Tristan Trilogy- Story 3

CHAPTER 41

Kevin took one of his little blue and black pills on Wednesday night. By Thanksgiving morning, he had calmed down considerably from the evening before but he was still somewhat edgy and suspicious. Jerald and Jana had retired early the night before and when Jerald began to walk up the stairs with his new girlfriend, Ann has interceded - none too tactfully. Jerald had looked to Kevin for back up but received only a grim smile from his brother. Kevin's support was going to his mother but not because of any sense of moral indignation. Kevin simply could not take the idea of Jerald sleeping with his Tristan's clone. Although Thanksgivings are celebrated as loving family holidays, they are rarely without trouble of some kind, especially if the gathering is a large one. This Thanksgiving would be no exception. The stage had already been set the evening before. At least Jerald had taken Jana out for a ride around the city this morning - at Ann's suggestion. She had been extremely diplomatic.

The first irritation came as Tristan was setting the tables out on the veranda. Megan had pinecone turkeys to put into her elaborate centerpieces and she and Tristan were placing them when Kevin came through the doors to praise Megan on her artistic skills. He walked over to the table and picked up a cut-glass water goblet, examined it and then tapped his finger on the rim of the glass, creating a sharp ringing sound. He surveyed the table carefully, always the perfectionist. Guests would be arriving soon and Megan scurried back inside to get her hair brushed.

In addition to the more than two dozen crystal water goblets, wine and iced tea glasses, there were full place settings of bone china atop the lace tablecloth. Kevin picked up a bread plate and turned it over. The stamp on the back read 'Limoges'.

"Hmmm - good stuff…" he nodded, impressed with the quality of the settings.

The silver was from Tiffany's and as Kevin gripped the sturdy place knife in his hand his eyes caught sight of the 'M', elaborately scripted, engraved on the handle.

"You rented this stuff from Marchant's in Winter Park?" he asked straightening a napkin.

"Marchant's?" Tristan repeated, puzzled.

"Yeah - you know that place that the label uses when they throw their parties. I see the 'M' on the handle here…" Kevin held the knife out for her to inspect. "Man, they really have nice stuff. You get the tablecloth and napkins from them, too?" Kevin replaced the knife and ran his fingers across the Battenburg lace. "I'll bet the rental on this stuff was pretty steep…. Probably close to a thousand bucks…."

"The tables were $50.00…." Tristan said flatly, hoping to end the discussion.

Kevin wasn't ready to let it go. "What about all this other stuff?" he asked sweeping his hand across the table. He sensed Tristan's hesitation and grinned. "I know it cost a lot, baby… I'm not mad, just curious. The table looks beautiful. Am I even in the right ballpark? Is a thousand dollars close?"

Tristan swallowed and then grinned back. Her grin was a little peaked. "Actually, Kevin, the bill for this table was around thirty-thousand dollars…"

She forced a chuckle, hoping that Kevin would join in. He did - for about five seconds. Then he realized she was serious and his expression changed. Tristan saw his eyes darken and tried to remain casual and light.

"Why did you think I rented these things?" she laughed nervously. "I don't know of anyplace that rents Waterford. At least his mind's off Jana…

Kevin's jaw had tightened. "I guess it was these 'M's' on the silver…" he growled. "What the fuck is the 'M' for?"

"M…Mallory…"

Kevin's jaw dropped. "Mallory? As in 'Tristan Grace Mallory'? I thought your name was Richardson now….” he sneered. “What's with the fuckin' 'M'? I would think that thirty grand would at least buy me an 'R'…."

In the back of her mind, Tristan had already prepared herself to defend spending such a large amount of money on these place settings. Everyone had their weaknesses - even Kevin. He thought nothing of throwing money at electronics, musical instruments, clothes, paintings and even furniture. Tristan’s weaknesses ran to lingerie, high quality stationary and….. tableware. What she didn’t expect was for Kevin to take offense at an initial. He was still rather edgy about the ‘Jana’ situation and she couldn’t help but remember Thanksgiving two years ago when he became overcome with melancholy at the memory of his father. Tristan wasn't sure what to expect today. She decided to approach this misunderstanding in a rational and unbiased way.

