The Hustler's Daughter {DC Bookdiva Publications} by Pinky Dior Page A

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