“Hey Hope.”
She cringed at the sound of her brother’s voice.
“Hi Sid.”
“I heard you and Mom had a fight.”
“We did?” Hope questioned.
“She said you got your nose out-of-joint when she gave me Dad’s school ring and that you weren’t coming over for Christmas.
Hope felt a stab to her heart at his comment. She didn’t know that her mother had given her dad’s ring to Sid. Everyone in the family knew that ring was supposed to go to Hope. As for her being mad and not coming to Christmas, this was news to her.
As she looked at her brother she saw a sadistic gleam in his eye. She learned a long time ago that Sid was a walking personality disorder who loved to stir up trouble where he could.
“Have you taken your medication today Sid?” Hope said sardonically.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Just then Judy showed up with some drinks.
“How’s it going Sid?” she asked, handing Hope a plastic cup.
“Fine,” he answered absently.
“He’s more than fine,” Hope interjected. “He’s doing great now that he supposedly has dad’s ring.”
Judy looked on in confusion. “I thought you were supposed to get the ring.”
“Well according to my dear brother, my mother gave it to him.”
“Why?” Judy questioned.
“Good question. Why did she?” Hope asked.
“I don’t know. Ask Mom,” he answered.
Hope noticed his lack of eye contact and knew what had happened. Sid had made no qualms of letting everyone know that he should be the one to get Dad’s ring, and probably convinced her mom of this as well.
“I think I will,” Hope said as she strode over to her mother.
Her mother was talking with her sister Millie when Hope arrived.
“Hope, how nice it is to see you,” Millie said with a smile. “I love your dress.”
“Thanks,” Hope said eyeing her mother.
“It shows off her figure nicely,” her mother commented.
Hope shot her mother a disbelieving look at her positive comment.
“Do you think I could talk to my mom for a few minutes?” Hope asked.
“Sure. I need a drink anyway.”
Once Millie was gone, Hope went on the attack.
“What was that crap about my figure?” Hope ground out.
“The dress does you justice, in a slutty way.”
Hope felt ready to explode.
“What is it you want to talk to me about?” her mother asked.
“Sid told me you gave him dad’s ring. Is it true?”
“Yes.”
“Dad wanted me to have it.”
“The ring was made for a man not a woman.”
“So?”
“So, it made sense to give it to Sid.”
Hope wasn’t a materialistic person, but this ring was important to her. It belonged to her father, a man she truly loved.
“You are such a bitch!” Hope seethed.
“Watch your mouth young lady,” her mother warned.
“By the way, Sid said you told him I wasn’t coming for Christmas this year.”
“I did no such thing,” her mother retorted.
“Well guess what? He was right. I won’t be there.”
“You will be at my place on Christmas day,” she ordered.
“Like hell.”
Hope stormed away before she could hear her mother’s outburst. Judy caught up to her friend.
“Are you all right?”
Hope couldn’t talk as the tears streamed down her face. Judy took her to a quiet corner to talk.
“I take it your brother wasn’t making things up this time,” Judy commented.
Hope nodded.
“It doesn’t make sense. Doris held onto that ring for ten years knowing that it was to be given to you, but instead she gave it to Sid. Why?”
“For years I’ve bugged her for that ring. At first she used the excuse that I was too young. Then she told me that she needed to get it sized. I realized after awhile that this was some sick game to her and she relished in the power of it all. After awhile, I gave up asking. I thought that if I showed disinterest in it that she would give it to me,” Hope said.
“Well it did just the opposite,” Judy remarked.
“Did it ever?”
“Why don’t you have Rick talk to Sid for you? I’m sure he can convince him to give you the ring,” Judy said.
Hope shook her head. “I try to keep Rick as far away from my family as possible.”
“So you decided to invite me instead of him to torture me. Gee thanks,” Judy joked.
Hope laughed. “Rick had to work tonight, lucky guy.”
“Damn,” Judy said. “I should have used that excuse.”
“I wouldn’t let you get out of it that easily. I would have dragged your ass here.” Judy was about to comment, but was interrupted at the sound of someone shouting her friend’s name.
“Hope, is that you!”
She glanced up to see her cousin Joyce saunter over to their table. Beside her was a very handsome man. He was tall, over six feet, with a muscular build. His jaw was square with a little spattering of black stubble on it, his nose was thin, his mouth was wide and expressive, his hair was brown and fell loosely to his shoulders, and his eyes were ice blue and very captivating.
“Hi Joyce, you remember my friend Judy.”
Joyce shook her hand. “Hi Judy, it was nice that you could join us.”
Hope was taken aback by her cordial attitude.
“I’m assuming you’re here because Hope couldn’t find a date again,” she surmised.
There it was her family uncouthness at its finest.
“You’re right. She is my date. I gave up on men and have turned to women.” Hope countered.
Joyce was rendered speechless at her comment while Judy laughed. After Joyce composed herself she introduced the man beside her.
“This is Jonathan Winters.”
Hope extended her hand, “Nice to meet you.”
When their hands touched it sent an erotic thrill throughout her body. She looked up and noticed him staring intently at her. They were locked in a visual embrace until he raised her hand to his lips.
“The pleasure is all mine,” he said brushing a kiss along her knuckles.
The sensation of his lips on her hand made her lower extremities tingle in response.
Joyce’s eyes narrowed at his gentlemanly ways.
“We should be going,” Joyce fumed.
She