“Kevin, the ‘M’ does stand for Mallory, but with good reason. It’s traditional, in the South anyway, for sterling to be engraved with the initial of the woman’s maiden name. That’s because in the olden days, women began to collect things for their homes when they were real young - long before marrying age and so they used their maiden initial. Also, they wouldn’t have to change the initial if, for some reason they….”

Here Tristan hesitated. She had walked into a booby-trap of her own making. Kevin waited for her to say it. His arms had crossed over his chest, his brow had furrowed and he was rocking on his heels. Tristan took the coward's way out.

“Well…,” she gulped. “You know…”

Kevin chewed on his tongue as his eyes bore into her, “Yeah. I know,” he huffed. “In case they divorced and she found herself a new husband…”

“Or in case she was widowed….” Tristan offered, as if this was a more palatable idea.

Kevin glared at her as his hands fell to his hips.

“Am I going somewhere, Tris? Is there something I don’t know?”

“Oh Kevin, don’t be silly…’

“So now I’m being silly……" Kevin reached over and picked up a fork by the tines as he re-examined the engraving. Then he began to nod. “Look, Tris - you’re in luck! You can always say this is a ‘W’, too!”

A ‘W’? She had no idea what point he was trying to make - at first. Then the realization came to her. Asa… Her face gave her away and Kevin saw that she had recognized his innuendo.

“See, baby?” he spat. “Great minds think alike!”

This entire discussion had gone beyond the point of ridiculousness as far as Tristan was concerned. She was growing impatient with Kevin’s paranoia. She tried to remain calm.

“That’s an ‘M’, Kevin. Any way you choose to hold that fork, it’ll still be an ‘M’. Not a ‘W’ - an ‘M’.”

“Well, Tris, the next time I spend thirty-thousand dollars on anything that’s monogrammed, I’d appreciate seein’ an ‘R’ on it somewhere! Okay?”

Kevin threw the fork back down on the table and had begun to walk away, when Tristan corrected his assumption. She should have left bad enough alone.

“You didn’t spend thirty-thousand.

I did…”

Kevin froze mid-stride and actually stumbled a few steps before spinning around to face her again.

“What did you say?”

Uh-oh…. Big mistake… “I…I said that I paid for all of this…” Tristan swallowed.

Kevin closed his eyes and then slowly wiped his hand down the front of his reddening face. He looked at the ground as Tristan waited for him to speak. Finally, he sighed heavily and looked into her face. The muscles in his own face had tightened and his expression was hard. Still, he managed a grim chuckle.

“What do you mean you ‘paid for the silver’? I had a checking account opened for you just a few months ago with $150,000.00. Are you telling me that you’ve already spent that money? That there wasn’t enough in there to pay for this?” Kevin asked, sweeping his hand over the table.

“N…no… I mean, yes…” Tristan was beginning to stammer. “There’s money in that account…”

“How much?” Kevin demanded.

“I…I don’t know!” Tristan groaned. “Including interest and all… God, Kevin! Do we have to get into this now? It is Thanksgiving and we have guests arriving! This whole subject is…is distasteful to me!”

“Distasteful?” Kevin’s eyebrows disappeared under his long hair. Distasteful?"” His brows took a nosedive. "Tell me how much is left, Tristan."

“$150,000.00 - plus interest!” she blurted. “I just use my checking account, Kevin! It’s no big deal! It’s just easier for me - that’s all. All of this china and stuff was purely frivolous. That’s why I paid for it! I’m not trying to prove anything or step on your toes!” Kevin’s anger quickly evolved into panic when he saw her face fall and her chin begin to tremble. “I just wanted us to have a pretty table for Thanksgiving!” she wailed as the tears started.

Shit… Kevin glanced to the French doors. Guests had already started arriving. Mason and his mother stood side by side staring out at the couple standing outside by the table. Both were wearing identical expressions that said ‘What in the hell did you do to her?’. Soon Holly and Nick were at the glass, too, followed by Jackie and Harold, Jr. Christ, we’ve got an audience… Tristan was not trying to stifle her cries and Kevin was practically dancing around her, trying to get her to calm down. He spoke in hushed tones, desperately trying to hold on to a semblance of privacy. Tristan had no such inclination. She was almost howling and everyone inside could hear her.

