House Divided

by Peel, Jennifer

  “You love her? Does that mean you’re going to marry her?” Caroline practically shouted.

  Dead silence.

  I looked over across the crowd, and people were very interested in the reply. They weren’t rude enough to gawk at us, but you could definitely tell they waited on bated breath to hear what the answer was. Brady was more than happy to oblige.

  He smiled at me wickedly and winked. “Darlin’, nothing would make me happier,” he said just as loudly as Caroline.

  I think I heard collective choking and coughing. I didn’t know whether I should laugh or cry because of the reactions. I still couldn’t believe, after all of these years, we still got this kind of attention. I couldn’t believe all the heads close together whispering and the furious texting that seemed to be going on. Brady mouthed he loved me, and I returned the sentiment, but I shook my head at him. He knew what kind of trouble he was stirring up.

  We ate our pie and drank our hot chocolate and then made a grand exit. Brady made sure to kiss me, mostly for effect I’m sure, as he helped me with my coat. He really was a trouble maker, but I found I really didn’t care when he was near. People could talk all they wanted.

  Caroline was disappointed she wasn’t having a sleepover at Uncle Brady’s. She thought the three of us should have one together.

  “I agree. I’m ready for a sleepover with you,” Brady whispered in my ear.

  I playfully smacked him.

  He just laughed.

  We dropped Caroline off, and Brady wasted no time in finding my lips once we were back in his truck. We decided to go back to my place, that way he could keep his word to my aunt and not keep me “out” late. Brady started a fire in our family room fireplace, and then we put on “While You Were Sleeping” and snuggled up to the glow of the firelight and the Christmas tree decorated in white and promptly ignored the movie. This was definitely shaping up to be the best Christmas season ever.

  After several minutes of ignoring the movie, Brady began to kiss my neck slowly and softly, which drove me crazy. He knew what he was doing, and I fell right into his little trap. “Ellie, would you do something for me tomorrow?” he asked between kisses.

  “Anything,” I said without thinking.

  He stopped kissing me and smiled a wicked grin. I quickly realized my mistake. I was waiting to hear what I just got myself into. I had visions of going to the courthouse. Then I remembered, thankfully, they were closed on Saturday. Maybe Vegas?

  He tugged on my hair as he kept me in suspense. I think he enjoyed having me in the palm of his hands. His eyes danced with delight in the firelight. “Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night …?”

  I laughed lightly and breathed a sigh of relief. “Of course.”

  “And my parents?” he added.

  I quit laughing. Brady leaned forward and put our foreheads together. “Please, darlin’.”

  Saying yes to Vegas would have been easier.

  I untangled myself from him and stood up. “Don’t ‘darlin’’ me, Brady Jackson.”

  He was too quick. He pulled me right back onto his lap and laughed. “I love when you get all fiery.”

  I just shook my head at him. He, on the other hand, started kissing my neck again.

  “Brady, you need to stop doing that.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I want to stay angry at you.”

  He chuckled but didn’t stop, and I thoroughly enjoyed him not listening to me for several moments.

  I finally settled against him. “I thought you loved me.”

  He wrapped me tighter in his arms. “Ellie, can’t you see that’s why I want you to do this?”

  “Your parents hate me.”

  “Your aunt hates me too, but that’s not going to prevent me from trying to win her over for your sake.”

  “Brady, I see your point, but you know there are some differences.”

  “Ellie, I realize that. But I also realize you aren’t going to move forward until we can get our families on board at least somewhat, and more than anything I want to move forward with you. Ellie, I love you, and I’m ready to confess that before God and everyone.” He kissed my cheek softly. “Darlin’, I’m trying to patiently wait for you to be ready too. But is it so bad that I’m impatient to marry you and that I want to hurry that process along?”

  Why does he have to be so sweet and right?

  I sighed. “Fine, I’ll have dinner with you and your parents tomorrow night.”

  He kissed me thoroughly in response, which was good because I needed the distraction. I was all sorts of worried about what I had just agreed to.

