Autumn Chic Lit: Cafe Con Leche, Chapter 6

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 “Wait, Matt. You didn’t tell them I’m black?” I ask in disbelief. I’m sitting on my bed wearing pajamas as Matt dresses.

Our relationship has been great for the past three months. We’ve been through a lot, including last weekend’s brush with his desperate ex-girlfriend, but this weekend will be the ultimate test: our families are coming to town, to have dinner, together.

“No, but it’s not like I’m trying to hide it, I just haven’t said it in those words.” He pulls on his pants. I sigh, dreading tonight’s dinner even more. “I mean, Brittany knows, and I know she told them.” He says referring to his 17-year-old sister whom I met a few weeks ago when she came up to visit. She’s amazingly sweet and down-to-earth.

“You told Brittany to tell them?” I hand him his belt.

“They never asked what you looked like and she did, so I told her,” he says lamely.

I give him a “give me a break” look. “Please, Matt.”

“Okay.” He walks over to me, puts his hands on either side on my legs and kisses my forehead. “Honestly, Jo, I didn’t tell them because I wanted them to fall in love with you first, and not be clouded with judgments because of your race. Even Brittany thought it was a good idea.”

“So you had your sister tell them?” I ask, swooning a little despite myself as he runs his hands over my cornrows.

“Brittany’s the golden child, I had her say a lot of nice things about you for the past couple of weeks--not that the things aren’t true--and then she told them you’re black this morning at the hotel.”

I sigh.

“Look, Jo, she even sent me a text message after she did it.” He whips out his phone. “’I did it. Mom & Dad seem okay. Everything will be fine,” he reads from his phone.

It doesn’t make me feel any better that he and his little sister had to plan how to tell his parents my race.

“Look, I'm sorry I did all this, but I just don’t want to give them any reason not to be open to you.”

"Are your parents closed-minded?” I ask, no longer able to hold my tongue.

He sighs, as he always does before saying something that’s really hard for him to say. “No, but they’re old, and come from old money, so I don’t know what ideals they have ingrained in them. The only other girlfriend they met was Stacey. And they seemed to like her--well my mom didn’t really like her.”

“Well, she’s no dummy, that mom of yours.” I say with a scoff. He laughs.

“Jolisa, maybe they’re completely cool with it. Maybe Brittany and I don’t have enough faith in them.” He kisses my check and turns to finish dressing.

I hope, for my sake, that’s true.

*********

Matt leaves around 9am to meet his family for breakfast. I shower, dress and clean my room to get ready for the arrival of my family from eastern North Carolina. I pause briefly to smell Matt’s shirt, and then place it on his overnight bag in the corner. I’m wearing a pair of dark blue wide-leg dress jeans and a shiny sapphire frilly blouse, with matching low-heeled shoes. I’ve taken out my cornrows, so my hair is curly and the front is pulled backwards with a black clip. I’m just putting on my mascara when my suite bell rings. I get up to check the door.

Standing in the hallway outside my suite is my family: my mom and dad, my older twin brothers Derek and Daniel, and my mom’s father, Grandpa Joe, who is, hands-down, my favorite family member of all.

“Hey, Joey Girl.” Grandpa Joe says reaching out to give me a hug. I greet them all as they come into my suite.

“I was almost done getting ready.” I say walking into my room to finish putting on my makeup. My family hasn’t been to visit me at school in a year so I catch them all secretly inspecting my room.

“Oh, is this Matt?” Derek, the eldest twin, asks picking up a framed picture of Matt and I from my desk. I turn, look at him and narrow my eyes at his bad acting; he and Daniel love Polk University basketball so they know exactly who Matt is.

“Wow, he really is white, huh, Jo?” Daniel says looking over his shoulder. I roll my eyes as my parents rush over to look at the picture.

“Give it a rest, boys.” Grandpa Joe says in my defense.

“Wow, Jo, he’s cute,” My mom says patting my shoulder.

Oh, God…please don’t let her start talking about grandchildren.

“Is that his bag and clothes?” My dad says pointing to Matt’s overnight bag and shirt in the corner.

“Did he spend the night here, Jo?” Derek nudges playfully.

“Are you guys having sex?” Daniel says putting his hand on my shoulder. I swat him away.

I turn to my dad. “Yes, that is his bag and clothes,” I turn to face Derek, “Yes, he did spend the night,” I turn to Daniel and scowl at him, “And no, we aren’t having sex. Not that it’s any of your business.” I punch my brothers in annoyance. They are such clowns.

“Ok, guys. Jolisa is grown. Leave her alone.” Grandpa Joe says making peace. “Let’s get going.” He says shooing my family out the door.

“Joey Girl, I can’t wait to me this young man of yours,” he whispers merrily as we walk out my suite.

“Yeah, dinner tonight should be interesting.” I say as I lock the door. 