“Shhh, baby…. Don’t cry - please!” Kevin was holding on to her arms and had brought his face down to hers. He didn’t know whether to smile or look contrite. She was still blubbering. “I’m sorry, Tris baby… I shouldn’t have gotten all pissed. Okay?”

“You’re a shithead!” Tristan screamed and popped him on top of the head. “Stop yelling at me!”

Fuck… Kevin surveyed the audience again. AJ had joined the crowd. He was cackling and nodding at Tristan’s epithet and then he stuck his thumb up in the air in approval or her assessment. When Kevin scowled at him, he grinned, wiggled his eyebrows and took a swig of beer.

“I’m not yellin’, darlin’. See? Come on, Tris…” he tried again. “I’m really sorry. The table’s beautiful, baby! You did a great job!” His wheedling seemed to be falling on deaf ears.

“You’re an asshole!” she cried.

Inside, AJ shook his head. “She should’ve stuck with ‘shithead’” he mumbled.

“Alex!”

“Oh… sorry Mizz R. I forget that you two are related…”

Outside, Kevin realigned his position to hopefully take advantage of what he perceived as a change in Tristan’s temperament. She was moving from hurt to pissed. She had stopped sobbing but her face was still wet with tears. She had crossed her arms over her belly and glared at him without mercy. A little ‘coochie-coo’ was in order. Kevin grabbed a napkin from the table and started dabbing at her face. She slapped his hand away.

“Come on now, Tris…" Kevin had bent down to her face again and was jiggling her shoulders in an attempt to be playful. He decided to try his puppy-dog face. “I am a shithead, Tris. I’m sorry. I know you want this to be a nice Thanksgiving and that I’m a pain around the holidays,” he pouted. “Forgive me?”

“Aw, shit….” Brian mumbled as he moved up beside AJ. He was staring at Kevin's apologetic stance. “He’s gonna pussy out…”

The remark annoyed AJ who took it not only as a jab directed towards Kevin, but towards Tristan, as well.

“Hummmph!” AJ snorted. “Look who’s talking about being a pussy…. What’s that scripture about stones and glass houses, Brian?”

The potential tension was diffused when Holly announced an update in the action outside.

“Look! I think she’s staring to smile!”

Sure enough, Kevin’s cooing seemed to be having the desired effect. They watched him speak and then she nodded. He looked very earnest. Then he hugged her and held the napkin to her nose. She blew and he dabbed. After a moment she turned to the sea of faces staring from the living room. Brian shook his head. She’s nuts….

“Oh, look Kevin!” she laughed, surprised to see the crowd. “Our company’s here!”

“Yeah…..” he sighed. “I know…”

Tristan began to wave everyone outside, not really understanding why they looked so relieved. Megan coaxed everyone to the table, ready to bask in the limelight a little. She was rewarded with ‘oohs and ahhs’ and even a smattering of applause over her decorating talents. Nick seemed to be particularly impressed with the table and ran his fingers over the lace cloth, appreciatively. Everything looked perfect to him and he was thankful for the sense of family he felt within this group. Aaron had come with him. Tristan had insisted, which wasn’t surprising but when Kevin had made a point of including Aaron, he was touched. Kevin always kept his thumb on Nick in a protective sort of way - even when they fought. Now it was Nick’s turn to do the same for Aaron.

People grouped and regrouped until Tristan finished setting out huge platters of food and called for everyone to sit down.

“I made a desert!” Mason said proudly, nudging Kevin in the ribs as they took their seats. “It’s absolutely delightful!”

“Let me guess…” Kevin smirked. “It’s gotta be something ‘chiffon’.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mason frowned. “Actually, it’s very fruity and decorated with sugared pansies..”

Kevin bit his tongue but he couldn’t keep his eyes from rolling. What a surprise..

