He says, “I spun honey for the first time ever last month and got thirty-three pounds! Lee, Gracie, I brought you some, but I left it in the truck. Donchoo be leavin’ without gettin’ it.”
They thank him profusely and just when I start to think this is going to be a perfectly delightful meal after all, Shelby comes over. She greets everyone before leaning into Beau and whispering something in his ear.
He appears highly uncomfortable as he clears his throat and announces, “If y’all will excuse me, I’ve been invited to join Shelby’s family for dinner.” Then he shoots me an apologetic look as he stands up.
You can tell Lee is chomping at the bit, wanting to tell her son not to be rude and to sit down, but she apparently doesn’t want to hurt Shelby’s feelings, either.
As they walk away, I feel irritated and as I’m about to think some decidedly foul thoughts, I get the most wonderful idea, and I lean over and share it with Jesse. After all, he could benefit from it as much I could.
Chapter 52
Jesse listens to me with great interest before putting his hand on top of mine and offering a conspiratorial squeeze. “That’s brilliant. Count me in.”
“Here goes nothing,” I whisper back. Then I let loose with a flirtatious giggle that sounds utterly foreign to my ears—I’m not a giggler—and say, “Oh, Jesse, you are a charmer, aren’t you?”
I might as well have thrown a bucket of ice water on Emmie’s mom. Gracie looks at us like she’s had the most horrible thought. The very thought we want her to be having. She unsuccessfully tries to smile while suggesting, “Lee, I think that we should introduce Lexi to that nice Sherman boy.”
Lee, who was obviously hoping something would transpire between me and Beau, unenthusiastically replies, “I s’pose.”
Jesse says, “I don’t think y’all should try too hard to find Lexi a suitor until you let present company have a chance at charmin’ her.” Gracie and Lee look horrified.
Lee’s husband Jed announces, “Jesse, you rascal. You’ve dated half the women in this town, I don’t think you need another notch in your belt.”
I giggle playfully, while I sneak a peek at Beau who just sat down two tables over with Shelby’s family. He’s staring right at me and he’s obviously not pleased. I reach out and touch his uncle’s arm and say, “Clearly, Jesse’s been looking for the right woman. It’s my good fortune he hasn’t found her, yet.”
Emmie stares alternately between the spectacle Jesse and I are making and the shocked face of her mother. She seems to be realizing that her mom has feelings for her uncle after all. She tests the waters by saying, “Personally, I’d love to have Lexi for an aunt.”
My mom raises her eyebrow as if she’s witnessing some particularly bad theater. She knows me too well to buy what I’m selling.
Lee called ahead and ordered a pork loin with several side dishes to be served family-style. When our food arrives, she changes the subject and says, “I would have had y’all over to the house, but I was too busy dreamin’ about what the old family home is gonna look like after it’s all fixed up.”
Myrah responds, “Honey, any meal I don’t have to prepare myself is a real pleasure. This looks delicious.”
Lee tells my mom, “Regina, you’re in for a real treat staying with Myrah. This here lady can cook like nobody’s business. The only reason I know how to make biscuits and gravy as well as I do is because Myrah taught me. She’s got the touch of an angel.”
“Don’t leave me outta this,” Clovis says. “I make a mean stew an’ y’all know it.”
Jed says, “That’s the truth. Clovis goes huntin’ with us every year. He brings his stew along to keep us motivated.”
Jesse laughs, “Motivated enough to nap. Remember the last two years how we built us a fire and fell asleep after lunch?”
“Then you came home empty-handed,” Lee says.
Gracie adds, “Y’all ought to call it your annual eating and napping trip.”
Everyone enjoys a laugh at the men’s expense.
Dinner is delicious and conversation organically diminishes as we enjoy our meal. When our plates are cleared, Lee announces, “I ordered a soufflé for dessert, but they don’t put it in the oven until our dinner plates are cleared. Why don’t we get some coffee and after-dinner drinks while we wait?”
Jesse announces, “I ate so much, I could sure use a little fresh air to perk me up.” Then he offers me his hand and says, “Would you care to join me for a walk around the grounds, Lexi?”
