Black Goddess Summer

Chapter 1

April

The sun in my parents’ garden feels warm on my neck, but not so warm that it’s uncomfortable. Even if it was, the chilled white wine being poured into each of our glasses by the staff would make quick work of that.

“Thank you, Gerald,” I say, hoping I’ve got the man’s name right.

There are always so many waiters and housekeepers and drivers that it’s hard to keep track, much as I try. To my relief, though, he gives me a warm smile and a nod and steps away to top up my cousin’s glass to my left. Although come to think of it, he probably would have smiled even if he wasn’t Gerald. That’s the kind of politeness that Kline money can buy, I suppose.

Around me, the lunch table is alive with chatter, as it always is when my parents, brothers, cousins, and aunt get together. It’s about the law firm of course, and I stifle a yawn.

“Once Brandon becomes a partner,” my dad is saying, smiling proudly at my oldest brother. “We can expand our clientele.”

“Exactly, we need more corporate clients. Class action lawsuits are where it’s at,” Brandon says and I automatically tune out.

I have little interest in the running of the firm, which is a rarity in this family. But I have clients of my own to think about — not massive corporations trying to avoid class action lawsuits because they made something that turns out to cause cancer or whatever, but female businesswomen, entrepreneurs, and CEOs that want to reach a wider audience.

My thoughts turn to my latest client — a yoga instructor turned fashion designer who just hired me to manage her podcast. I pick at my lunch, but I barely even taste what I’m eating, even though it’s probably a gourmet masterpiece.

My mind is already too full of ideas about the podcast and marketing strategy, about how to help her sell her workout clothes without the podcast sounding like one big sales pitch.

This is what I love about my work — it’s a puzzle just waiting to be solved, and knowing that I’m helping to empower women makes it even more rewarding. I’m already planning out the first five episodes in my mind when I hear my name across the table.

“And what about you, April?” comes Aunt Edna’s voice. “How’s your little business coming along?”

She shoots me a barely disguised smirk and I feel myself stiffen a little.

“It’s going great,” I reply with a wide smile, determined not to let her needling get to me. “I just got another client actually, so I’ll be taking up her podcast strategy and seeing how we can boost her business with really informative content.”

Aunt Edna just tsks though, as if nothing I just said has any worth to it.

“Are you really still doing the podcast thing?” Brandon asks, shaking his head. “It’s not like that’s even a real business.”

“Yeah, couldn’t they just call into talkback radio if they want to reach listeners?” my other brother Noah says with a scoff that tells me he’s very pleased with his joke.

Brandon laughs at this and Noah looks even more pleased with himself.

“Listen, honey,” my dad says from the head of the table. “It’s nice that you have this little hobby business, but when are you going to start taking yourself seriously? You have the whole family law firm at your disposal if you want it. What about starting as a clerk and working your way up like Brandon’s done?”

Brandon beams at my dad’s spotlight but I’m silently fuming. I don’t know why I even bother trying to explain what I do — it’s clear it will never be good enough for my family.

Well, not all my family luckily. My cousins, Catherine and Sam, shoot me sympathetic looks and I vaguely hear my mom telling my dad to lay off me.

“At least if you had a husband to look after you, it wouldn’t matter so much,” Aunt Edna starts up again, shifting the conversation to her second-favorite way to humiliate me.

“April doesn’t do serious relationships,” Brandon chimes in with another smug look. “Just flings.”

“She’s too busy with her podcasts to find a boyfriend anyway,” Noah adds, once again looking to Brandon for approval.

I’m well-practiced at smiling and bearing the sting of my family’s barbs, so I don’t bother to argue back. Instead, I eat what’s left of my lunch and plan to leave as quickly as I can. Once most of our plates are empty, I take that as my opportunity to slip away.

“Well, thank you for the lovely lunch everyone,” I say as politely as I can muster. “But I have a few things I need to take care of so if you’ll excuse me.”

I stand up from the table and give everyone a polite nod. My cousins give me apologetic but understanding looks but my mom hates to see me leave.

“April, please stay,” she says, reaching for my hand.

“Sorry Mom, I really do have to take care of some things,” I lie, giving her hand a little squeeze before I turn away from the garden lunch and make my way towards sweet relief.

The moment I turn, the smile drops from my face and I let out a sigh.

“She’s too sensitive.” Aunt Edna’s voice floats toward me from the table, and all of a sudden I know exactly what I need to unwind from all this. I pull out my phone, scrolling through my contacts as I walk through the house and toward the garage.

“Hey Hailey,” I say into my phone the moment I get into my car. “Is that invitation for tonight’s party still on the table? Because after the lunch I just had, I could really use a drink.”

“Oh absolutely,” comes my friend’s voice on the other end of the line. “I’ll send you the address.”