The Hustler's Daughter {DC Bookdiva Publications} (10 page)

Super Sweet 16

   Mercedes
lay sound asleep in her canopy bed with the covers wrapped firmly around her
body. She did not want to wake up just yet. As much as she wanted this day to
come, she had mixed emotions that it was here. This was supposed to be her big
day. She turned over, trying to avoid the sun light that peeked in through her
pink sheer curtains.

   After
several moments of debating whether or not to get up, Mercedes heard a knock on
her door. It was her mother; she walked into the room holding a small Carvel
ice cream cake that had the number sixteen in the middle.

   “Happy
birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Mercedes, happy birthday
to you baby.” Maria sang. She placed the cake on the nightstand.

   “Aww
come on Mercedes it’s your birthday, wake up.” Her mother pulled the covers off
of her daughter’s body and playfully tickled her stomach. She knew that would
wake her up.

   “Alright
Ma, I’m up…I’m up.” Mercedes chuckled, as she held back the laughter. She sat
up in her bed looking a hot mess. Her baby hair was all frazzled and pieces of
her wavy hair were falling over in front of her face.

Maria
chuckled at her.

   “What’s
so funny?” She was curious.

   “Your
hair girl…looking like a damn lion, you need to go get your hair done.” Maria
smiled, knowing how to make Mercedes smile when she was cranky in the morning.

   “Whatever
Ma” Mercedes playfully rolled her eyes as she let out a chuckle.

   “Make
a wish.” Maria smiled. She grabbed the ice cream cake off of the night stand
and placed it in front of Mercedes. She closed her eyes for about ten seconds,
made a wish, and then opened them back up.

   “What
did you wish for?” Maria jokingly asked.

   “No,
I can’t tell you Ma. If I do, my wish won’t come true.”

    “I’m
going to put this back in the freezer and Claudia is making breakfast. Be ready
in about a half an hour. It gives you enough time to get showered up and
dressed.” Mercedes watched as her mother walked out of her room and disappeared
into the corridors of their home.

   Mercedes
quickly snatched up her Hello Kitty robe of the door and walked into her
bathroom. She turned on her shower and wished she could just sit in the jacuzzi
and relax. But today was her birthday, and she didn’t have time to sit and lamp
around.       

When
she was done in the shower, she threw on her robe and headed towards her
walk-in closet. She quickly scanned over it to see what she was going to wear.
It really didn’t matter; she looked good in everything.

   Today
was her Sweet Sixteen party and she still had more items to purchase. She
settled on an all pink Juicy Couture track suit and accessorized with some
matching custom made Dunks. She chose a white velour Heritage tote to carry.

   Mercedes
finished getting ready and began descend the spiral stair case. Her stomach
growled as she smelled the aroma of the food that the maid prepared. Mercedes
walked into the kitchen and placed her purse on the empty chair so she could
chow down.

“Good
morning Claudia.” Mercedes greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.

“Buenos
dias.” Claudia said in Spanish, as she finished up preparing breakfast.

“Good
morning Mami.” Mercedes kissed her mom on the cheek and hugged her. Maria
wasn’t really paying attention because she had her nose buried in the New York
Times.  She was sipping on a cup of hazelnut coffee.

 “Mhmm,
something smells good.” Mercedes New York and Cuban accent kicked in heavily.
She pulled out the stool and sat down, “What did you cook?” Mercedes inquired.

“Your
favorite…I cooked some blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon,
sausages, hash browns and french toast. I cooked a whole feast.” Mercedes and
Claudia chuckled.

“Well
thank God you did because I’m starving.” Mercedes rubbed her stomach as she
watched Claudia pile some food on her plate.

“Where’s
Papi, Mami?” Mercedes looked up at her mother. Maria took off her reading
glasses and let out a sigh.

“Your
father went out of town; you know that honey.”

“But
he said he would be back today.” Mercedes barked.

“Sweetie
I know, I know, but maybe he will be here tomorrow morning.”

“He
can’t miss my birthday party! He never missed any of my birthday parties.”
Mercedes’ entire mood changed. She knew she didn’t want to wake up this morning
for fear of bad news and now it was confirmed. She was mad that her father
wouldn’t be there for her first big official party.

“Mercedes
I’m sorry Honey…your father had some business to take care of.” Maria
apologized, but Mercedes wasn’t trying to hear it. She had heard it plenty of
times before. She had hoped today, of all days, would be different.

“I
have a surprise for you.” Maria picked up her Gucci purse and started digging
through it. Mercedes watched as she slid three different shaped black boxes
across the kitchen table.

“What’s
this?” Mercedes asked as she looked at all three of the boxes wondering which
one she wanted to open up first.

“You
have to open it up to see.” Her mother assured her with a sly look on her face.
Mercedes quickly opened the smallest box; it was a 3 finger ring platinum
diamond ring. The diamonds spelled the name Carter. She opened another box that
held diamond earrings which said Mercedes; they were huge. Finally, she opened
the last box from her father. It was a long diamond necklace with a key
dangling. She wondered what the key was for, but she didn’t think too much of
it.

“And
this is a present from me.” Maria smiled as she picked up a pink gift bag off
the floor. It had pink tissue covering the top. Mercedes snatched up the bag
and it revealed a black and fuchsia goat Peakaboo bag from Fendi to match a
pair of  black and fuchsia Peakaboo shoes. Last but not least, there was a
little box inside that contained some pink Baguette Fendi glasses. Mercedes absolutely
adored them; she had wanted them for a long time.

 “Thanks
Mom.” Mercedes reached her arms across the table and hugged her. She was almost
squeezing the life out of her. “Okay.” Maria said through gritted teeth, as she
made a face and patted Mercedes on the back. Mercedes smiled as she pulled back
from the embrace and sat down in her chair.

