Chapter Eight, Nightfall and Nostalgia

Rei’s Point of View

I smoothed out my long blonde hair and finished applying my makeup. I liked to keep it natural and simple, and tonight was no exception. Following Grace’s advice, I took a thorough shower and shaved everywhere. I put on a black lace thong and matching bra, then slipped into sheer thigh-highs and my new black dress. Just as I finished getting ready, there was a knock on the door. I quickly glanced around the room to ensure everything was tidy and opened the door.

“Mom, you look pretty,” Shiloh smiled at me.

“Are you nervous?” she asked shyly.

I nodded. My sweet, perceptive daughter knew me well. There was no point hiding that I was.

“Just be yourself. It’s been so long since you’ve gone out with your friends, and I know that Auntie Grace will keep you safe and make sure you have fun,” Shiloh reassured me.

“Isn’t this a conversation I should have with you?” I chuckled.

“Probably, but I’m happy to read and hang out with my friends here, Mom. I’m not into parties, you know that. I’m not missing anything anyways, other than getting into trouble,” Shiloh laughed.

“You are a good kid,” I whispered as tears welled in my eyes and hugged her.

“Yeah, I know,” Shiloh smirked while I rolled my eyes.

There wasn't any of her father's personality in Shiloh or her brothers, and for that, I was grateful. All three of my kids were kind, sweet, and hardworking. But, when it came to making messes in the kitchen and bathroom – the boys were exceptional, though. Honestly, I was proud of who they were and who they were becoming. As much as it was hard raising them on my own, it was a blessing in so many ways.

“Any suggestions for earrings and shoes?” I asked my daughter, hopefully.

Shiloh’s face lit up, and she raced to my small jewelry box to inspect what I had. She quickly handed me a pair of large silver hoops and then went to my closet to choose my shoes.

“Are you dancing?” my teenage daughter called out from inside.

“Probably, why?” I asked.

“Then, you should wear these,” Shiloh said, emerging from my closet with a triumphant grin and holding a pair of black platform heels.

“Auntie Grace has trained you well,” I laughed and graciously accepted both items, putting them on.

Grace has been like the sister I've always wanted, helping me raise the kids over the past ten years. She taught Shiloh and me how to wear makeup properly and enjoyed taking us shopping. I quickly learned to trust her; she had an excellent eye for what would look good on me without breaking the bank and making it fun.

When Shiloh entered her teenage years and started caring more about her clothes for school, Grace took her shopping and helped Shiloh gain confidence in developing her style. My daughter was beautiful inside and out and loved vintage clothing. Shiloh had a great group of friends who would hang out at our house, and their parents were strict but genuinely lovely. Grace introduced me to these moms by conversing with them at parks, coffee shops, public libraries, and community center programs. I never knew how she kept meeting all these people. When I asked her once, Grace gave me a weird look and said she believed that like attracts like.

I gave my daughter the cash I promised to babysit Onyx and Salem tonight. Then, I added an extra bit for them to have pizza delivered tonight if Shiloh wanted.

“Mom, you don’t have to give me the extra for pizza. I can pay for it for the boys and me,” Shiloh groaned.

I shook my head and narrowed my eyes.

“The money for watching your brothers tonight is for you. When they do their chores, Onyx and Salem will get their allowance. Don’t use your savings to pay for a treat for them, please,” I said.

“Thank you,” Shiloh said and took the extra money.

“If they are not listening to you or giving you a hard time, no pizza for them, and you keep the money. Okay?” I asked.

“Understood,” sighed my daughter. “They will be good, though. We all want you to have fun, Mom. You work hard to take care of us. The boys and I want you to have a life, too, though,” my sage daughter said.

I kissed her forehead and hugged my daughter. I can't believe how lucky I am. I do worry about when her wild streak kicks in. We all have one. I just hope it holds off for my sweet daughter as long as possible.

The doorbell rang, and I left my room to answer the front door. I could hear Shiloh shutting my bedroom door as she went. Grace was on the other side of the door when I opened it, and she whistled in appreciation.

My best friend exclaimed, “Mary did an awesome job finding you that dress! Rei, you look hot!”

“Thanks,” I grinned.

“Onyx, Salem! Come and say goodbye to Mom. She’s going out with Auntie Grace,” Shiloh yelled up the stairs.

Grace arched an eyebrow at Shiloh, who groaned and trudged up the stairs to get her little brothers.

“You know they can’t hear anything with their headphones on when gaming,” Grace reminded me when I stifled a laugh.

Footsteps were thundering down the stairs moments later, with the boys quickly hugging me and wishing me a great evening before racing up the stairs to return to their game. Grace crossed her arms and looked at me in disapproval.

“Hey, I have no problem with them gaming. They have friends they hang out with, and the boys get their schoolwork and chores done, too. Plus, I know where they are when gaming,” I said.

“Plus, parental controls are set up for when they use their devices and the internet goes off in the house at a certain time. Shiloh is the only one who has data available. All is well,” I added.

I did a grown-up version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" as I overheard Shiloh muttering "wallet, glasses, keys, and phone" in the background. I chuckled and shook my head. I wasn't driving, but I needed my glasses to see when I did. Even though Alex was driving us tonight, it was always best to be prepared. Grace and I were on our way to her apartment first, where I would drop off my overnight bag and enjoy a drink or two before we headed out for the night.

“I love you, kiddo. Keep the door locked, and if you need anything, call me immediately. We do have frozen pizza if you’d rather have that than delivery. You could keep the extra money if you wanted. The boys seem really into their game tonight and will probably only emerge from their room when hungry. At that point, they’ll eat anything,” I mused, thinking about how quickly Onyx and Salem raced back up the stairs to their room.

“Probably,” Shiloh laughed. “I’ll use it as a bribe to take them for ice cream this weekend if necessary.”

“Smart girl,” Grace grinned.

My best friend and I laughed and indulged in a few beverages as we discussed our week. We were slightly buzzed when Alex came to get us. He whistled as we walked out to his car after Grace had locked her door.

“Why do I feel like this is deja vu? Please don’t meet the man of your dreams tonight, Rei! You look hot, and I’d love a dance or two this time,” Alex teased.

“No promises,” I grinned as I fastened my seatbelt.

“That’s my girl,” Sam said proudly, and Chloe laughed.

Grace had been right. It had been months since our last night out, and I had missed spending time with my friends. We decided to have dinner at a cozy Italian restaurant, where we enjoyed a delicious meal while catching up on each other's lives. Afterward, we headed to the club for some dancing and fun. Even though it was my friends' birthday present, they graciously allowed me to leave a generous tip for our attentive waitress, who took care of us throughout the evening.

I nearly choked on the breath mint I was sucking on after dinner as we walked into the club. Playing pool at the far end was the gorgeous man who had replaced my spilled drink and his friends. I froze in my spot and had the urge to turn around and bolt from the club. Grace noticed and then looked from the pool table back to me and a grin started slowly spreading across her face.

"Are you interested in something, or someone, over there, Rei?" Grace asked with a sly smile.