted around the room at all the servants scuttling about. One man in a black suit stood quietly observing. Destiny watched him make eye contact with Uncle Don. Watching closely, she saw Uncle Don give the very slightest nod of his head and the man in the suit gestured toward a member of the staff. Immediately, the wine came forth, the waitstaff refilling every glass.
Destiny was intrigued, but also slightly afraid of Troy’s uncle. She watched him closely, but was careful to avoid making direct eye contact with him. When he looked her way, she took another sip of her wine and pretended she liked it.
Uncle Don’s voice filled the big room again. “Sydney, this your first time in Harlem?”
All eyes turned toward her again. She dabbed at her mouth with her napkin before answering.
“No, of course not.” She scoffed a little. She sensed the condescension in his tone. “I’m not originally from Staten Island,” she said. Suddenly, the truth didn’t sound fancy enough. She wasn’t in the mood to defend her borough again. In this grand house, in the company of this grand family, she felt that her humble upbringing needed a little embellishing.
“I was born in Brooklyn,” she pointed out. “My family moved to Staten Island a few years ago.”
Destiny stopped chewing and looked at her cousin like she was crazy. The whole family had moved to Staten Island when Sydney and Destiny were in preschool.
“Is that right?” Uncle Don took a sip and sat back. “What part of Brooklyn?”
“East Flatbush.” She sipped her wine. She liked the taste of it.
“So, your family is from the grain.” Uncle Don smirked. “I had some friends out in East Flatbush back in the day.”
Sydney nodded. “Small world.” She smiled. “I’ve been to Harlem before. But I’ve never seen Harlem like this!” She looked around at the art, the opulence, and the beauty of the room and its occupants. More food was served. “You have a beautiful house, Mr. Mitchell, I mean, Fox.”
He winked at her. “Thank you. But if you like this house, you should see my brother’s place. Don has an apartment overlooking the whole city.”
Sydney glanced at Troy’s uncle, who shrugged his shoulders modestly, and continued to chew his food. “It’s aight.”
People laughed at that, including Wes. She noticed that, like his uncle, Wes seldom smiled.
“Uncle Don is being modest. He has the kind of life I want to have someday.” Wes looked at the man admiringly.
Destiny noticed the expression on his dad’s face, hearing his son say that. Fox seemed wounded by it.
“Your parents still together?” Uncle Don asked. He looked at Sydney, a smile in his eyes, but not on his lips. They were set in a line instead.
Destiny glanced at her cousin.
Sydney was feeling a buzz from her perpetually full glass of wine. She shook her head. “No.”
“You live with your mom?” Zoe butted in.
Sydney chided herself for not realizing sooner that Uncle Don was Zoe’s father. She could see the resemblance now as clear as day. She nodded.
“You have brothers and sisters?” Zoe was pushing it now and she knew it. She could sense Troy’s glare as his eyes bore into her. She did her best to avoid looking his way. She knew he wouldn’t appreciate her prying, but she was curious about the new chick he was calling his girlfriend.
“I have a brother. Malik. He’s older than me.” Sydney shoved some chicken in her mouth, hoping that eating would place a barrier between her and Zoe’s questions. It wasn’t that she had anything to hide. She just didn’t like having all eyes on her. She glanced at Troy, hoping he would throw her a lifeline.
He noticed. “Let her eat,” he said. He smiled at her reassuringly. This type of shit was why he never brought girls home. His family was close and their circle of friends wasn’t very wide. Anytime someone new was introduced to the group, their approach was often relentless.
He looked at Zoe. “Why don’t we talk about your boyfriend? What’s his name?”
Zoe’s eyes widened. She looked at her father defensively. “I’m not—I don’t have a boyfriend.” She had said something to him earlier about a boy she was hoping would ask her to prom. She damn sure hadn’t expected him to bring it up now in front of her father. She glared at Troy now as he smiled, chewing his food.
Troy was happy that his ploy to divert attention had worked. For the moment, at least.
Uncle Don didn’t take the hint.
“What’s your mama’s name?” he asked Sydney.
“Georgina.” She cleared her throat.
