“I’m so sorry. Do you have a vacuum and I’ll clean this mess up?” I offer, and Mrs. Burkett gives me a knowing smile. Somehow, I think she knows what I’m about, but she’s choosing not to give up the game.
“I’ll take care of it, Tyler,” MaCee states as we rise up from our kneeling position on the floor. I take that as my cue to leave.
“Ma’am it was nice seeing you again.”
“You too, Tyler. We’ll have to arrange to have dinner one night, so I can get to know you better.”
I shake her extended hand and nod in agreement as MaCee ushers me out the door. Once we’re outside we both dissolve into laughter.
“I haven’t been caught making out by someone’s mother since high school.”
MaCee giggles up at me as she blushes from embarrassment.
“I can’t believe she’s home so early. Sorry about that. I’ve never been caught making out by my mother, she would have killed me in high school.”
“You handled it like a pro, except for leaving your panties on the floor.” I pull the offending lingerie out of my pocket and wave it in front of her. She reaches out to snatch her underwear away, and I lift them out of her reach. “Oh no, these are mine. Consider them my spoils of war or a reward for keeping them out of the sight of your mother. Also, they’ll come in handy when I’m on my date with my hand tonight.”
She narrows her eyes at me and then shakes her head. I laugh and kiss her nose then move down to her mouth. I can’t resist deepening the kiss, and she reaches out to grip my shirt. I pull back and look into eyes that have become slightly glazed over. Leaving that look has to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
“Next time we ‘Netflix and chill’ it’s going to be at my house, where we don’t have to worry about mothers coming home early. I’ll call you tomorrow, pretty girl.” I turn and walk to my truck whistling as I go. I may only have a date with my hand tonight, but I gave my woman an orgasm she’ll be dreaming about for a while which is worth any amount of embarrassment suffered by the knowing looks her mother was giving us.
Chapter Eight
Macee
I’ve been home for a month now, and as much as I hate to admit it, I was wrong to have acted like a spoiled brat all those years. My life has been great since I moved back, well everything has been wonderful except for my job at the hospital. I love my internship with Dr. Collins, my mother and I have never gotten along better, and my relationship with Tyler is off the charts. All but my part-time job. Don’t get me wrong, I love taking care of the patients and some of my coworkers, especially Jordan, are great. There are a few though that have been spreading lies about me, and I’ve had enough. It’s gotten so bad some of the other nurses will leave a room when I enter it. Normally I would blow it off, but it’s beginning to affect my office job, and I can’t have that.
“Hey, Jordan, whatcha doing today?” I have an off day, and I know Jordan isn’t working, so I’ve decided a little P.I. work is in order. By damn, I want to know who is impersonating me or if they’re not trying to look like me, then who is really screwing a young surgeon, Dr. Spar, who works at the hospital? I’m sick of all the looks and whispers behind my back when I wouldn’t touch the man with a ten-foot pole. He’s such a slimy perv. Oh, he’s good-looking in an over the top way, but the vibe he gives off just makes me want to shower after I’ve been in the same room as him, which I might add is never alone and has only happened twice.
“I really had nothing planned except maybe doing some laundry. Why? What do have in mind?”
Good, she has no major plans and seems up for whatever I have going on.
“I’m going to come pick you up. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
“Wait, what do I need to wear? Do I need makeup?”
I love this girl. She’s fast becoming one of my best friends and a coworker who has stood up for me against the ongoing gossip circulating at the moment. She doesn’t know I overheard her rimming out a couple of especially nasty bitches the other day, but I was around the corner and heard the whole thing. They were calling me a slutty homewrecker, and Jordan told them they didn’t know what they were talking about. She also informed them my taste in men was too good to want a sleazebag like Dr. Spar. I love this girl.
“Shorts and T-shirt is fine, and makeup is not required. Also, bring a bathing suit and we’ll hang out by the pool after we’re done with our little project.” I hang up and run into the kitchen to tell my mother I’m heading out for the afternoon, only to have her and Liza stop talking mid-sentence as if I’m interrupting something and my suspicion radar goes off with a blare.