  Chapter Sixteen

  When Doris arrived early Saturday morning, I promptly begged her to help me make a dessert for the coming evening’s dinner at his parents’ home. I was finally going to enter their lair and I wanted to do my best to win them over, just like Brady was doing for me. I owed it to him. I had very low expectations, but darn it if I wasn’t going to do my best for Brady. Doris was more than happy to help me out. I probably should have asked her for cooking lessons long ago, but there was no turning the clock back now.

  “I have just the recipe. It’s sure to impress,” she promised.

  I trusted her judgment, so we rolled with it. She was going to help me make a lemon raspberry coconut layered cake. It sounded way above my skill level (really anything was going to be), but she assured me she would be with me every step of the way and it would be perfect.

  It took us all morning, but boy did it look pretty on the frosted glass cake stand when we were done. I hoped it tasted just as good. Doris assured me it would taste even better. I took her at her word and profusely thanked her.

  “It’s my pleasure. I’m happy to help you anytime,” she said kindly.

  I thought I should probably take her up on that, especially since I had been contemplating motherhood all week. I hugged her tight, and then I quickly left to go see my aunt.

  On the way to the hospital, Brady called me and told me he would pick me up at six, and he reminded me that he loved me. I reminded him that it was the only reason I was doing this. He had high hopes for tonight. He kept saying last night that if his parents could just get to know me, they would love me because he thinks to know me is to love me. But he was awfully biased, and you just don’t erase over forty years of hate in one night.

  I ran up to my aunt’s room and found her sitting in a chair. That made me very happy. She apparently had even taken a short walk earlier, which made me even happier. I was so ready for her to come home, and I knew she was too. I sat down next to her as she gave me a funny sort of look.

  “What?” I said.

  “I’ve had some interesting phone calls this morning about you.”

  “Who would call you about me?”

  “Let’s just say it sounds like you and that Jackson boy put on quite a show last night at Macie’s.”

  I couldn’t even say how annoyed I was that people were tattle-taling on me. For crying out loud, I was an adult and we weren’t putting on a show. It wasn’t my fault people were so dang nosy in Kaysville.

  My aunt read the annoyance on my face and smirked.

  “I hope you don’t believe that,” I replied.

  “So, Brady doesn’t want to marry you and you weren’t being affectionate?”

  “Yes, that part’s true, but we weren’t putting on a show. It’s not my fault the whole town finds us fascinating. It’s ridiculous that we can’t even go out together and not have people stare at us and talk about us.”

  “Calm down, sugar.” She seemed amused.

  I grabbed her hand and gently squeezed it. “I’m sorry. I’m just really stressed today.”

  She enquired why, and I told her. She did not seem amused anymore.

  “I know,” was all I could say.

  “I don’t like it, Ella Lu.”

  “Do you think I do? But I promised Brady.” I looked at her thoughtfully. “Aunt Lu, he loves me and I love him, a
nd we want to get married. But I can’t do that until I know our families won’t tear us apart again.”

  “Ella Lu, who do think arranged you meeting with him?” she said defensively.

  “Aunt Lu, I’m not blaming you or accusing you of anything. I know you’ll support me, and I know that’s a sacrifice you’re making for my happiness. I can’t express how much that means to me. I just want everyone to be happy. I can’t stand the thought of causing discord in our families.” A tear escaped my eye. I wiped it away quickly.

  “Ella Lu, you could never do anything that would keep me away from you. You’re my girl, and we’re forever. As for being happy about that boy and you, that’s a tall order. I know he makes you happy, but I can’t forget all the sadness he and his family caused you these last ten years. Someday you’ll understand what it’s like for a momma to watch her daughter be in pain and not be able to make it better.”

  I smiled at her through my tears. “But you did figure out how to make it better.”

  “So you’re saying I can only blame myself for bringing that boy into our family.”

  I laughed. “That works for me.”

