It's All Relative 24
It’s All Relative 24
Author: hawkbehere (hawkbehere2@yahoo.com)
Rated PG
Summary: A short chapter. Let’s get this party started…
A/N: Sorry so short. Love to Rosemary for the once over. I adore the English. Always have, actually, but that’s another and lifelong story. All mistakes are mine. Love to Z and to Martha.
***
The Castillos showed up at four, which astonished Miranda. They weren’t the sort of people to whom the phrase ‘fashionably late’ had ever occurred. Andy was delighted that Miranda accepted this with tact. “Thank God you’re here! Finally, people with manners. My other guests obviously think time is relative. Juan Carlo? The girls have been waiting for you all day. Something about Wii before the food? Carlo?” She whispered this to him, “I adore Richard and Sam but I think they’re going to set the grill on fire-and I don’t mean that in a good way. Could you help them?” He nodded, in the gravely serious manner most men did about grilling and headed toward them as Wanda laughed, “You are, what do you say? You’re very good, Miranda.”
“I’m better than good, lady. Beside the Wii, Andy’s trying to explain to the children that volleyball is something you can actually play on grass in clothing, instead of on a beach in next to nothing. Let’s cut vegetables. I think Magdalena will allow us that although you’ve lived with us and you know we have to be careful with knives.”
“Si-she is one to keep the eyes on, I agree.”
“Are you blackening my name yet again, Miranda Priestly?”
“Magdalena Vargas? Whatever could you mean? I was just bringing in Wanda to help with the vegetables.”
Magdalena glared at Miranda but smiled at Wanda. “Cut them-size them for the kebabs. That one,” she said, pointing a very sharp knife at Miranda, “No. She can not be trusted. Out of my kitchen!”
Miranda shrugged and patted Wanda, “Don’t say I didn’t try.”
***
Nigel showed up next, with two bottles of wine and wearing jeans, a shirt and sweater that might have seemed casual enough if you didn’t know how much they cost, which Andy did.
“Nice duds, casual boy.”
“Please. A girl has to try-I wracked my brain going through my closet.”
“First time you’ve been there, I guess-your closet, I mean.”
“Me-ow. Engagement suits you, Six. You look cute, too.” As they walked through the house and onto the back terrace, he said, “C’mon. Introduce me to the uber-males and we’ll get the machismo part over with.”
“They’re all very nice guys. I mean, of course I’m partial to my dad and brother-”
“The hottie?”
“Yeah. And I’d wish you luck but I’m not hopeful-he keeps thinking he’s straight.”
“Pity.”
“Exactly. But Carlo’s fantastic, too. So no worries. All friends here.”
As she introduced them, she was fascinated yet again by how easily Nigel could turn his ‘gayness’ off-totally off. It hurt her to realize he must have had to learn to do so very early in his life and, in some cases, for his personal safety. It hurt her more deeply to think this lovely man could not be himself until he was absolutely sure of his surroundings. She hugged him tightly as she introduced him to the three men.
Nigel perused the grill and asked, “What’s cooking, Six?”
“Steaks and kebabs and then some veggies in foil.”
“Yes. Right. The grill’s certainly large enough for all three. Bank most of the charcoal toward the back for the steaks, less in the middle for the kebabs and least of all toward the front for the veg. That way we can cook them all in one go. Don’t you agree, gentlemen?”
They all nodded as if this had been exactly what they were thinking and Andy grinned. Nigel would be just fine.
The next people to show up were Emily and Serena. Audrey, Andy and Miranda were putting flowers on the table outside as the two women walked onto the terrace. Sam immediately joined them, as he’d always been magnetized by beautiful women. He took one look and said, “Jesus H. Christ on a cracker.” Andy laughed and said, “There goes my hope of any attention from Miranda tonight.”
“What do you mean?” Audrey’s tone was slightly chilly.
“Well, look at her. Emily’s gorgeous but Serena is…Serena. Miranda has an enormous Runway crush on her.”
“I do not.”
“Oh, please. You do.”
