“You as well, and everything is ready for a successful evening.”
“I don’t want you in the kitchen, come out and mingle with us.”
“I’ll be out in a minute. Maybe I’ll find my lady love tonight.” He says with a Cheshire cat grin.
“Hell maybe, I didn’t get any “we aren’t going to make it” replies to the RSVP’s I sent out for tonight’s grand opening, so it should be a full house. But in order to meet her you can’t be stuck back here in the kitchen,” I tell him.
“I know, I know. If I’m not out there in five minutes, send someone to get me.” I nod and leave him in the kitchen making sure the final touches are to his standards. When I make it back to Carla the rest of my family is walking in.
“Ash, this might be my new favorite restaurant.” Joyce says. “And I want to ride several more times on that gondola, I’m just saying.” She and Joseph look front-cover ready in matching navy blue and silver.
“Me too!” True says as she and Atlas come in wearing burgundy and gold.
“I tell you what, after we close the restaurant, we’ll go ride as many times as you ladies want. Anson and Megan are wearing bluish grey, Aryan and Brooklyn have on grey, and Jabarri is bringing up the rear in all white.
“Where is Josh and Savvy?” I ask looking around and noticing they are not in attendance.
“We had a last-minute errand to run, but we made it.” Josh says as he and Savvy walk in. Leave it our oldest brother to make us look like we’re wearing garanimals compared to him and Savvy. He’s in a dark cream and gold colored suit that matches perfectly with Savvy’s gold gown. Her hair is in a gorgeous full afro and Josh looks proud to have her at his side. I am glad to see them back to normal. After his fuck up by the pool it took him a minute to get Savvy to not be mad at him. She took the silent treatment to an all-new level of petty. And I think Josh was willing to do anything to get her to talk to him again. Truthfully, I think he had to buy her like an island to get her to forgive him. I look behind him and see our parents looking stunning and head-turning in blood red from head to toe. My father and I touch foreheads in greeting and I lift my mom in a back breaking bear hug.
“Mom, dad, y’all look amazing, thank you for coming to my grand opening.”
“You never have to ask for our support, tama.”
The rest of the family show up, Jaasiel finally comes out the kitchen and we look like the royal family of Mississippi. We have a few minutes to ourselves before the guests begin to show up. Once they do, they never stop, and Gluttony is a success if the night and the reservation ledger is anything to go by. Once we opened, people were free to call and make reservations. According to Holly, the reservations manager, we are booked out for several months. We will eventually make our way up to the Velvet, Bree’s lounge club, for a little live music and some drinks and a surprise I’ve arranged.
“Asher, this is amazing. Is everything how you imagined it would be? Josh questions.
“No, it’s more than I envisioned. Having our family here to experience this means more than I realized. So, thank you.” He says as he lifts his glass in the air in an impromptu salute. They all raise their glasses in agreement with him.
“This family has gone through a lot in the past few years, but we’ve also been blessed immensely with our wives and significant others, more family than we ever could have imagined. Friends that I know will be with us for life and most importantly a love, understanding, and support that grows and flows like water. I am proud to be a part of such an amazing family and group of people. Asher congratulations on the success of one part of your vision, here's to success in all areas of what you are creating. I love you. To us and all the blessings we have been given and all the ones still to come.” Josh says as he raises his glass, and we all follow suit. I wipe the tear from the corner of my eye and feel Carla squeeze my thigh in support.
I know why I kept my club a secret from them for so many years but now it isn’t as important as it once was, and I can only look to Carla as she sits so beautifully next to me and feel it’s because I have her in my life. I want to pull her across my lap and spank her for taking so long coming into my life, she is balance I have desired for so long. No matter, we have lifetimes to make up for lost time. No, not just this lifetime but all the lifetimes until this life is no longer in existence. I will find her in every life, through every dimension, or reality. I refuse to live out any form of life without her by my side.
I decided to close the restaurant early so we could go to Bree’s lounge, even though the staff I have to run the restaurant is more than competent, I wanted to be here to talk to, greet, and meet everyone who came through the door tonight, and I have been able to, with Carla right by my side. Once we go up to the lounge, I want to have said good night to the last guest and leave the staff to clean up and either go home or come up and enjoy the lounge too. Carla and I say goodnight to last of the diners and we head to our private elevator to head up to the top floor where the lounge is located.