A Reunion

Downtown Boston

Nicolette's nerves were on edge and threatening to drive her mad. Saying the relationship between her and her parents had never been good was a gross understatement. Yet, here she was sitting in a restaurant anxiously waiting to meet with them.

Wanting to show just how sophisticated and elegant she had become. She had hogged the bathroom all morning and done a complete beauty routine.

She started with a face mask then plucked her eyebrows and her chin. The biggest struggle was her hair. Afraid that her parents would disapprove of her natural curls, she considered straightening it. Thankfully, she caught herself just in time.

Her hair was a part of the woman she was today. She loved how it coiled and curled to her head after a shower and the natural volume it had even after it was combed out. She was proud of her hair and there was no way she would change it to please anyone.

She eventually settled on chiney bumps, a style she had picked up from a Jamaican friend, in the front and a poofball in the back. She finished with a light slather of edge control. When she finally emerged from the bathroom she looked like a Nubian princess.

As good as she looked, it still wasn't enough to stop the constant spikes of fear and uncertainty in her tummy. She was fidgety and jumped every time the restaurant doors opened.

"For the love of heaven Nik, stop that! You are freaking me out." Tianna interrupted her reverie. "They apologized in the email didn't they? Plus it sounds like they want to make amends and help you so calm down. Besides that's why I am here. If they try any funny business I will knock them out."

The goofy grin on my best friend's face made me burst out laughing. She couldn't hurt a fly but knew the promise would help calm my nerves. Lost in a battle of wits, neither one of us noticed my parents entering until I was suddenly engulfed by a lady in a cream-colored trench coat.

The look of dubiousness and shock on Nikki's face was all I needed to confirm that this was, in fact, her mother. "Nicolette, oh my goodness; Nicolette, we've missed you so much. I was a horrible mother to you. I am so sorry!"

Mrs. Winspere' sharp wail was shocking. She sounded nothing like the cold woman Nikki had described to me.

Soon after, there was a gruff voice behind her. "Hey, hey, stop hogging her. I want to hug her too!"

Mr. Winspere was a tall man. A little smaller in comparison to my husband's 6'2" frame but no less imposing. He stepped forward and wiggled his way in between the mother-daughter duo.

Nikki's eyes connected with mine, bewildered but glowing with happiness as tears trickled down her cheeks. I could only imagine what such a reception from her parents meant to her. Suddenly, I felt my wet cheeks and realized that I was crying too. I truly hoped that this was the start of a beautiful relationship between the three of them.