CHAPTER 42

The excitement of Thanksgiving was far from over. In many ways, it was just beginning or at least continuing. Kevin and Tristan had quite a crowd for Thanksgiving that afternoon and as they took their seats at either end of the two fourteen foot tables, they found they were grateful to have friends and family with them to share the afternoon. On one side of the table sat Aaron, Nick, Holly, AJ, Amanda, Mason, Jack, Tim, Tracy, Megan, Will, Howie and Pollyanna. Facing them were Brian, Leighanne, Jackie, Harold, Harold Jr., Ann, Denise, Howie's brother and Mr. and Mrs. Dorough. Jerald, who had lost track of time, was just coming through the doors as everyone was seating themselves. Ann immediately scolded him.

"It's about time! Where have you been? Where's Jana?"

"Bathroom. She'll be right here."

He chatted with the others as they waited but conversation was slightly stilted. The memory of the 'Reputation's' spread was still fairly fresh in most minds. Suddenly there was a squeal from the glass-paneled door.

"OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGod!"

Jana was beside herself. Jerald hadn't told her who would be at the dinner. He'd just said 'family and friends'. He wanted her to be surprised. She was. Not only was Jana in shock, so were Kevin and Tristan's other guests. Amanda leaned past AJ to get Holly's attention and then mouthed 'What the fuck?'. Jana stared. The guests stared back and then simultaneously shifted their gaze to Tristan. The resemblance couldn't be ignored. Jana even had her hair pulled back like Tristan did and was wearing the same color.

"This is sick…" Brian mumbled before his mother kicked him under the table.

"God, you and Tristan look exactly alike!" Aaron cried. "Jerald, you got a girl just like Tris!"

Kevin looked down at his plate as Nick gave Aaron a look that screamed 'Shut the hell up!'.

"This is Jana, everybody.." Jerald grinned. Holly thought he looked a tad triumphant but it could have been her imagination. "She didn't know who was coming today so she's a little surprised." Jerald pulled out her chair, urging her to take a seat.

The air seemed to thicken as everyone formed his or her own thoughts and opinions. Tristan cleared her throat trying to capture Kevin's attention but he still stared at the Limoges. She had to call out to him to break him from his reverie.

"Kevin?"

When he looked up, the entire table was staring at him. Some offered encouraging smiles. Some looked bewildered and confused. He thought he caught a spark of pity on some faces. Brian looked angry - not with Kevin personally but at the situation before them. Kevin was trying to take the high road and glanced down the table at Tristan whose smile had begun to waver at Kevin's prolonged silence.

"Want me to say grace?" Brian asked seriously, trying to move this little party forward.

AJ was watching the dynamic at the table become more and more labored and felt compelled to jump in with a smart-assed remark to try and blow away the cloud that had begun to form over the dinner. He wanted to turn the focus away from Jana and her uncanny resemblance to their hostess.

"God, Brian.. Please. No! I'll need another shave before you finish giving thanks. Let Tim do it, he's the pro here. Let him take the lead vocal on the 'thanks track'…"

"Fine…" Brian frowned.

Tim nodded, pronounced a brief blessing over the table and the first dish was passed. AJ's banter had provided a great deal of relief but Kevin remained fairly quiet. He could feel a headache coming on. Mason couldn't stop staring at Jana who finally relaxed enough to actually eat something. Nick, too, was having a hard time keeping his eyes off of Jerald's new girlfriend.

Tristan sensed that Holly was perturbed and a little on edge but she had felt that vibe bouncing off of Holly before Jana and Jerald even arrived. At least she and Mason seem to be getting along well… They were even sharing 'inside' jokes and Tristan felt a wave of jealousy over the close connection that had formed between her friend and her assistant. My 'former' assistant…

Kevin took another long look at Jana. She looked different today but he couldn't quite put his finger on what that difference was. He continued to steal glances at her until it finally hit him. Her eyes… They're different… He looked again. They're….. violet - like Tristan's. I thought she had brown eyes… Tim had been trying to engage his brother in conversation and distract him when Kevin suddenly blurted a question to Jana, cutting Tim off as if he hadn't been speaking at all.

"Jana, you look different today. Something in your face - your eyes, maybe…"

Table chatter came to a halt at the sound of Kevin's presumably lost voice and Jana began to giggle.