I bound to my feet like an eager puppy. “What a wonderful idea.”
Clovis pulls out his car keys and hands them over to Jesse. “Son, would you mind gettin’ the honey out of the truck fer me? It’s in a shoppin’ bag in the front seat.”
“My pleasure, Clovis,” he tells the older man before offering me his arm. “Ma’am.”
I try not to cast a look over at Beau but darned if I don’t feel his eyes boring holes through me. Jesse and I walk out of the dining room thoroughly satisfied that we’ve created a source of gossip to keep everyone occupied until we get back.
Once we exit the room, Jesse bursts out a with snort of laughter. “Did you see their faces? I haven’t had this much fun in ages.”
“I’m not sure whether Gracie is ever going to talk to you again,” I tell him.
“Oh, she will. She’ll probably start with telling me that you’re too young for me and then list all the reasons I should find an appropriate woman to date.”
“How old are you?” I ask. I know he’s a good deal younger than Jed, I just don’t know how much.
“Forty-one,” he answers.
“You’re only eleven years older than me. That’s an age gap you see all the time.”
“Yes, ma’am, it is. And I’ll make sure to tell her that. Then I’ll follow it up with letting her know that a nine-year difference might be more appropriate. Maybe she’ll take the hint.”
We walk out the front door of the club onto the porch. Jesse takes my arm and leads me around back. “I’m gonna stop right in front of the windows outside the dining room. So, play along.”
“You’re devious,” I tell him. I love that we have each other to help us figure out our romantic situations.
When Jesse finally stops walking, he leans on a large white column. I stand next to him and ask, “Have you ever hinted to Gracie about how you feel?”
“Never. I don’t want to wig her out. I was only ten when she married my brother, so it’s gonna take some work on my part to prove to her that I’m mate material.”
“Put your arm around me,” I tell him. “The only way she’s going to see you that way is to feel real jealousy.”
Jesse slides his arm around my waist. “You’re tryin’ to make Beau jealous, aren’t you?”
“You bet I am,” I reply. “He flirts up a storm with me, takes me out to dinner, and even kisses me, then he runs off and has dinner with Shelby. That’s not going to wash with me, and he better learn that fast.”
“For what it’s worth,” he says, “I don’t think there’s anything goin’ on with him and Shelby anymore.”
“Then why is he eating with her?”
Jesse shakes his head, “I don’t know.” He pulls me closer to his side, “But I say we give them both something to think about.”
After a few minutes, Jesse takes my hand and we walk out to the parking lot. When we’re out of sight of the restaurant, he drops it and says, “I surely appreciate your helping me out. It’s nice to have you in the family, Lexi.”
I know he’s talking about having me in Creek Water and in their family home, but a chill of excitement runs straight up my spine and sends tingles of optimism throughout my brain. If Beau comes to his senses in time that I’m not mad at him forever, it’s possible that some day we might be a real family.
Chapter 53
Jesse and I retrieve the honey from Clovis’s truck. We’ve probably been gone a good twenty minutes by the time we get back to
the club house. Wouldn’t you know it, Gracie is standing on the porch peering out into the darkness when we get there.
Jesse grabs my hand quickly and says, “Look at that. I think our little ruse might be workin.”
When Gracie spots us, she says, “I was coming after you two. Dessert is being served.” Then she looks down at our hands.
I love Emmie’s mom and hate to be party to upsetting her, which she obviously is by the slack-jawed look she’s giving us, but we’re doing this for her own good, as well as for ourselves.
I pull my hand away from Jesse’s, like I’m trying to hide what we’re doing. “That sounds wonderful.” I walk by her, fully aware that she’s staring daggers at her brother-in-law.
He says, “The club’s soufflé isn’t nearly as good as the one Gracie makes. You ever gonna make me that chocolate orange soufflé again, Grace?”
She makes a non-committal sound. Then she says, “I’m not feelin’ so good. I think maybe I’ll head home and go to bed early.” She asks, “Jesse, can I take your car, and you catch a ride with Jed and Lee?”
