Forbidden (Completed) EDITING - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Omniscient
Balloons, banners and bunch of other extreme decorations for Briana's graduation filled Terrance's huge backyard. Family and friends all gathered to celebrate this joyous occasion.
Though it is a joyous occasion. Erica is the opposite of joyous at the moment. She's anxious and can't fully relax. Running around like a chicken with it's head cut off to distract herself from any and everybody, including her mother.
"Erica, will you sit down. You're making me dizzy." Tammy said as she sat at a table on the deck.
"I will in a minute."
"No, you will now." Tammy got up from her seat and pulled her cousin by the arm to join her. "What is this about? Why aren't you enjoying yourself?"
"I don't know... I guess I'm just worried about when Demarcus gets here. What is everyone going to think. That's all I've been hearing in passing conversations... 'I can't wait to meet this mystery man Erica's been dating' via your mother to mine." Erica gave her a look.
"Child, you know our mothers are gonna do what they do best. That's why I barely tell mine what's going on in my life." She sipped whatever mixed concoction she had in her red cup. "Here, calm your nerves." She handed Erica the cup.
Erica shrugged and took a sip. Whatever it was, it was strong. Burning as it went down her throat but she took another sip. At the moment she needs all of the liquid courage she gets.
"Though, I don't like your baby daddy. I must say he's been a great dad. He did the damn thing with this party," Tammy pointed her finger. "But that's all I'm gonna give him."
Erica giggled.
"Ma, look who we found as we pulled up." Morgan said as she stepped out of the patio door. Trailing behind her was Demarcus.
"Hey, Tammy. How are you?" He greeted her.
"Hi Demarcus," she sang as she made googly eyes at Erica. "I'm good how are you?"
"Couldn't be better actually." His eyes directed towards Erica.
The liquor calmed her but she still had the same worry despite everything.
"Come on Maddy and Morgan, let's leave your mama alone." Tammy got up from her seat. The three of them walked away.
Leaving Erica and Demarcus alone.
He sat in the chair next to her. He placed his hand on her thigh. "Hey, love. You look beautiful today." He kissed her cheek.
"Hi, baby. Thank you."
Demarcus sensed from her body language that something was off or bothering her.
He patted his lap. For her to sit. "Come here."
Erica gathered the material of her flowing sundress and sat on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm just nervous about you being here. Us in front of everyone. What are they thinking about us?" She sighed as she looked out over the sea of people in the backyard.
"Don't worry about that. If they don't like it, then that's on them. That doesn't have shit to do with us. What they should see is a man who's madly in love with a woman." He kissed her shoulder.
Erica loved Demarcus's perspective on certain things when she couldn't see it herself. It was much easier for her to cower in the shadows and wait till something blows over. That's how she usually deals with things.
But Demarcus was right. He loved her and she loved him. That's all that matters despite what any gossiping hens had to say.
"Come on. Let me introduce everyone before they start coming in droads." She took his hand in hers.
Erica uncovered a plate wrapped in foil with a few pieces of cake. Usually she wouldn't indulge in something like this unless it was a cheat day. But as well as today went she wanted something to sweet to celebrate it.
From the way conversations went. Everyone took a liking to Demarcus. He had a bit of converstaion for every topic. Yeah there were a few stairs. Everyone noticed the obvious of the age gap. But no one said anything.
Erica pulled out a barstool from the counter. Immediately dug into the yellow cake with vanilla butter cream icing. She thought about getting some ice cream but fought the tempation.
Foots steps shuffling down the hallway came closer anc closer until her mother appeared in a loungwear set.
"Can I join you?" Cynthia asked.
"Sure, Mama." Erica put a forkful of cake into her mouth.
Cynthia joined her at the counter. She didn't say much of anything. She just stared at Erica.
"Your boyfriend is really nice, charming even. It's rare to find that in the times of now."
Erica double taked looking at her mother. Wanting to say Who are you and what have you done with my mother.
"Okay where's the lecture?" Erica put her fork down.
"What lecture?" Cynthia raised and eyebrow.
"You know how I'm too old to be finding love with a much younger man. Or a joke about how I'm patroling the kindergarten yards? An insult. Something."
Cynthia took a deep breath. "I was wrong. I was wrong about a lot when it came to you. You have to forgive me for all those times I've misjudged you and some of the things you've done. I just come from a different time, so a lot of this stuff is new to me."
Erica almost fell off the stool. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her mother's usual condescending remarks were no more.
"Umm, wow." She swallowed. "I forgive you, Mama."
"Thank you, Baby. But—,"
Erica slightly rolled her eyes but waited to actually hear what her mother had to say next.
"He seems like a really good man and has a good head on his shoulders. But for your sake I just want you to make sure his intentions are good."
"They are. I trust him. There haven't been any red flags to deter me."
"If you're in love. Then I wish you nothing but the best."
Erica leaned her mother's body into hers for a hug. A much needed one. They hadn't been affectionate towards each other in years. Often greeting each other with that double cheek kiss french people do.
So this felt good.
Midnight
Out of nowhere a storm came. Erica was still up so thunder and lighting didn't startle her. She's glad it held off till after the party. She couldn't sleep and didn't know why. As great as the day was she should've been fast asleep by now.
Little did she know she wasn't the only one.
Her phone vibrated against the nightstand. Starling her a little. She grabbed it and saw Demarcus's picture pop up. She answered it, it was hard to hear with the rain beating against her window.
"Yes?." She said.
"Come open the door. I forgot my key."
She made her the exit from her bedroom to the hallway through the living room to the front door. She couldn't believe he was even here. She gave him clear instructions that while her parents were staying with her. He couldn't stay over.
Yes it's her house and yes she's grown but it was still a respect thing for her.
She quietly unlocked the door. He was standing there, his clothes drenched from the rain. It looked as if he was playing in it.
"You're soaked." She said in a whisper as she pulled him in.
They went into the bedroom. He started stripping out of his wet clothes. Erica gave him a towel. She watched him.
"What are you doing here?"
"I know you told me to lay low while your folks here but I couldn't sleep. On a night like this the only way for me to get some rest is with you laying next to me." He pulled a white T-shirt over his head.
It warmed Erica's heart hearing that.
"I couldn't sleep either. So I guess that's saying something." She put her hands on her hips. "I can't believe you drove all the way here in this storm." She got back in the bed.
"Love makes you do some crazy shit, sometimes." He grinned, joining her in the bed.
Erica turned the tv off. She would rather listen to the rain. It was one of her favorite sounds.
Demarcus snuggled up on her. His hand resting on her thigh. It was the closeness he wanted more than anything. The warmth from her body relaxed him.
"Don't try anything, Mister." Erica warned him. Knowing how much he loved surprising her in the middle of the night.
"I'm not." He kissed the back of her neck.
They laid there steadily. The sound of the rain carrying them into a blissful sleep.