“Hey, you two, what’s up?” Liza gives Mama a look and then cuts her eyes as if to encourage my mother to speak. Mama shakes her head, and Liza does that weird eye thing again. “Okay, you two, just spill it. Mama have you had another episode? Have you finally heard from Dr. Estes about the tests? What’s going on?” I ask worriedly as I rush into the room and grab her hands. My mother looks down and starts to turn red in the face, which escalates my fear of what she’s about to tell me.
“Mama, are you all right? You can tell me, whatever it is.” I’m over the top with fear now, and Liza is glaring at my mother as if she’s about to hit her or something.
“Evie, you better tell that child. This has gone on long enough. She’s obviously here to stay, so other than your pride there is no reason to keep this charade going on.”
Mama takes a deep breath and faces me. I can tell she would rather do anything than tell me what she’s about to.
“MaCee, please don’t be angry, but I lied, okay I lied about everything.”
I can’t imagine what she’s talking about. I look at her in confusion, and she squeezes my hands as she continues.
“There is nothing wrong with me. I lied to your brother and you about me having spells. I’ve never had any type of ‘spell’ in my life, and my mind is as sharp now as it’s ever been. I found out about the grant program that was up for grabs and thought my being sick would be incentive for you to choose an internship here and you would come home. I’ve wanted to mend our relationship for some time but didn’t know how because you would never come home or talk to me.” She lets go of my hands and walks over to look out the kitchen window then turns back to face me.
“I came up with the idea when your school advisor called here by mistake. We talked for a while about how helpful the grant would be to you financially and how our town fit the description of a rural internship perfectly. The idea took root. I just wanted you home so badly and hoped you would realize life here isn’t as bad as you thought.”
I sit down with a thump. I can’t believe this. It was all a lie. I look up at her, and she at least has the decency to look guilty. Then I look at Liza, who’s looking just as guilty.
“Et tu Brute? I mean, I’m surprised my mother pretended to be developing early dementia, but Liza, I’m shocked you went along with this scheme. Really? You’re supposed to be her voice of reason. Wait, what about Dr. Estes? I met with him and he confirmed your story.” I narrow my eyes on my mother. She looks down at the floor, and if it’s possible, her cheeks get redder.
“Well, I might be dating Will, uh, Dr. Estes, and he knew how much it meant to me to have you home, so he did it as a favor. Don’t hold it against him. He never would have gone along with my scheme if I hadn’t begged him.”
I know the look on my face is one of total shock. Holy crap, my mother is dating! This is a bigger shock than anything else she’s told me. I never thought I would see the day this would happen. How do I feel about this? I think about it for a second and realize I’m very happy for her.
I loved my daddy, and no one can ever take his place, but my mother is a young woman. I know my father would not want her to just waste away, living her life alone and in mourning for him.
I’ve be
en sitting here thinking things over for several minutes and notice Mama and Liza are beginning to get slightly anxious. I have a decision to make, and I don’t have long to make it or I’m going to miss my opportunity to catch a pervert in the act. I can either be really pissed and get into a huge fight with my mother, or I can let it pass with thoughts of getting my revenge on her at a later date. My devious side wins, and I decide to make her sweat a bit. I stand and walk over to my mother and hug her.
“I hate the lies, but I’m happy you’re dating someone. I like Dr. Estes, although he’s getting shit for lying to me. Oh, and Mama, never think this is just over. Remember, I am your daughter and will one day bring this back to haunt you.”
“Mabel Camilla, language.” Her admonishment isn’t really packing a lot of heat, and she hugs me back all the while looking a tad bit worried. “I love you, baby girl, and I just missed you so much.”
I pull back and look at the two women who raised me to be the strong woman I am, and I grin.