Miranda ignored her and crossed the lawn to greet them. Serena was as she always was-serene. Miranda was a bit concerned that Emily might hyperventilate when she kissed her cheek but she was determined to be what Andy wanted her to be. Emily was dressed in casual, yet wildly expensive clothing, just as Nigel was. Serena was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt that Miranda could only imagine had come from a thrift store and she looked like ten million dollars. She cursed internally. Andy was right. She did have a Runway crush.
“I’m so glad both of you could come. You’re both looking as lovely as usual.” She glared at Serena who smiled at her and said in her lilting accent, “And I know, Miranda. You needn’t remind me with that look. Snap snap goes the camera. Very soon.”
Miranda opened her mouth, paused and closed it. Serena smiled. It was rare that people got the drop on her but Serena had always had that propensity. Emily never seemed to notice this because, as Andy had beaten into her head, the Englishwoman had a Runway crush of her own.
Meanwhile, Sam was telling his sister and mother, “They are hot with a capital Hawt. Day-umm.”
“That’s the Emily? She’s really pretty-she doesn’t seem-“
“Mom? Give us about five minutes together and you’ll find out how she seems. She really, truly can’t stand me.”
“Why?”
“Hell, I don’t know-the sky is blue? Grass is green?”
“Why’d you invite her then?”
“Because I can’t help it. I adore Emily.”
Andy rushed out and greeted Serena happily and faux-hugged Emily, which she knew was about the most the woman could tolerate.
Audrey moved forward because this was her child, after all, and said, “I’m so glad to meet you both. I hope you’ve heard the happy news.” She held Andy’s hand up for Emily’s perusal and the Englishwoman paled. She didn’t keep her composure however, “Oh, fantastic! There we go-a ring. And an over the top one as well. Good luck with that, princess.”
Audrey wasn’t necessarily happy about the engagement, wasn’t joyful, wasn’t anything she knew she should have been but she was, no matter what, protective of her children. “Yes, Miranda has made yet another good decision. My daughter. You never doubt Miranda, do you?” Ouch. That was a shot across the bow. Andy knew her mother was many things but stupid wasn’t one of them.
Serena looked from Andy to Emily to Audrey, “No. She never does. Never,” she said firmly.
Emily nodded and stalked away.
Serena smiled sweetly and said, “I apologize for her manners. She’ll be fine when she gets used to it. There are some things that remain hard for her.”
Audrey nodded at Serena, “I understand but I hate spoil sports.”
Serena smiled, “As do I, Audrey. That won’t happen. She’ll be fine. I can handle it. I’m far better than I look.”
“That would be hard.”
Serena smirked, “I see. My reputation precedes me?”
“A little.”
“Mom!?”
“Serena? Nothing is more enjoyable than embarrassing your adult child.”
“Perhaps I’ll have that pleasure someday-if not, I’ll be happy to watch you and your daughter. I’m sorry for Emily. Congratulations.” She leaned forward and kissed Andy on the cheek, which made the young woman blush scarlet.
Serena perused her for a few seconds, “My my. Look at that. Incarnadine truly suits you, Andy.”
Andy shook her head to clear it, “That’s something Miranda says…”
Serena waved one hand, “Does she? Yes? Well, great minds and all. Let me chase down my love and put a drink in her hand. Something to soothe the English beast. It’s lovely to meet you, Audrey.”
As they watched Serena cross the lawn, Audrey said, “That’s the single sexiest human I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“MOM!!”
“Is she not?”
“Well…yeah. Of course she is. But a mom doesn’t say sexy-and not about a girl.”
“You have so little room to talk about that. We both need a drink.”
“A drink? I need a fifth of vodka. Never say the word sexy again. You hear me?”
Audrey only laughed.
***
Doug and Lily showed up to general whoops of glee from the entire Sachs family. Before the serious grilling began, Doug pulled Caroline onto his back as she brandished a plastic sword. Juan Carlo looked terribly undecided and his father said, “Juan Carlo? Carry Cassidy-you are strong. You will win.” The tiny boy let Cassidy climb onto his back with her plastic sword and the four of them fought and parried marvelously.