Mercedes
ate her breakfast and was finally ready to get her special day started. She
hoped her father would be there to complete it; that remained to be seen.

“Are
you ready to go Mercedes?” Maria asked as she stood up.

“Yeah
I’m ready.” Mercedes washed her hands in the kitchen sink after placing her
plate and utensils there.

“Alright
let me grab my keys and we can leave okay?” Mercedes nodded as she grabbed her
purse and her Juicy Couture pink sun glasses. Her mother returned with the
keys, they thanked Claudia for her wonderful breakfast and left their home.

The
sun beamed down on them as they walked down the steps. Mercedes put on her
glasses and swung her hair back as she walked towards her mother’s 2006 BMW X5.
They put on some Mary J. Blige and bumped it throughout the entire ride. They
hit up the malls and brought some new shoes and clothes. This was a regular
occasion for them. After they were done picking up her dress, they headed over
in the city to the Dominican salon to get their hair done.

“I
need to get my own salon.” Maria said out loud as they got out the car and
headed into the salon. It was always a dream of hers to have her own, but she
didn’t need to work or want for anything.

Mercedes
decided to get it washed, pressed, and to have Shirley temple curls with a bane
that hung a little bit below her eye brows. Mercedes was looking as gorgeous as
ever for her birthday. After they got their hair done, they went next door to
Lucy’s to get manicures and pedicures.

It
was now time to prepare for the party. She couldn’t wait until later that
night. She was about to have the biggest and most anticipated party of the
year. This party would shut the city down, this was her night and it was all
about Mercedes Carter.

Hours
later…

   Standing
in front of the vanity mirror in her room, Mercedes finished putting spritz on
her Shirley temple curls to keep them in place. She unloosened them to give
them a fuller look. Her hair looked perfect. Her pink and white French manicure
matched her dress and her pink eye shadow brought out her green eyes. Mercedes
chuckled at herself as she played around in the mirror, pursing her lips
together blowing kisses. She was indeed beautiful and nobody could tell her
anything different.

   She
accessorized with a small Etoile four-row band ring from Tiffany’s that brought
out her long French manicured nails. Her small ears were glistening with
Tiffany metro hoop earrings and she wore the necklace her father had brought
her. She didn’t care that her mother said she had too much jewelry on, she was
so icy that Gucci Mane didn’t have shit on her.

Mercedes
grabbed several of her Tiffany metro bangles-each of them were worth almost
$6,000 each. She slid them on her right arm.

 She
admired her beauty with her hands on her hips and gazed into the mirror.  She
eyed her voluptuous curves, which were perfect for the dress she was rocking.
She looked and felt amazing in her two toned, white and pink strapless cocktail
dress by Paris. The pink satin waist band was designed with faceted jewels that
were replaced with real diamonds. It hugged tightly around the top of the dress
making her breasts look plump and perfect.

Maria
stood at the bottom of the spiral staircase beaming with the anticipation of
seeing her daughter.

“Mercedes!!!!!!!!!!”

 “I’m
coming Ma”, Mercedes said as she grabbed her white clutch and made her way down
the spiral staircase. Maria began taking pictures with one of her professional
cameras. Don bought them for her and Mercedes hated them because she was always
snapping pictures like a paparazzi. She did it every year for her birthday and
on other occasions as well. Mercedes smiled and her dimples were in full
effect. Her girls sat on the couch laughing at Mercedes as her mother kept
snapping.

“Mom
you know how I feel about that camera.” Mercedes chuckled as she was standing
next to her mother.

“I
know, I know, baby but this is your Sweet 16 girl. This only happens once and I
must capture every moment. I remember when I was sixteen,” her mother smiled.

“Ma!”
Mercedes cut her off giving her a look that said-‘this is not the time for
that.’

“We
have to go.” Mercedes reminded her mother, as she saw the two toned pink and
white limo entering the gates.

Mercedes
smiled as she followed her mother through the front door and they got into the
first limo. The other limo driver picked up her girlfriend’s in a black limo.

As
they pulled up to the banquet hall, Mercedes saw many people inside and
outside. Some were still trying their best to get in. If you didn’t have an
invitation, you wouldn’t be able to set foot into the party. There was a white
carpet which rolled out to where the limo was parked. The driver got out and
walked around to the passenger side. He opened the door for Mercedes and her
mother.

Mercedes
made a grand entrance. The onlookers envied her as her heels touched the ground
showing off her dress. She loved to be the center of attention.

Entering
the huge foyer, pink and white balloons bombarded the ceiling and every one
screamed “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MERCEDES.” There were more than a thousand people in
the hall. Many people braved the crowd and tried to give her hugs, kisses and
mostly gifts.

Inside
there was a private lounge with tables filled with her father’s workers. They
provided the security and all of them greeted her. She thanked them as she
looked for the one person who should have been there to greet her. He was
nowhere to be found and she felt that he had let her down.

“Happy
Birthday, Mercedes.” The girls said in unison as they all walked up to her and
gave her individual hugs.

“You
look good.” Candy complimented her.

“Thank
you.” she yelled over the music. Mary J. Blige’s, “Family affair.” pumped from
the speakers as the bass thumped and the music spread throughout the entire
hall. Everyone started wilin’ out and showing off their dance moves.

Mercedes
didn’t waste any time, she started dancing and laughing with her girls. As they
danced together on top of the stage, the music was interrupted and Mercedes
looked up.

“What
the fuck?” Mercedes blurted out, she was mad that the DJ had stopped the music.
She looked up and was staring at the DJ who was now making an announcement.

“Are
ya’ll having a good time?” DJ Fat Scoop yelled. Her mother secured the well
known New York DJ for her daughter’s Sweet Sixteen party- nothing but the best
for Mercedes.