“Awww, that’s so sweet, but just wait till I tell Lee! He’s going to be so pissed. When is he coming home? This weekend! Oh yeah, he’s going to give you two hell!” They both laugh and then I remember I have somewhere to be. “Oh, I was about to tell you I’m heading out. I may be back later with a friend to lay out by the pool. Bye!” I turn and race out the door to go pick up my partner in crime before the other two have a chance to say anything else.
I collect Jordan, and we drive over to Dr. Spar’s office to begin our stakeout. I’ve done some background work and know it’s his half day in the office and he doesn’t have surgery, so I would imagine he will be meeting his sidepiece. Today, I’m going to find out just who said side piece is. Jordan is all excited for a little spying. I have hats for both of us and we’re wearing sunglasses. No, we don’t look suspicious at all.
We pick up his trail when he leaves his office in his showy little silver sports car and follow him to a gas station where he uses a pay phone. I didn’t even know they still had those, but he obviously has used this one often. Then we follow him to the Walmart parking lot where we are presently sitting across from his car, watching and waiting on whoever he’s meeting.
“Damn, MaCee, if we were going to do a stakeout why didn’t you bring snacks? This is a very ill-planned mission.”
I give her a snarky look because I know she’s right. Snacks would have been just the thing for our surveillance vigil, and any respectful detective would know this. We both yell and about jump out of our skins when someone knocks on both our windows. I look out into Tyler’s laughing eyes and turn to see Justin smirking in at us from the other window.
“Whatcha doing?” Tyler asks me with a grin through the glass.
“Get in, both of you, and hurry up before someone sees you!” I whisper-yell as I motion for them to get in the car and they both jump in the back seat.
“Did he see them?” I look across at Dr. Spar, and he’s still looking down, probably playing on his phone.
“No, he’s still playing on his phone. Oh geez!” I jump as someone else knocks on my window, and I look out at Rachel waving at me. Good Lord, who else is going to see us?
“Get in and hurry!” I order, and she jumps in the backseat with the guys. Before she can get the door closed, Hannah walks up.
“Hey, what are y’all up to?” I open my door and pull her in. She falls across me and into Jordan’s lap, causing her to burst out laughing.
“So, what are we doing?” Justin asks from my overcrowded back seat. Jordan helps shove Hannah through the bucket seats to the back where she climbs onto Justin’s lap. “Well, hello there good-looking,” he says to Hannah while wagging his eyebrows at her. I roll my eyes at them.
“Oh wait! Look someone just drove up, and she’s walking over to his car. Who the hell is that? She has blond hair, but she’s way taller than your little short self. Don’t know why anyone would think it was you.” I stare at the woman, she looks very familiar, but I can’t quite place her. She gets into the car with our no-good cheating doctor, and I know we’ve caught them.
“Hmmm, wonder what Melody is doing getting in the car with that guy. And why is she wearing a blond wig?”
Jordan and I whip around to stare at Justin. “What?” we yell together.
“That was Melody? How do you know?” I turn back around to see them pulling out of the parking lot. I shift into gear and take off after them.
“I take it we’re following them,” Tyler states the obvious.
I continue to follow the couple. They exit the parking lot, get onto the four lane, and start heading north out of town. Bet the assholes are heading to a hotel.
“Okay, Justin, how did you know it was Melody?” I ask again.
“She was in Aunt Jeanine’s car, and I was wondering why she had on a blond wig. I’m guessing the guy she got in the car with is married.” Jordan, Rachel and myself all nod. “Always knew she was a slut. She stayed pissed at me in school, mainly because I hung out with you and Cam, but also because I ragged her about sleeping around with several guys from McComb. Family get-togethers were very awkward.” I look at him in my rearview mirror—he never shared that bit of info before. Can’t believe he held out.
“The rumor at the hospital is it’s MaCee running around with Dr. Spar. Someone saw a blond with him about the time she moved back into town. I told the girls I worked with I knew it wasn’t her, but they love trashing the new girl.”
I shouldn’t let it hurt my feelings that the OR nurses are talking about me, but it still does. I’m human, okay. Jordan reaches over and squeezes my hand, and I catch Tyler’s eye in the rearview mirror. He looks pissed, and I know we’ll be having a conversation about this once we’re alone.