Carlo was sitting next to Nigel as they watched the play and nursed their beers.
“I know what you think. I make my son do things he should not.”
Nigel, who’d been thinking exactly that, said, “I don’t have the right to talk about children. I don’t have them.”
“You have the right-you were a child once, no?”
Nigel glanced at Carlo and said, “Yes. I was a child.”
Carlo took a sip of his beer and exhaled heavily. “I can not speak the best English. My Wanda and my Juan Carlo speak better. I tell my boy these things. If he wants to read, let him read. If he wants to play the music, I will take another job for the lessons. If he wants to dance, let him. But he is small and he wants to be big so I try to say the things that will make him proud. He can carry that girl but you see? He was afraid. A father should make his son feel proud. That is what I want for my son. A father who sees him.”
Nigel felt tears stinging his eyes and he took a sip of his beer. Carlo looked at him as he said, “I am a simple man but I hope to be a good one. If my son grew up to be a good man and a happy man exactly-exactly like you are, Nigel, I would be a very proud father.”
Nigel wanted to cry but he only sniffled a little, took a sip of his beer and said, “God, I wish you’d been my father.”
Carlo laughed and said, “I hope that doesn’t mean you want me to be your daddy.”
The mischief in Carlo’s eyes nearly made Nigel spit his beer on his sweater. He respected cashmere too much for that but it was a close call.
“Please tell me there’s a reason you know gay vernacular beside the obvious.”
“Oh, si. When my Wanda told me about Miranda and Andy, I did the Google. My son has taught me. I don’t want to be ignorant-you see? People listen to me and they think I am a stupid. I am not but they don’t understand. They are ignorant. It hurts you when people don’t know you. So I did the Google to know how to be with them.”
Nigel shoulder bumped Carlo and said, “You’re seriously on my team in volleyball, man.”
“We will crush them like roaches.”
****
NEXT CHAPTER
Author: hawkbehere (hawkbehere2@yahoo.com)
Rated PG
Summary: A short chapter. Let’s get this party started…
A/N: Sorry so short. Love to Rosemary for the once over. I adore the English. Always have, actually, but that’s another and lifelong story. All mistakes are mine. Love to Z and to Martha.
***
The Castillos showed up at four, which astonished Miranda. They weren’t the sort of people to whom the phrase ‘fashionably late’ had ever occurred. Andy was delighted that Miranda accepted this with tact. “Thank God you’re here! Finally, people with manners. My other guests obviously think time is relative. Juan Carlo? The girls have been waiting for you all day. Something about Wii before the food? Carlo?” She whispered this to him, “I adore Richard and Sam but I think they’re going to set the grill on fire-and I don’t mean that in a good way. Could you help them?” He nodded, in the gravely serious manner most men did about grilling and headed toward them as Wanda laughed, “You are, what do you say? You’re very good, Miranda.”
“I’m better than good, lady. Beside the Wii, Andy’s trying to explain to the children that volleyball is something you can actually play on grass in clothing, instead of on a beach in next to nothing. Let’s cut vegetables. I think Magdalena will allow us that although you’ve lived with us and you know we have to be careful with knives.”
“Si-she is one to keep the eyes on, I agree.”
“Are you blackening my name yet again, Miranda Priestly?”
“Magdalena Vargas? Whatever could you mean? I was just bringing in Wanda to help with the vegetables.”
Magdalena glared at Miranda but smiled at Wanda. “Cut them-size them for the kebabs. That one,” she said, pointing a very sharp knife at Miranda, “No. She can not be trusted. Out of my kitchen!”
Miranda shrugged and patted Wanda, “Don’t say I didn’t try.”
***
Nigel showed up next, with two bottles of wine and wearing jeans, a shirt and sweater that might have seemed casual enough if you didn’t know how much they cost, which Andy did.
“Nice duds, casual boy.”
