Chapter 56

“Can’t tell who’s more eager for this, you or mom.” I mentioned.

Dad laughed cheerfully. “Make no mistake, Alex, your aunt’s a pretty girl, and watching her dance will be fun, but I’m not slavering at the notion or wanting to strip her naked and throw her in the pillows. Your mom is more than enough for me.”

It was weird, but I felt a slight jealous or territorial twitch at his words. I wouldn’t blame my dad for finding Alexa stupidly hot and wanting to bang her, but he just said he didn’t. And he wasn’t aware of my relationship with her, so clearly he was just affirming his dedication to my mother.

Who apparently was something of a freak.

I wonder if dad pee’d in her.

I closed the book suddenly, my face contorting at the horrid notion I’d just considered. Standing up, I told dad I was going to take a walk and stretch my legs. He waved absently as he continued grading and I left the office to wander around. I didn’t spend much time here in the Sciences buildings, because they weren’t my field and also because there was always the risk of people knowing who I was and asking me for tips about how to deal with my parents.

I spotted mom in the cafeteria and walked over to her. She beamed brightly upon seeing me.

“So, did you help your father in his office?” she asked as she took the juices she’d purchased and began strolling toward her office.

“Nothing to help him with,” I said, shrugging. “You know his office, it’s all weird and geeky, but incredibly well-organized and hermetically sealed. I think dust is afraid of that space.”

“Wish I had that problem,” she muttered. “One of our mutual students came by and offered to help me.”

“Lemme guess, Jeanie.” I said somewhat flatly.

“Yes,” mom said, smiling at me. “I take it she came by his office first, looking to curry favour?”

“Yep, and oozing her dumb all over the room,” I confirmed. “Dad looked like he was ready to scratch his brain out with a cheese-grater just because she was there.”

Mom sighed and nodded. “Her parents are very rich and make a lot of contributions to the university, so putting up with her lack of intellect is a necessary evil, I’m afraid. Still, I’m glad she showed, she met Allie and the two of them seemed to hit it off. I’m glad she’s able to make friends.”

“That is good,” I agreed, pleased for my aunt. I didn’t want to be the only person she knew. That would just be selfish. “Damned if I know what they would have to talk about though, if Jeanie is so dumb.”

“It sort of went by too quickly for me, but Alexa complimented Jeanie on a piece of jewelry she was wearing and it turned out to be some icon or logo for a band they both liked and the conversation went off from there. Jeanie may not know a quark from a tricycle, but she knows her music, seemingly.”

“Eh, better your sister than me,” I mused. “Most bands I would listen to don’t have icons or logos that would look good on jewelry. Jeanie said I looked like dad.”

“You do,” mom said, nodding. “You’ve got my serious nature, except for that abominable sense of humour, but you take after your father physically. If you ever get into bodybuilding the way he is, we’re going to need to move to a bigger house.”

I chuckled. “Might be a few years yet before I commit to that. So do you want me to take your sister to find-“

“Alex,” mom said, interrupting me and stopping to turn and look at me. “Could you please start referring to her by her name? Allie or Alexa or something? Calling her ‘your sister’ or things like that sounds so impersonal and like she’s a burden somehow.”

“Sure,” I said, nodding and secretly pleased that she had insisted, since it would no longer look like I was being fond or too informal if I used her name. This whole ruse was working out well. “As I was saying, would like me to take Alexa to find her belly-dancing outfit while you and dad are here or should we wait for you?”

She considered. “That’s up to you, I guess, but it might be fun to go along. Where would you even find an outfit like that?”

I shrugged. “I know a lot of cosplayers and people in the SCA, I’m sure they can point me in the right direction. Give me a little while to contact them and then we’ll all go.”

“Excellent,” mom said, almost smiling cheerfully as she resumed walking. “I’ll tell your father we’re knocking off early and we’ll make up the time another day. You talk to your nerks and I’ll go tell Allie what we’re doing.”

I nodded. “Uh, okay, I’ll see you back at the cars, then.”

I guess part of me was disappointed that I wouldn’t have Alexa to myself, but at the same time it did help to keep our cover if mom and dad were along for this expedition. Sure enough, some friends knew exactly where to point me and I had the information we needed. God bless the geeks.

I meandered about for an hour and then went to the cars when I got a text from my mother saying they were ready. I was the first to arrive, my mom, dad and Alexa showing up a few minutes later. Alexa seemed excited about what we were planning. Mom asked her to ride in her vehicle so they could talk about the outfit and what she had planned. Dad would take his vehicle and I’d lead our little convoy to the place where she could make her purchases.

Exotic stores are easy enough to come by, if you know where to look. Our sojourn took us to the edge of downtown, not quite the burbs but a good jaunt nonetheless. The store we were going to was a pan-Middle Eastern place, covering clothing, furniture and decore from Afghanistan to Morocco. The attendants were very helpful once we’d explained what we’d wanted and I was not overly surprised to find out that Alexa spoke more than a little Arabic. I could say hello, thank you and you’re welcome, that was about it, not including any loan words that had crept into the English language.

The girls shoo’d us away while they began their quest to find her ensemble. Dad and I wandered about for some time aimlessly, simply looking at the curios and other things of interest. Finally, though, dad grunted and declared he was buying two more hookahs, in case my mom’s invitation list of large. He found two very exotic and classy Syrian hookahs, each of which had multiple hoses and stood well over three feet tall. Not one to stop there, he also bought two Turkish coffee sets, complete with trays. He never did anything half-assed, I’ll give him that. We then went to inspect the available beanbag chairs.

Alexa clearly had something in mind, because she and mom were very busy, putting together an outfit that was best described as ‘modular’- it was a base outfit that could be added to or taken away from as the wearer saw fit, complete with chains, bangles and diaphanous silks, gauzes and veils. I caught glimpses of the items, but if we ever got too close, mom made us go away again. I guess I’d be waiting to see it, which was fine, because I’d be enjoying it later in a way no one else would.

We met mom and Alexa at the front of the store, with dad and I having purchased the hookahs and four more full-sized beanbag chairs, one of which was big enough for two people. Mom made us wait outside before they purchased anything, so we couldn’t see it. She then came out with Alexa and instructed us to meet them at home, they’d be following shortly.