“No, ma’am,” he says, taking her elbow like she’s frail. “I drove you here and I’ll take you home. Let’s get you inside to get your coat and purse.” I’m pretty sure she was hoping he would insist on driving her.
She smacks his hand, “Quit treating me like I’m your granny, Jesse. I can walk on my own.”
I shoot him a conspiratorial grin as we enter the dining room. Things are looking up for Jesse already. It takes all my will power not to look over at Beau as I get back to the table. I sit down and announce, “It’s a beautiful night.”
Gracie picks up her purse. “I have a bit of a headache. I’m gonna say good night to y’all now and head home.”
Jesse stands behind her. “I’m gonna drive her.”
That’s when Emmie bounds to her feet. “Nonsense. I should be getting back to check on Faye. I’ll take her.” Then to her uncle, she adds, “You stay and enjoy your night.”
My friend is clearly onboard with helping her mother discover her true feelings for her uncle and has decided the best way to do that is to prolong her jealousy. So, I gush, “Thanks, Emmie.” Then to Gracie I say, “I hope you’re feeling better soon.”
Gracie suddenly looks like she doesn’t want to go anywhere and says, “Maybe I’ll stay for a bite or two.”
But Emmie shakes her head. “No, Mama, I think we should get you home to rest. It’s been a long day for you.”
If smoke could really pour out of someone’s ears, Gracie would have a hard time seeing through the haze. She demands, “Will you stop treating me like I’m decrepit? I can stay if I want.”
Emmie sits back. “Okay, Mama, but I don’t want you to overdo it.”
This whole scene is too funny. I can only hope Beau is as annoyed as Gracie.
I dig into the soufflé sitting in front me and not two bites in, Beau returns. He sits down in the chair he vacated before we started dinner and announces, “I’m back.”
Jesse takes that as his cue to ratchet things up and he leans in close to me. He whispers in my ear quietly enough not to be overheard, “I’m having so much fun I can hardly stand it.”
I channel every romantic comedy heroine I’ve ever seen and release a trill of laughter in response. Then I say loudly, “We should definitely do this again.”
Beau’s face is unnaturally flushed.
My mom is watching everything like she’s at an amateur dinner theater. I can tell she’s amused and has figured out what’s going on. Regina is nobody’s fool. She says, “I feel a lot better with you living here, Lexi, knowing that you have such a nice family to keep an eye on you.”
“Oh, we’ll keep an eye on her,” Jesse replies.
Between Gracie and Beau, the tension level is rising faster than a pressure cooker. Beau declares, “Looks like there have been some new developments since I left.”
His uncle replies, “Nothing more than me expressing my admiration for Lexi here. It’s nice when a beautiful lady moves to town, don’t you think, Beau?”
Gracie stands up so quickly, her chair nearly topples. “I’m ready to go after all,” she declares.
Jesse says, “I’ll take you, Grace.”
“No, thank you,” she nearly spits. “Emmie will see me home.” Then she turns and storms out of the room without seeing if her daughter is following her.
Emmie gets up next. “Uncle Jed, Auntie Lee, thank you for dinner.” Then she stops to hug Myrah and Clovis. She asks Myrah, “Can I come by sometime this week? I want to get your gingerbread recipe.”
“Sure thing, honey,” my newly discovered relation responds. “Bring your mama along. I don’t see near enough of you gals.”
Emmie leaves after assuring Myrah she will, then she says goodbye to the rest of us. Our table feels like the fallout after a bomb is dropped.
Jesse says, “Beau, why don’t you ask Shelby to join us?”
“She’s fine where she is,” he grumbles.
Lee, who’s obviously still mad at Beau for deserting us, tells her son, “I hope you enjoyed your meal.” Her tone clearly suggesting that she hopes he choked on it. I’m guessing she’s crediting his departure for the upsets that have occurred at our table, namely me and Jesse.
Before things can settle down, Shelby comes over with her mother. “I wanted to thank y’all for letting Beau join us.” Lee rolls her eyes but doesn’t say anything.