"I was wondering if anyone would notice," she grinned. "Jerald bought me contacts. He said that a lot of models have different colored ones they wear - like a fashion accessory."

"Anyone need more bread?" Tristan asked loudly, trying to change the subject. She had already noticed Jana's new eye color. Kevin wasn't budging.

"Interesting color…" Kevin said, ignoring Tristan's question.

"I know!" Jana was smiling, pleased that Kevin would take an interest. He hadn't said much to her before now. "Purple!"

"Violet…." Kevin corrected.

"Sure… Violet…. I thought that was so nice. Not too many guys would think to give a girl contacts! He's such a sweetheart.." Jana squeezed Jerald's arm affectionately.

"Yeah - sweetheart." Kevin muttered.

"And that's not all!" Jana continued. "He gave me piano lessons for my birthday!"

Mason dropped his fork as Nick grabbed for some water to wash down the roll he was now choking on. Kevin gave Jana a lip-less smile.

"That's nice…," he murmured before casting his eyes to the other end of the table. Tristan caught his look and began to fumble with her napkin.

Jana was on a roll and Jerald let her continue, enjoying her eagerness to socialize with her new celebrity acquaintances.

"Jerald was telling me that he and his family were here a couple of years ago for Thanksgiving and how much they enjoyed it."

Tristan was glad to talk about something else. "It was fun!" she agreed enthusiastically.

"Yeah…" Jana started giggling again. "I heard about how they all walked in on you when you were dancing around in your underwear, dusting!" She was grinning happily as she cut into her slice of turkey.

"I remember!" Megan chimed in. "Aunt Tris had on pretty blue lace underpants and she sent me some!" Her mother quickly shushed her as Aaron started to giggle.

Tristan was starting to feel a little warm and a lot speechless. All eyes had shifted back to her except for Kevin's. His head was resting in his hand and his fingers were rubbing at his temple. AJ was peering at her over the top of his glasses, his eyebrows raised in high arches. Nick choked again. Jana was clueless and she kept right on talking. This time, however, she waded innocently into truly forbidden waters.

"So where did y'all spend last Thanksgiving?" she asked casually as she buttered a roll. "Were you together here or in Kentucky?"

The table became silent except for the sound of Jana's surprised 'Ouch!' as Jerald pinched her under the table. Tristan began to blink as memories of last Thanksgiving filled her head He sent me Tropicana roses… She risked a quick glance at Kevin who was staring at her, measuring her reaction to Jana's reminder. He looked like he might be sick. No one spoke for several seconds.

"So, how 'bout those Bucs?" Nick laughed weakly.

His attempt to change the subject was feeble at best but everyone seemed grateful for the opportunity to pounce on a new subject and seemed anxious to join in. Kevin slowly pushed his chair back from the table, his expression unreadable.

"Gonna get more wine…" he mumbled.

Brian stood with him. "I'll give you a hand…"

Jack stared uneasily as the two cousins left the table and entered the house. He wasn't alone. Holly and AJ were staring, too.

*****

“Anybody ready for desert?” Kevin and Brian had still not returned to the table but Tristan decided to move forward with the meal. "Y'all tell me what you want and I'll bring it out."

Her generosity was rewarded with a flurry of requests - all coming at her at one time. Fortunately, she was rescued by Holly, Amanda and Leighanne who 'took orders' and followed her into the kitchen. Mason went, too, wanting to make sure that his 'fruity' desert was presented properly and soon AJ and Nick followed. AJ wanted another beer and Nick 'had to use the can'.

The four women and Mason spooned out sweets and cut pies and cakes as AJ wandered over to Kevin's video collection and began pulling cases off the shelf and examining the their contents while letting off a series of gut wrenching belches.

"Dammit, AJ!" Amanda screamed. "Have a little class!" Then she turned to the others. "My debonair hero….," she muttered and Tristan began to giggle.

Holly was noticeably quiet, almost as if she hadn’t heard AJ’s sonic eruption. Her mouth had turned down at the corners.

“What’s wrong with you today, Holly?” Tristan asked her. “You have something on your mind?”

