We had been at it since daybreak. My nerves were all bungled, and Starlet rushing around barking out orders like a drill sergeant wasn’t helping. In a state of utter brain drain, I threw myself onto the loveseat in their living room and refused to budge.

“I thought you were helping with the ribbon hanging,” Starlet said, barging in and disturbing what little peace I’d managed to eek out.

“Haven’t I done enough? I helped with the table setup. I helped get the trellis up. I even made sure the cake got here. Hell, I’m tired,” I groaned, placing a throw pillow over my head. “Besides, I’m expecting somebody, so I need to be where I can hear the doorbell.”

“Well, you’re not going to hear it in here napping, when there’s work to be done,” Starlet snapped. “Rain, you bedda do something ‘bout your girl.” Her shoes tapped out a rhythm across the hardwood floor as she departed the scene.

I slid the pillow off my face and peered at Rain. He smiled back at me, raising a sauced rib in salute. That’s when I noticed the hand that had been behind his back was holding a plate of food.

“How the hell did you get food,” I exclaimed. “I’ve been trying to pry something out of Starlet for the last four hours. That wench is going to starve all of us to death.”

Rain laughed, slowly waving the rib just above my nose. “I’m willing to share my bounty . . . if you promise to share yours.”

“That shit ain’t fair.” I swiped at the meat, missing it by inches. “Boy, don’t make me get up from here.”

“Hey, you want it, you’re gonna have to come get it. But you better be willing to pay your dues on it.”

I tossed the pillow down and lurched out the chair. Rain took a step back, laughing so hard, I thought he was going to drop the plate. “I thought you were tired,” he said.

“I’m more hungry than I am tired,” I huffed, snatching a drumstick off the plate. “Starlet has truly lost her mind, if she thinks that everybody’s going to work their asses off and not eat until she blesses the damn food. That’s that psycho shit, and I told Alex so.”

“You did not.”

“I did, too. Those therapy sessions aren’t helping her,” I said between engulfing the chicken. “Have you seen how exhausted Alex looks trying to keep things together? Ask me, she’s only gotten worse.”

“Alex does look a little tired, but still—I think you’re just pissed because she’s making you earn your keep,” he said, jokingly.

“Maybe so, but the fact remains that if I was a kid they’d get her ass for child abuse.”

Rain cracked up and began to chow down on the rib. “So, have you told anybody about our surprise guest?”

“If I told them then it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it?”

“You know what I mean. Did you tell Starlet?”

“With the state-of-mind that girl’s in that would have been like telling everybody. Have you not been paying attention to anything I’ve said in the last couple of minutes? She’s psycho. She needs help.”

“I heard you, but I don’t think her state-of-mind has anything to do with her coordinating the celebration. I mean, this is what she does for a living.”

“Exactly. She does it for a living—with paid staff—so it shouldn’t be all this running around making folks into indentured servants.”

“Ahh . . . I see what this is about. You’re just upset, because you had to break a nail or two.” Rain chuckled and started working on the mac and cheese.

“Are you trying to say I don’t know anything about hard work?”

“Nah, we know you can get down and dirty. It’s more about your lack of feminine skills.”

“Oh, to hell with you. I got feminine skills.”

“Yeah, maybe in the bedroom,” he said, grinning.

“We’ll see about that.” I took the plate from him. “Now, stop hogging the mac and cheese.”

The front door closed, followed by heavy walking. I pulled myself away from the meal to see who it was.

As usual, the one person with a knack for ruining a good moment appeared. “You would wait until the majority of the work is done to show up,” I said.

“Nice to see you, too,” Mason said, sneering in Rain’s direction. “Just like you, Yanni, to bring bad weather to a barbecue.”

“What?  At least I'm not a loser walking the streets,” Rain replied.

Even I had to pause and chuckle at that lame comeback, as Mason just shook his head.  “You are true to your profession’s stereotypes, doc,” Mason snorted. “No sense of humor whatsoever.”

“Mase, don’t go startin’ nothing. This is Red’s day, and I’ll help them kick you out before I let you ruin it,” I said.

“Why it gotta be me that’s ruining shit? We wouldn’t be having this conversation, if Morning Dew had kept his ass home.”

“Look, man, you need to cut down on the bullshit. Every time we meet up, you got something to say. Don’t you think it’s time to let bygones, be bygones?”

“What the fuck ever. I just came in here to take a leak anyway,” Mason said, making a beeline for the guest bath.

“What were you saying about psychos?” Rain asked, once the door slammed shut.

“That boy’s probably a high priest in the order of psychos,” I said, cracking up.

I was about to dip into the peach cobbler, when my phone rang. Recognizing Terry’s number, I glanced up at Rain, suddenly not so hungry. “Looks like the party is about to begin.”