I continue following for several miles until the car takes an exit to a cheap hotel, and we pull in to a burger joint across the street. We watch as Dr. Spar goes in and comes back out to park. The couple enter a room together, and I’ve seen all I need to.
“Anybody hungry? My treat.” We pile out of the car and make our way into the restaurant. Tyler grabs my hand before I go inside and pulls me into a hug. I wrap my arms around his waist, and he kisses the top of my head.
“I’m sorry about the talk, but at least now you know who’s behind it. I never would have believed any of it. I know you would never mess around with a married man. I do wish you would have told me how upset you were by all of this.”
I kiss his chest and smile up at him.
“It really wasn’t bothering me, until Dr. Collins mentioned the rumors yesterday and the more I thought about it the more upset I became.” Suddenly it hits me what’s really going on, and I’m so pissed I could chew a nail.
“That sneaky bitch! She put on a blond wig so people would think it was me! Arghhh, the thing is how could anyone think that Amazon was me? She’s almost a foot taller than I am. One thing about it, this is one boyfriend she will never have to worry about me stealing. She’s more than welcome to him.” I turn and walk inside, leaving a confused Tyler outside. He finally shakes his head, chuckles, and follows me.
We’re eating our burger meals and laughing at Rachel telling a story about a surgeon performing a code who used the defibrillator to shock the patient and didn’t know his dick was touching the table. He fell to the floor twitching and pissed himself. I laugh so hard Diet Coke shoots out my nose. Damn, I would have loved to have seen that.
“He was actually lying against the wall in piss-covered scrubs, muttering to himself. There wasn’t any permanent damage, but now I can’t help but think of his cock being shocked to hell and back every time I see him and some of the other surgeons call him Dr. Cock Shock. He is a real asshole, so I can’t make myself feel bad for him.” We get several looks from the other customers due to our loud burst of laughter at this statement.
“Okay, I have to ask because
it’s been brought up one too many times. What’s the deal with you stealing boyfriends?” Tyler asks me, and everyone at the table cracks up again. I can feel my cheeks getting warm.
“Go on, MaCee, tell him,” Justin says with a laugh.
“I even know this story, and I was a year behind y’all in school. It was epic!” Hannah pipes in.
“I have to admit this is not one of my finer moments, but you have to understand Melody and I have hated each other since we met in kindergarten. I think it’s a personality conflict, she just rubs me the wrong way. We were always battling, and it was her group against mine. We were both on the cheer squad and dance team together, and she was always doing things to piss me off, then I would do things back to her. She even dropped me in one of our stunts, and I dislocated my shoulder. She swore she didn’t do it on purpose, but I know she did.” I rub my shoulder as I remember the pain from that incident. “Anyway, there was this guy.”
“Daniel James,” Justin, Jordan, Hannah, and Rachel all fill in for me.
“Thanks, guys,” I say sarcastically. “I thought I was in ‘luvvvvvveee’. Melody somehow found out, so she went after him, and they started dating. I was so pissed I decided to steal him away from her. Now, you see, I couldn’t even talk to the boy before Melody started dating him. But after she got her claws in him it was on, and I was a flirting machine. Thinking back, I was a maniac—poor boy didn’t stand a chance. He broke up with Melody right before prom and went with me. She didn’t have a date, and I broke up with him the day after prom. He was such a jerk and dumb as a box of rocks to boot. Hey, didn’t you take her to prom?” I look at Justin.
“Yeah, my mama made me and thanks for that, worst night of my life. She was so pissed at you and bitched about it the whole time.”
I can’t help but laugh. I think about my own mama lying to me to get me home. I admit I’m not mad she did what she did. I missed these people. It’s nice having history with people you’ve known forever. I never would have ended up spending the afternoon following an adulterous couple around with five other people piled into my car along for the ride in the city. There is something to be said about small town life.
Mama Knows Best Page 7