I take the opportunity to say, “Shelby, Mrs. Wilcox, I’d like you to meet my mother, Regina. Mom, Shelby is Beau’s girlfriend.” Emphasis on the last word.
Shelby says, “I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance.” Then she walks over to take my mom’s hand.
My mother nods her head regally while arching an eyebrow, indicating she’ll have questions for me later. “I’m pleased to meet you both,” she offers.
Shelby’s mom announces, “You’re a lot darker than your daughter. I couldn’t tell what she was right off.”
Oh, boy! It’s on now. Regina purposefully misunderstands and asks, “You couldn’t tell she was a person?”
“I couldn’t tell she was black,” Cootie snaps.
“Yes, well,” my mother says, “ignorance is often a lot easier to recognize than skin color.”
“Are you callin’ me ignorant?” Cootie demands.
Before my mom can respond, Jed says, “She’s just speaking the truth, Cootie. The minute you open your mouth, you sound like a horse’s ass.”
Cootie gasps and looks at Beau. “Are you goin’ to let your daddy talk to me like that?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he answers. “My daddy knows a horse’s ass when he sees one.”
Shelby giggles and Cootie demands, “What are you laughin’ at, girl?”
“Oh, Mama,” she answers. “You need to get off your high horse and quit actin’ like you’re better than other folks. You’re terrible. You’re a racist.”
Cootie squints her eyes like she’s trying to activate a death laser. “You better watch yourself, young lady.”
“Or what? You gonna disown me?”
Cootie says, “Girl, you can go anytime you want. You can start by findin’ your own way home.” Then she storms off.
Regina smiles at Shelby and offers, “Why don’t you join us for dessert?”
Shelby sits in Gracie’s vacated chair next to my mom and apologizes. “I’m sorry my mama isn’t nicer. I swear, I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”
Myrah says, “Honey, some folks is so unhappy they’ve got to share it with others. Don’t be too hard on her.”
“How can you say that, Myrah? Mama’s never been nice to you or Clovis.”
“Child, when you get to be my age, you learn to pity folks like your mama. It’s up to each one of us to find our own happiness and Cootie doesn’t know where to look. She’s searchin’ outside herself, but that’s not where it is. She needs to look inside, and I think she’s afraid of what she’ll find if she does
that.”
I’m pretty sure Myrah’s words hit home for us all. At least I know they do for me and my mom. We both have a lot on our plates right now. Regina has to decide what she’s going to do with my dad, and I need to find my own happiness regardless of whether or not Beau is in my life.
Shelby smiles at Myrah. “You should teach a class, you know that? I think folks need to hear what you said. I know I did.”
“It’s plain common sense,” Myrah says. “When you realize your happiness is your own to claim, you start to make the decisions that will lead you to it.”
Once the evening has wound down, we all get up to leave. Beau walks next to me like he wants to say something, but he can’t with Shelby and the rest of his family so close by. I ignore him entirely and speed up to walk next to my mom.
Regina quietly announces, “I’m going to want a full report on what’s going on here.”
“Sure thing. I’ll come by sometime tomorrow,” I tell her.
“Whenever,” she says. “I’m not in a rush.” At my questioning look, she explains, “I’ve decided to stay through Thanksgiving. I have a week off school then, anyway. I’ll teach my classes remotely until then.”
“Does this mean you’ve made a decision about Dad?”
“Not even close,” she says. “It means nothing more than I want to get to know Myrah and Clovis and see my daughter safely moved into her new home.”
I’ll take it. As far as my mom goes, she’s making great strides just by staying.
Our group breaks apart as we find our cars. Beau catches up to me and says, “We need to talk.”
I try to look innocent and ask, “What about?”
“I think you know the answer to that.”
I tell him, “All I know is that until you’re ready to answer my questions, I’m not going to answer yours.”
Let him think about that. I stop at my car and shout out to Shelby who’s several steps ahead, “Good to see you again, Shelby. You have a nice night.”
The Move (The Creek Water Series Book 2) Page 20