I gave my family their annual tour of the University, hitting all recently constructed buildings along the way before taking them to lunch in the dining hall--don’t ask why, but Grandpa Joe and my parents love eating in the dining hall, so we always eat there.

That evening we arrived at Cheesecake factory around 5:45 to meet Matt’s family.

“The rest of your party just arrived. Please follow me.” The hostess says sweetly before leading us over to a table in the corner. I begin to sweat. I fix my hair quickly as we follow the hostess.

 Seated at a table in corner is Matt’s family. Matt jumps up at the sight of me.

“Hey, babe,” He kisses my forehead and glances nervously at my family. I’ve never seen him look so nervous. I look quickly at his family, his sister smiles at me with reassurance and his mom and dad smile stiffly looking at my family. I never noticed how intimidating they could be until now; my dad and brothers are all over 6 feet tall, my mom has a tendency to look over the top of her glasses with a scrutinizing stare, and my Grandpa Joe has a very distinguished Sidney Pointier look, but tonight they were all trying to look relatively warm.

“Hi, honey.” I say rubbing Matt’s back. He gives my family a polite nod.

After introductions we sit down and order drinks.

“So, Matt,” Grandpa Joe says breaking the ice after what I assumed to be the first of many awkward pauses of the night. “How about that exhibition game against Clemson last week? Looks like you and that point guard were going to get into it,” He says referring to the brief confrontation Matt had at his first game.

“That was something wasn’t it?” Mr. Parker jumps in. “The guy was all over Matt the whole game.” Matt’s Dad has a slight Italian accent.

“Yeah, I saw that,” Daniel says.

“I remember Clemson’s coach saying something about keeping Polk’s star from scoring, that’s probably why,” Derek chimes in.

Matt puts his hand on my knee reassuringly under the table.

Leave it to sports to break the ice.  

The rest of the evening wasn’t so chatty. It’s a marathon of small talk; weather, food, and school. But at least they were talking-- except for Matt’s mom. She barely speaks, but occasionally I look up and catch her looking at me.

After dinner, I’m able to sneak off on my own for a second with the excuse of a phone call; it’s Shawnie.

"How’s it going?” she asks.

“Uh, Shawnie. It’s been so awkward all night, constant small talk. But you know Grandpa Joe, he’s trying to make sure everyone is happy. I’m not even able to enjoy it because I’m so stressed, trying to make a good impression and worrying about what his family thinks. His mom has barely said two words all night--I know she hates me.”

“Jo, you don’t know that. Trust me, it’s always awkward when families meet for the first time. It takes time.”

I feel a hand on my waist. I turn to see Matt.

“Thanks, Shawnie,” I say with a sigh. “I’ll have to call you back.”

I click my phone off as Matt wraps me in his arms and kisses my forehead.

“Babe, why are you so stressed? Everything is fine,” he says unconvincingly.

“Everything is so awkward, and your mom totally hates me. She hasn’t said two words all night.”

“Jo, no one hates you.” He rubs my cheek. “She just naturally quiet. Believe me, honey.” He kisses my forehead again.

 “Everything alright, kids?” Grandpa Joe says, walking up to us. We break away politely and he puts his hand on Matt’s shoulder.

"Yeah Grandpa, we’re fine,” I lie. My grandpa inclines his head at me knowingly.

 “Don’t worry, Joey Girl, we had a great time,” He gives me a warm smile. “And Matt, your family seems very nice,” He pats Matt’s shoulder. “Just take care of my grandbaby.”

 “Yes, sir.” Matt says, smiling genuinely for the first time all night. 

By 9pm, I’m back in my suite, showered but still tense. I said goodbye to Matt’s family at the restaurant, and got rid of mine shortly after.

I’m putting on lotion after my bath when my suite bell rings, I throw on my bathrobe to answer the door. It’s Matt.

He kisses me on the cheek and walks in with a bag of Chinese food.

“I’m so glad today is over,” I say tightening my robe over my naked body.

“Come on, Jo. It wasn’t that bad.” Matt sits down and pulls my legs into his lap for a foot rub; it’s like clockwork after I have a stressful day.

I love this guy.

I sigh as his phone starts to ring.

“Oh, it’s my mom, hold on,” he says as I pull my legs out of his lap and drape them over the edge of the bed again.

He excuses himself from the room for a short conversation, before laughing briefly and saying “I love you too, Mom. Bye.”

He walks back in smiling and closes the door. He kneels in front of me putting his body between my legs.

“She said she really likes you,” He rubs my thighs gently. “She said you’re so beautiful and she loves your hair.” He laughs.

I smile looking into his green eyes. He kisses my thigh flirtatiously.

“She said I should take good care of you.” He stands up and kisses me deeply.

We both relax for the first time today and spend the majority of the night making up for all the kisses, hugs and touches we missed that day.

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