COCKTAIL PARTY
A few hours before our cocktail party at the Sterlings ', I found my mom tossing dresses on her bed.
She was as anxious as I had been when I was first invited to the Mansion.
"What do I wear?" she asked.
"Whatever you want."
Since my mother wasn't going to paint her nails black and wear a corset over the top of a camisole, I didn't think it really mattered what her attire was. However, she didn't feel the same.
"Should I wear this-or this?" she asked, holding up the same blouse, one in white, and one in red.
"Mrs. Sterling is so stylish. Not that it's my style, but nevertheless it's bold. I don't want to offend her by appearing too conservative."
"Are you kidding?" All of a sudden my mother cared about what the neighbors thought?
I think she was as taken by Mrs. Sterling as I was- just for different reasons. I wanted to be like Cassandra, a beautiful royal-blooded vampiress with a gorgeous vampire family, residing in an eerie mansion. But to my mom, Cassandra was exotic, unique, and worldly. Different, like my mom had been in her pre-corporate days. "Mom, you are fine just the way you are." "You're only saying that because you want me to hurry up."
"No, I mean it. I don't think eyebrow piercings and spider tatts will go with your Donna Karan blouses."
"You're right. I'll just be me-plain old boring me," my mother said, folding her arms.
"You are far from boring."
"I guess I just wanted you to think your mom was cool."
"You're not supposed to be cool to me. You're my mom. Do you think Grandma is cool?"
"I see your point. I didn't do too bad a job raising you after all, did I?"
"Well, if you must know, you could raise my allowance."
It was a moment I was excited about and dreaded at the same time.My parents visiting the Mansion.
What would they say? What would they do? How would they respond to bloodred smoothies?
My dad inched his SUV up the Mansion's drive. Fog hovered over the bushes and candles flickered inside the Mansion.
"It looks haunted," my mom mumbled to my father. "I know why you like coming here," she said to me. "It's very… mysterious."
"I'm anxious to see what it looks like inside. I feel very privileged. Like Charlie getting a chance to see the inside of the chocolate factory," my dad said.
"Promise me you both will behave. They have very different tastes. Please don't say anything rude," I said.
I walked up the uneven cracked front steps, my parents following close behind.
I knocked on the serpent knocker.
"That is quite… unusual," my mom remarked.
" Shhh!"I said. "You promised."
The oak door squeaked open and Jameson appeared in the entrance, "Welcome, Miss Raven, and Mr. and Mrs. Madison. Shall I take your things?"
My mom immediately felt the chill in the air.
"Thank you, Jameson, but keep my sweater." She had it tied around her shoulders but loosened it and put it back on.
"The Sterlings will be down shortly. May I get you a drink while you wait?"
"No thank you," my mother said. "We can wait for the Sterlings ."
"Why don't you have a seat in the parlor room? They will only be a moment." Jameson showed us in.
Candelabras and votives filled the Mansion. Skeleton lights were strung from the ceiling. Harpsichord music played loudlyThis time I expected to see a Phantom of the Opera-type musician banging out his melodies on a giant organ, but I found neither.
My father scanned the dusty books, and my mom fascinated herself with the vintage furniture.
"This is the home you've always wanted to live in," she said to me. "This must be a dream come true for you."
I appreciated my mother's moment of understanding.
I had a feeling that everything would be okay, though there was a teensy-weensy bit of my overactive imagination that wondered if my parents would be safe partying with two vampires on their home soil.
But when I saw Alexander enter the parlor, I knew that if there was a turn for the worse, he'd protect us from any harm.
My handsome Knight of Night came over to me and kissed me softly on the cheek. He shook my father's hand, and my mother gave him a gentle hug. He returned to me and took my hand. His hand felt strong in mine, and I squeezed it hard.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. May I get you something to drink?"
"No, we were just browsing. This room is charming. I can feel the history in its walls," my mom said.
"Yes, my grandmother was very proud of this mansion. That is why I'm so horrified…"
We all glanced at Alexander.
"…that some of the boards need repairing." Alexander's comment was odd. The whole house appeared to need repairing-well beyond a few floorboards.
We heard the lyrical Romanian accents of the Sterlings as they entered.
"My apologies for our delay," Mrs. Sterling said, extending her hand to my mom, then my dad. She wore a lavender scarf around her neck. "I hope you haven't been waiting long."
"We just got here," my mom said. "The house is… beautiful."
"We were hoping you'd be longer so we could peek around the house," my dad blurted out.