Uncle Don glanced at his brother. Fox locked eyes with him for a fleeting second. It was a small detail that happened quickly. But Destiny noticed.
“What’s she do for a living?” His curiosity had been piqued.
Sydney shrugged. “She does secretarial work sometimes. But for most of my life she was a stay-at-home mom.”
“Howard’s an expensive school,” Uncle Don said. “How can she afford to send you there?” He ate a little.
Sydney smiled, proud of her mother for the way she managed to hold things together in her father’s absence. “Honestly, I’m not sure how she does it. But she always seems to find a way to take care of me and my brother.” Sydney knew that her mother had a penchant for staying on top. She was always the one with the latest bag, shoe, or car. And she made sure that Sydney and Malik stayed dressed to impress. They had always attended the top private schools, participated in after-school activities, and had gone on family vacations several times over the years. Georgi never kept a job for long. But she had what Sydney believed was a considerable savings account. They had never wanted for much.
Uncle Don nodded. “And your father. What’s his name?”
Troy gave Uncle Don the side-eye. Don pretended not to notice.
Sydney thanked the woman who refilled her wineglass. “Quincy.”
A longer glance passed between Uncle Don and Fox then. Destiny caught it and wondered what that was about. Somewhere in the back of her mind, an alarm bell sounded. But a platter of mac and cheese arrived, distracting her easily.
“He live in Staten Island, too?” Fox asked.
Troy sucked his teeth. He knew the subject of Sydney’s father was a sore one. “Yo! What’s with all the questions?”
Sydney touched Troy’s arm. “It’s cool.” She smiled reassuringly and looked at his dad. “My father is upstate. He’s incarcerated.” She waited for the shocked reaction she usually got when she said that. Instead, she was met by the sympathetic expressions of people all too familiar with the life she was describing. “He’s doing twenty-five years,” she added for good measure.
Uncle Don stared at her blankly, one hand gripping his glass. “Quincy Taylor, huh?”
She nodded.
“What’s he in for?”
Sydney looked at her cousin. Destiny was torn. She wanted her cousin to deflect the question somehow. At the same time, she hoped Sydney wouldn’t feel any shame over her father’s misfortune. After all, for better or worse, he was her father. Uncle Quincy loved his family. There was no doubt about it.
Sydney looked at Troy. He shook his head.
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, Sydney.” His tone was low. But in the silence of the room, everybody heard it.
Sydney shrugged. Fuck it, she thought. “Robbery and murder.”
Zoe’s eyes grew wide again, though she had certainly heard that story before. She had seen a lot at her young age. Still, hearing that Troy’s new college girlfriend from Staten Island by way of Brooklyn had a little grit surprised her.
“Is that right?” Uncle Don said again. He sat back in his seat. This time he smiled the old-fashioned way. “It’s all good. Happens to the best of us sometimes.” He licked his lips, seemingly deep in thought. “Must have been tough on you, though. You must have been a little girl when he went away.”
Sydney nodded. “I was three years old. My brother was eight. But over the years we got to know him through visits, letters, phone calls. That kind of thing.” She took a sip of her wine, feeling a little more relaxed speaking on the subject now.
“How far up north is he?” Uncle Don gently prodded.
“Clinton Correctional. It’s up in—”
“Up by Canada,” Uncle Don finished for her. “I got a few friends up there. I’m familiar with the place.”
Sydney nodded, a bit relieved by that.
Troy glanced at his uncle, wondering why he had so many questions tonight. Usually, Uncle Don was laid-back, quiet. Tonight, he was uncharacteristically chatty. Troy wondered why. He glanced at his father. The expression on his face was unusual, too. He looked like a man who had suddenly lost his appetite.
Fox stared down at his plate, pushing his food around, thinking. He dared not look at his brother again. This was too good to be true.
“Well, this is heavy dinner conversation, Daddy.” Zoe looked at him with disapproval etched on her face. She caught herself and glanced at Sydney apologetically. “I’m sorry, Sydney. No offense. But I thought this was a holiday party.”
Fox nodded. “You’re right. Let’s all have dessert and open our gifts from Don. Maybe he’ll be feeling extra jolly this year. Santa’s been good to us.”
Uncle Don grinned. “Indeed.”