“You mean you don’t?” Holly bristled. “I would think that staring at your double all afternoon would be a little unnerving! I can’t believe that Jerald…”

“Let’s not go there, Holly…” Tristan sighed and held up her hands.

“You know, Precious, I wasn’t going to say anything but……”

“Then don’t!” Tristan snapped at Mason. “You all know how sensitive Kevin is…" Holly rolled her eyes conspicuously. It was hard to escape the implied sarcasm and Tristan began to feel a little miffed. “You got a problem with Kevin, Holly?”

Holly sat the dessert plate back on the counter and turned to face her friend.

“Yeah. I’ve got a problem. ‘Mr. Sensitive’ is on my list but that’s not what’s bugging me. Maybe I’m a prude. I don’t think so, but I don’t understand why you and Amanda are so blasé about Rolling Stone. You haven’t even mentioned it.”

Tristan and Amanda looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. They had no idea what Holly was talking about. Amanda couldn’t help but notice Leighanne slinking back into a corner and exchanging knowing glances with Mason.

“Do you know about Rolling Stone, Leigh?” Amanda asked accusingly.

“Brian m-mentioned it,” she stammered. “In passing…”

“Have you seen it?” Holly quizzed.

“Well… well, yes…” Leigh admitted a little nervously.

“They’re in Rolling Stone?” Tristan asked. “Again?”

“In it? There on it?” Holly didn’t seem that thrilled.

“The cover?” Amanda was grinning. “That’s three times in a year and a half!”

“Oh, the cover shot is nothing compared to what’s inside…” Holly frowned.

She was interrupted by a Jim Carey impression that was coming from down the hallway.

“Don’t say anything!” Holly whispered. “I’ll talk to you two later.”

Nick had met Brian and Kevin in the hallway. The two cousins were hanging all over each other and laughing loudly, obviously tickled by some inside joke. Nick stood behind them, grinning and pointing at them while pretending to lift a glass to his lips. He was implying that they were drunk. The ever-curious AJ joined the rest of the crowd in the kitchen.

“I see you found the wine….” Leighanne was not pleased.

Her simple remark caused them to start laughing again.

“You’re in trouble….” Kevin observed, shaking his finger in Brian’s face.

“You are, too..” Brian returned, nodding towards Tristan.

Tristan was standing back, watching the two men. They were being silly and loud - out of character for both of them in this setting and with this many guests around. Yet they were steady - not sloppy, stumbling or slurring. Just….different.

"Are you two ready for desert?" Leighanne asked sharply. "What do you want?"

"What do you have?" Brian asked clearing his throat. He was practically bouncing but trying hard to settle down.

"Coconut cake, pumpkin and mincemeat pie, and…"

"And my fruity dish with pansies…" Mason chimed in.

Brian and Kevin looked at each other and burst out laughing again.

"What do you wanna bet its got bananas in it?" Brian whispered. At least he thought he was whispering.

"I was in the mood for a slice of hair pie, myself…" Kevin answered and they both laughed again.

Everyone in the room turned beet red except for Tristan who, naturally, wasn't familiar with that term and AJ, whom nothing embarrassed.

"I don't have that…" Tristan answered calmly as she cut into the cake.

"Yes you do, baby…" Kevin was grinning.

Amanda was the first to find her voice. "What in the hell's wrong with you, Kevin?"

She wasn't amused. She glanced over at Tristan who was licking coconut frosting from her thumb. The subject matter was flying way over her head. Amanda was concerned on two counts. First, Kevin should know better than to use such slang around Tristan who, no doubt sooner or later, would use the phrase in an entirely inappropriate situation. Secondly, Amanda disliked the idea that Kevin was making fun of Tristan's naiveté in front of their friends. It wasn't like him. Smart ass…

"Must be some Kentucky dish…" Tristan smiled at no one in particular.

When Kevin and Brian cracked up again, she cut her eyes towards Amanda and gave her a surreptitious smirk. Amanda had underestimated Tristan's knowledge. Apparently, so had Kevin. Tristan lifted two plates and headed back out to the veranda but not before pausing in front of her husband.

"I'll be sure to ask your mother for the recipe." She smiled sweetly.

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