  I didn’t spend too much longer with her, but I think we left things on a good note. I wanted to run to the Summit yet again. I needed to get some personal Christmas shopping done, and I wanted to look my best tonight. I still didn’t know what to get Brady. I mean, I knew what he wanted, but I didn’t know if that would happen by Christmas. My aunt still seemed determined to call him ‘that Jackson boy,’ and who knew what tonight would bring?

  I didn’t get any good ideas of what to get Brady as I perused the stores, but I felt like I picked out the perfect gift for Benjamin and Kendra. I got them a romantic getaway package, including hotel and spa accommodations at a swanky hotel downtown, and I would throw in a weekend of babysitting. I also picked out a few items for my Aunt Lu and added several new outfits to my Alabama wardrobe. Then I rushed home to get ready.

  I put loose curls in my hair and pulled it up. I wore some tailored jeans that hugged my curves well. I knew my aunt wouldn’t like the jeans, but oh well, I knew Brady would. I topped it with a white shirt and tailored black jacket that accentuated my waist. I accessorized with red jewelry and some gorgeous ruby red pumps.

  I had ten minutes to spare, or at least I thought I did. My doorbell rang just as I was walking down the stairs. I opened it to find my ever handsome boyfriend holding a large bouquet of my favorite flowers, pink roses. Before he stepped in, he looked me over and a mischievous grin crept across his face.

  “What’s that look for?”

  “All I can say is, wow.”

  He put the flowers in his left hand and then he pulled me to him with his right and kissed me once. “You look amazing, Ellie.”

  I wiped the lipstick off his lips. “I know I’m not a beauty queen, but do you think I’ll pass your parents’ test?”

  “Darlin’, you’re a beauty, and hands down, I’ll have the best looking wife in my family. And I couldn’t care less what my parents think. I, for one, am happy you were never in one of those pageants.”

  I loved hearing him say that. I smiled and kissed him again. I might as well give up wearing lipstick, but I should stock up on lip moisturizer. My lips weren’t used to all this action.

  I led him back to the kitchen so I could put the flowers in a vase. I also wanted to show him the cake I made with Doris. He was super impressed. “Thank you, Ellie, for agreeing to go with me and for all of the trouble you’ve gone through.”

  “I suppose you’re worth it.” I grinned. “But you have to promise you won’t leave my side the whole night.”

  “I have no intention of leaving your side ever.”

  Yeah, I liked the sound of that.

  I took several deep breaths as we walked out with the cake in hand. Brady kept glancing over and smiling tentatively. I think he felt guilty. I just hoped I could make it through the night without embarrassing myself or tossing my cookies. I wasn’t sure how I was going to eat; my stomach was in all sorts of knots.

  It was a pretty quiet ride over. Brady kept his hand on my leg and would squeeze it once in a while. I hated that it was like this. For most couples, this would be a good thing, something to be celebrated, but for us it was something to be feared and dreaded.

  The Jackson mansion was all lit up in thousands of white twinkle lights; it was quite lovely. My aunt used to have the outside of her house professionally decorated for the holidays. I wonder when she stopped. I guess I would have to ask her.

  Brady turned to me before we got out and lightly brushed my lips. “I love you.”

  “I know.” I replied. I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest I was so nervous.

  He touched my cheek. “Just be yourself.”

  “I don’t know how to be anyone else.”

  He kissed me gently again. “Thank goodness for that, darlin’. Are you ready?”

  “If I say no, can we leave?”

  “Ellie, we’ll leave right now if you don’t want to do this.”

  I took a deep breath and looked into his beautiful blue eyes, and I reminded myself who I was doing this for and why it was important. I pictured myself dressed in white, walking toward Brady and a honeymoon and endless nights of never having to say goodbye. I took one more deep breath. “Let’s do this.”

  He smiled and got out of the truck. I handed him the cake and then he helped me out. He carried the cake in one hand and held my hand with the other. They had a circular drive just like my Aunt Lu, but instead of a large fountain in the middle, they had a pretty sitting area with benches, trees and shrubbery. I’m sure in the spring and summer it had arrangements of flowers too.

