The burgundy and pearl floral lace over the bodice was crisscrossed in a v-neck, and while it did manage to cover my generous breasts, I still was not used to such a cut. The fact that Lex had loved it was my first clue it was flattering to my cleavage. He’d talked me into the thing. I figured I would have the need to wear them all eventually, so why not get it over with? Very sheer layers flowed to just below my knees from a high empire waist. While it was elegant, even with my curves, the jeweled belt right below my chest felt tight and made me feel even more conspicuous.
“You look so beautiful, dear,” Catherine said as I sat down.
I dropped my hand at her genuine smile. My mother would have done something like that, complimented me to make me aware of and stop my fidgeting. I smiled back at her as I lectured myself about not bursting into tears and crying in the salad someone had just set before me. It had a fruity smell, so that must have been the dressing, as something fishy sat on top of the lettuce. Not a huge seafood fan, I figured I better get used to it, being on an island.
The taste, which was definitely something new to me, was very good, a mango and maybe citrusy sort of dressing that complimented and cut down on the fishy taste. If this was any indication, I wouldn’t have a problem at all. I guess all seafood had needed was a good chef to season and cook it appropriately. I’d never have thought of pairing fruit with fish, but then again, what did I know outside of mac and cheese? I might become a fan of seafood after all. Beat made from a box any day.
Everything on the table, from the china to the silverware to the glasses, was fancy, elegant, and I was sure expensive. I figured I would adapt, just hopefully not enough to make going back home, at some point, whenever that would be, even if just to visit, depressing. I’d never cared before. I mean, a little more money than I had would have been nice, but I’d never needed all of this. Nor had I known it existed, really. I’d obviously only had a vague idea of what real wealth looked like. Of course, how was I to know outside of magazines and the internet? Pictures were definitely not the same as living it.
“Christina, we would love to hear more about your life, as in more than we could dig up on our own,” Edward began as the main dish was being served.
Kebobs had been announced as seafood and poultry with various jerk seasonings. There was coconut rice, a bowl of sautéed vegetables, and fruit salad laid out before us, along with a rum punch. After the salad, I couldn’t wait to try it all, but it looked like I would need my mouth for talking.
“Not much to tell, really. I lost my mother when I was a little girl, so I was basically raised by an alcoholic father. He wasn’t mean or anything, just rather emotionally absent after my mom passed. He tried, he really did. I don’t want to paint him in a bad light, as his only fault came from loving my mom too much, so much that life for him was hard with her gone. I guess, outside of those two facts, I had a pretty basic childhood... public school, a best friend named Chloe. Oh no,” I exclaimed having mentioned her name.
“What, everything okay?” Lex asked as Catherine obviously opened her mouth to do so.
“I don’t know. Not really sure how long I’ve been gone. But, I was supposed to call Chloe when I got to my so-called ‘vacation’ that I’d lied and told her I was going on. She must be worried sick. She was not a fan of me going. Of course, my lie of going off with a guy I barely knew on an open-ended vacation didn’t sound so good. Not a smart thing for a female to do. She must have search teams out.”
“Don’t worry, dear. You can use a phone here after dinner. Call your friend. Wish I could help you in the excuse department, but nothing is coming to me just yet.”
“She has been the only person to always be there for me, and deserves better than to have to worry about me; not that there was not reason to for a few days, for actual concern, but still, I can’t even tell her that. Sorry. I don’t mean to ramble on. It’s okay. Thank you for offering to let me use the phone later.”
“So, you work in an office and are a writer?” Edward asked, picking back up the learning my life’s story portion of the evening.
“Yes. I wish I were more exciting, but I’m not. I got a job to pay the bills so I could write. I lived in a small apartment in the city. I went to work, came home, ate alone most days, then read or watched TV. Not much of a life to speak of. Until Lex here saved me from that mugger outside that bar; what was that now, a month ago? My life was pretty ordinary. But, it was mine, and I was basically happy in it. Never had magic or werewolves or vampires outside of my books, that’s for sure. This world I’m sitting in now was a place of fiction.”