“Please. A girl has to try-I wracked my brain going through my closet.”
“First time you’ve been there, I guess-your closet, I mean.”
“Me-ow. Engagement suits you, Six. You look cute, too.” As they walked through the house and onto the back terrace, he said, “C’mon. Introduce me to the uber-males and we’ll get the machismo part over with.”
“They’re all very nice guys. I mean, of course I’m partial to my dad and brother-”
“The hottie?”
“Yeah. And I’d wish you luck but I’m not hopeful-he keeps thinking he’s straight.”
“Pity.”
“Exactly. But Carlo’s fantastic, too. So no worries. All friends here.”
As she introduced them, she was fascinated yet again by how easily Nigel could turn his ‘gayness’ off-totally off. It hurt her to realize he must have had to learn to do so very early in his life and, in some cases, for his personal safety. It hurt her more deeply to think this lovely man could not be himself until he was absolutely sure of his surroundings. She hugged him tightly as she introduced him to the three men.
Nigel perused the grill and asked, “What’s cooking, Six?”
“Steaks and kebabs and then some veggies in foil.”
“Yes. Right. The grill’s certainly large enough for all three. Bank most of the charcoal toward the back for the steaks, less in the middle for the kebabs and least of all toward the front for the veg. That way we can cook them all in one go. Don’t you agree, gentlemen?”
They all nodded as if this had been exactly what they were thinking and Andy grinned. Nigel would be just fine.
The next people to show up were Emily and Serena. Audrey, Andy and Miranda were putting flowers on the table outside as the two women walked onto the terrace. Sam immediately joined them, as he’d always been magnetized by beautiful women. He took one look and said, “Jesus H. Christ on a cracker.” Andy laughed and said, “There goes my hope of any attention from Miranda tonight.”
“What do you mean?” Audrey’s tone was slightly chilly.
“Well, look at her. Emily’s gorgeous but Serena is…Serena. Miranda has an enormous Runway crush on her.”
“I do not.”
“Oh, please. You do.”
Miranda ignored her and crossed the lawn to greet them. Serena was as she always was-serene. Miranda was a bit concerned that Emily might hyperventilate when she kissed her cheek but she was determined to be what Andy wanted her to be. Emily was dressed in casual, yet wildly expensive clothing, just as Nigel was. Serena was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt that Miranda could only imagine had come from a thrift store and she looked like ten million dollars. She cursed internally. Andy was right. She did have a Runway crush.
“I’m so glad both of you could come. You’re both looking as lovely as usual.” She glared at Serena who smiled at her and said in her lilting accent, “And I know, Miranda. You needn’t remind me with that look. Snap snap goes the camera. Very soon.”
Miranda opened her mouth, paused and closed it. Serena smiled. It was rare that people got the drop on her but Serena had always had that propensity. Emily never seemed to notice this because, as Andy had beaten into her head, the Englishwoman had a Runway crush of her own.
Meanwhile, Sam was telling his sister and mother, “They are hot with a capital Hawt. Day-umm.”
“That’s the Emily? She’s really pretty-she doesn’t seem-“
“Mom? Give us about five minutes together and you’ll find out how she seems. She really, truly can’t stand me.”
“Why?”
“Hell, I don’t know-the sky is blue? Grass is green?”
“Why’d you invite her then?”
“Because I can’t help it. I adore Emily.”
Andy rushed out and greeted Serena happily and faux-hugged Emily, which she knew was about the most the woman could tolerate.
Audrey moved forward because this was her child, after all, and said, “I’m so glad to meet you both. I hope you’ve heard the happy news.” She held Andy’s hand up for Emily’s perusal and the Englishwoman paled. She didn’t keep her composure however, “Oh, fantastic! There we go-a ring. And an over the top one as well. Good luck with that, princess.”
Audrey wasn’t necessarily happy about the engagement, wasn’t joyful, wasn’t anything she knew she should have been but she was, no matter what, protective of her children. “Yes, Miranda has made yet another good decision. My daughter. You never doubt Miranda, do you?” Ouch. That was a shot across the bow. Andy knew her mother was many things but stupid wasn’t one of them.
