Kai ’ s Corner
excerpt of Open Door Marriage by Naleighna Kai
THANKSGIVING - CHICAGO , ILLINOIS NOVEMBER 22 — 7:23 P . M .
Photo Credit : Pete Stenberg Photography Cover designed by J . L . Woodson for Woodson Creative Studio
“ You slept with my aunt ?”
The words still didn ’ t register , even though this had to be Tori ’ s fifth time saying them . She glared at her fiancé , still desperately trying to come to terms with the information her mother had blasted to everyone at the packed Thanksgiving dinner table .
“ Seriously ? How is that even humanly possible when you didn ’ t know the woman four hours ago ?” Tori shouted . “ Tori , l-let me explain ,” Dallas stammered . Twelve pairs of eyes were now focused on the not-quiteblissful couple standing at the bottom of the stairs just off from the dining room .
“ But not here . Let ’ s go somewhere and talk . It ’ s not what you think .”
“ What did you do ?” Tori snapped , glaring up at Dallas . “ Trip over the sheets , and your penis somehow landed in a woman nearly twice my age ?”
The drumstick in Uncle Bill ’ s hand paused in midair on its journey to his wide mouth . Cousin Tiny ’ s fleshy hand flew to her overexposed bosom and came to rest somewhere above her heart . Even Tori ’ s father ’ s frozen expression of alarm would have been Three Stooges comical if the situation weren ’ t so tragic .
Aunt Yoli was the first to recover . “ Did they just say what
I think they said ?” In unison , everyone nodded . “ Girl , shut the front door and run out the back !” A few bursts of nervous laughter sprang up around the table , but they were not nearly enough to chase away the unease that had flooded the room when Tori stepped into the house . She hadn ’ t even been in the house a good ten seconds when her mother , Bernice , blurted out that she ’ d caught Alicia and Dallas together . Alone . In bed . In the nude . Tori