  The house was bigger than ours, not that I cared, but I’m sure they did that on purpose. It was made of red brick. They also had white columns, but they were bigger around and taller. The house looked like it had the main house and then two large wings.

  Brady didn’t even knock. I guess it would be silly to knock at your parents’ home, but I wanted another minute before I had to walk in. Oh well. The entryway was well lit and large, but I was surprised to see a very tall and full white Christmas tree decorated in red and green in the middle. I always thought different colored Christmas trees were tacky, and we obviously liked real ones in my family. I didn’t say anything. I just kept smiling.

  “I hate that tree,” Brady whispered.

  Thank goodness, I thought. I figured he was more of a real tree kind of guy.

  As we walked down the hall, I glanced at all the family pictures that lined both sides. They all looked like they were cut from cream cheese, perfectly smiling and posing. The pictures at our house were of vacations and of us being silly and natural. Sure, we had a couple of posed pictures, but those weren’t as fun. I kept a tight grip on his hand and walked very closely to him. I’m not sure what I was afraid was going to happen, but I had the feeling like when you walk through a haunted house, you never knew what was going to jump out at you.

  “Momma, we’re here,” Brady called out.

  As we continued to walk back to the kitchen, I heard his momma before I saw her. She was looking in their large, commercial size refrigerator, “Brady, where are your manners? I taught you better than to yell in the house.” When she stood up and looked over at us, she didn’t look pleased. Or maybe that was the Botox. She definitely looked like she’d had cosmetic surgery of some sort. She had light colored hair, the kind you couldn’t tell if it was blonde or white. When we were younger, she was blonde. She also had very shrewd, blue eyes, but they weren’t Brady blue. She pulled out a pitcher of liquid and shut the door and walked toward the counter we were near.

  Brady set the cake down and put his arm around me. “Momma, this is Ellie.”

  She looked directly at him. “I know who she is.”

  I guess it was show time. “Hello, Mrs. Jackson.” I tried to keep it friendly and light. Maybe I should have said, “It is nice to
see you again,” but everyone would know that was a big fat lie.

  All she said in reply was hello, and that seemed hard for her. She looked me over from head to toe and seemed to take issue with my red heels. She was very conservatively dressed in camel colored pants and a black turtleneck with black flats. She looked very motherly, at least in dress. Her facial expression was more along the lines of a serial killer.

  Brady motioned toward the cake. “Ellie made dessert for us.”

  “Well, I had some help,” I interjected.

  She looked at me like I was inept. “Your daddy and I rarely eat dessert, it’s unhealthy.”

  I wanted to snap back, but I didn’t have to. Brady was not pleased at all by his momma’s reaction. “Well then, let this be one of those nights.”

  She didn’t respond.

  “Mrs. Jackson, is there something I can help you with?” I forced myself to say.

  “No.” she said quickly and coldly. She turned to Brady. “Your daddy’s already in the dining room, why don’t you go and see him.”

  Brady led me into the hall that led to the dining room. He paused to embrace me. “I’m sorry, Ellie.”

  “I expected it.”

  “You shouldn’t have to.”

  “It is what it is, Brady.”

  He kissed me lightly.

  That’s when I heard a piano. “Is someone playing a piano?”

  “My daddy plays,” he said to my surprise.

  Interesting.

  Brady led me to their formal dining room. And I mean formal. I felt like I was transported into a regency novel and I was underdressed. It seemed silly that the four of us were eating at such a large table, but it was already set for four, and it looked like Brady and I would be sitting far apart across the table from one another. I was beginning to dislike his parents even more.

  His daddy sat at the grand piano quietly tinkling the keys. I didn’t recognize the melody, but it sounded nice. Brady and I walked toward the instrument and his daddy looked up. He did not look well at all. He had a sallow tone to his skin, and he had to use oxygen, but in his eyes I saw Brady. That’s where Brady got his blue eyes. For some reason it made me smile. His daddy looked at me oddly; I don’t think he was expecting a smile, and to be honest, I hadn’t meant to. Both men were staring at me now.