Serena looked from Andy to Emily to Audrey, “No. She never does. Never,” she said firmly.
Emily nodded and stalked away.
Serena smiled sweetly and said, “I apologize for her manners. She’ll be fine when she gets used to it. There are some things that remain hard for her.”
Audrey nodded at Serena, “I understand but I hate spoil sports.”
Serena smiled, “As do I, Audrey. That won’t happen. She’ll be fine. I can handle it. I’m far better than I look.”
“That would be hard.”
Serena smirked, “I see. My reputation precedes me?”
“A little.”
“Mom!?”
“Serena? Nothing is more enjoyable than embarrassing your adult child.”
“Perhaps I’ll have that pleasure someday-if not, I’ll be happy to watch you and your daughter. I’m sorry for Emily. Congratulations.” She leaned forward and kissed Andy on the cheek, which made the young woman blush scarlet.
Serena perused her for a few seconds, “My my. Look at that. Incarnadine truly suits you, Andy.”
Andy shook her head to clear it, “That’s something Miranda says…”
Serena waved one hand, “Does she? Yes? Well, great minds and all. Let me chase down my love and put a drink in her hand. Something to soothe the English beast. It’s lovely to meet you, Audrey.”
As they watched Serena cross the lawn, Audrey said, “That’s the single sexiest human I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“MOM!!”
“Is she not?”
“Well…yeah. Of course she is. But a mom doesn’t say sexy-and not about a girl.”
“You have so little room to talk about that. We both need a drink.”
“A drink? I need a fifth of vodka. Never say the word sexy again. You hear me?”
Audrey only laughed.
***
Doug and Lily showed up to general whoops of glee from the entire Sachs family. Before the serious grilling began, Doug pulled Caroline onto his back as she brandished a plastic sword. Juan Carlo looked terribly undecided and his father said, “Juan Carlo? Carry Cassidy-you are strong. You will win.” The tiny boy let Cassidy climb onto his back with her plastic sword and the four of them fought and parried marvelously.
Carlo was sitting next to Nigel as they watched the play and nursed their beers.
“I know what you think. I make my son do things he should not.”
Nigel, who’d been thinking exactly that, said, “I don’t have the right to talk about children. I don’t have them.”
“You have the right-you were a child once, no?”
Nigel glanced at Carlo and said, “Yes. I was a child.”
Carlo took a sip of his beer and exhaled heavily. “I can not speak the best English. My Wanda and my Juan Carlo speak better. I tell my boy these things. If he wants to read, let him read. If he wants to play the music, I will take another job for the lessons. If he wants to dance, let him. But he is small and he wants to be big so I try to say the things that will make him proud. He can carry that girl but you see? He was afraid. A father should make his son feel proud. That is what I want for my son. A father who sees him.”
Nigel felt tears stinging his eyes and he took a sip of his beer. Carlo looked at him as he said, “I am a simple man but I hope to be a good one. If my son grew up to be a good man and a happy man exactly-exactly like you are, Nigel, I would be a very proud father.”
Nigel wanted to cry but he only sniffled a little, took a sip of his beer and said, “God, I wish you’d been my father.”
Carlo laughed and said, “I hope that doesn’t mean you want me to be your daddy.”
The mischief in Carlo’s eyes nearly made Nigel spit his beer on his sweater. He respected cashmere too much for that but it was a close call.
“Please tell me there’s a reason you know gay vernacular beside the obvious.”
“Oh, si. When my Wanda told me about Miranda and Andy, I did the Google. My son has taught me. I don’t want to be ignorant-you see? People listen to me and they think I am a stupid. I am not but they don’t understand. They are ignorant. It hurts you when people don’t know you. So I did the Google to know how to be with them.”
Nigel shoulder bumped Carlo and said, “You’re seriously on my team in volleyball, man.”
“We will crush them like roaches.”
****
NEXT CHAPTER