Once In A Blue Moon

by Celia Stewart

  “You said that already,” he gently teased.

  Angi frowned at him and opened her mouth to speak.

  “You know,” he interrupted, his voice low, “when I asked Bee to marry me, one of the first things she asked me was how many bedrooms my house had. Because she wanted to make sure there was a place for you when you came home.”

  Ty watched Angi’s head dip lower as her shiny dark curls nearly covered her face.

  “Stupid, jealous little shit.” Bettina reached out and yanked on one of her sister’s curls.

  “Bee.” He laughed, moving to sit beside Angelina.

  “See how she treats me?” Angi mumbled, giving him what had to be her best pitiful look.

  “I won’t let her treat you like that anymore,” he whispered, wrapping an arm around her and kissing her temple. “I saw that,” he added as she stuck a tongue out at Bettina.

  She giggled and leaned against him, and he hugged her tight, enjoying the idea of having another baby sister.

  “Where’d you learn to be so bossy, cowboy?” Bettina softly teased, squeezing his knee.

  He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at her, not bothering to give any other answer. He still had so much to tell her.

  Tomorrow, though. He didn’t want any more secrets between them, but it could wait one more day. He didn’t want to do any more damage to their first holiday together. “Go get your bag, Angelina, and I’ll show you where to put your things.”

  “You can call me Angi.”

  He gave her another squeeze and released her. “Angi then.”

  “Should we call your mom?” Bettina asked.

  “I’ll call her. You go get fixed up, or do whatever you have to do. Angi and I will be just fine.”

  “Yeah, Sis. You look like hell.”

  “You said that already, Angi.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Mad mission

  I shut the bedroom door and sagged against it, releasing a huge sigh of relief. I just didn’t think my heart could take anymore. Please, God, let the rest of the day be peaceful.

  How could my sister be so stupid?

  And I had no idea if my husband was happy with me or not. I hadn’t been able to hear his answer, and I suppose, that’s what I got for eavesdropping. Not that I’d meant to.

  To top everything off, I’d broken Rule Number Fourteen: Never Ever, Under Any Circumstances, Say the “L” Word During Sex. Oops.

  He hadn’t mentioned my little boo-boo, so I could only hope that meant he hadn’t heard. And I never would have said it but for Angi upsetting me so bad. Somewhere along the way, I’d entered the deepest pit of Dante’s Inferno.

  Someone please tell me things won’t get worse.

  A shower. I wanted a shower with lots of hot water. I headed for the bathroom, dropping clothes as I went.

  Forty-five minutes later I emerged from the bedroom and followed my nose to the kitchen where Angi was cooking French toast. I probably would have stayed in longer, but the hot water had run out.

  I snitched a piece of syrup-soaked toast off Ty’s plate and popped it into my mouth. “Did you make me some?”

  As if on cue, Angi turned and handed me a plate. My prenatal diet was in serious trouble.

  “Did you call your mom?” I asked Ty.

  “Yeah, she said that’s fine.” He pulled out a chair for me, and I sat, suddenly starving.

  “Did you call him?” I asked, turning to Angi.

  She nodded with a grin. “He said I was an ingrate.”

  “Whatever,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “Loser.”

  * * * *

  After an hour of six women tripping over each other, Thanksgiving dinner was finally served. All the adults settled in at the big table while Travis and Rene occupied a card table by the kitchen door, but not until after Rene made her unhappiness known as only a pre-pubescent girl can. I made a note to spend some quality time with my new niece real soon.

  I watched Zander, who sat beside his mother and directly across from Rowdy. From the narrow lines around his mouth, I could see he didn’t look like a very happy camper. So, why had he bothered to come home? I sat between Rowdy and Ty and Angi and Delaney sat between Ty and his father. Zander, Jessa, Zack, Susie and Tim sat across from us with Maggie at one end and Jerrod at the other. Right smack dab in the middle of the table sat a golden-brown, thirty pound turkey.

  “Jerrod, are you going to say grace or just sit there all afternoon, a silly grin on your face?” Susie teased.

  He stood at the head of the table, a smile plastered on his face. I giggled and winked at her, then glanced up at Jerrod who’d cleared his throat. Beneath the table Ty took my hand and I leaned against him, daring to enjoy a little of the peace that suddenly crept into my soul.

  Jerrod released a deep sigh and smiled. “I want to do something different this year. I have so much to be thankful for. I thought it might be kind of nice if each of us stood and gave thanks for something we’d been blessed with this year.”

  “I got a mom,” Travis offered up from his spot at the little card table.

  “Shut up, dork.”

  “Rene,” Tim barked.

  “Yes, young man, you did get a mom, and quite a mommy she is, huh?” Jerrod smiled and Travis nodded. I giggled and glanced at Jessa who sat mooning at Zack.

  “Can I go first, Daddy?” Delaney asked.

  “I think Travis beat you, but you can go third, right after me.” We all chuckled.

  “First, and most important I think, we have the whole family together for the first time in two years. I have my beautiful wife, who still loves me after more than thirty years. And my beautiful baby girl here with me, where she belongs, for our very first big holiday together.”

  I sagged against Ty, swallowing the grapefruit-sized lump in my throat.

  “Two sons who have found happiness.”

  That one caught me a little off guard. So did the firm squeeze Ty gave my fingers. He’d heard me last night. Looks like I had some explaining to do in the near future.

  “And two new daughters-in-law with two granddaughters on the way. I’m not sure life can get much better. Delaney.”

  Delaney stood and immediately began to sniffle. Oh Lord. With an embarrassed chuckle, I gave up. Across the table from me, Jessa joined in.

  “Oh suck it up already,” Delaney teased. “I’m thankful for my Daddy, who’s just the greatest, and my new family, especially Maggie for putting up with me the last six months.”

  “Now, sweetheart...” Maggie began.

  “I know it hasn’t been easy.” Delaney’s voice wobbled.

  Zander’s snort caught my attention. I saw nothing but pure ugliness in the twisted set of his face.

  “Don’t be rude, Zander,” Rowdy growled from beside me.

  “Alexander, maybe you’d like to go next?” Susie asked, eyebrows raised.

  He unfolded himself from the chair and stood, a sneer on his thin handsome face. “I’m so thankful that my aunt and my brothers dragged me home for this lovefest.”

  Ty’s grip on my hand tightened until I winced and wiggled my fingers.

  “That’s not necessary,” Jerrod said. There was a ring of steel beneath his soft voice.

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Zan,” Ty warned.

  “Future Farmer of America,” he sneered, looking Ty’s way. “And his fashion victim wife.”

  I opened my mouth but winced when Angi beat me to the punch. “You better watch how you talk about my sister, asshole.”

  “Angelina Monique!” I scowled at Angi while both men on either side of me shook with laughter. “Apologize!”

  “I’m sorry Mr. and Mrs. Boudreaux for swearin’ at your dinner table.” She plopped down in her chair, shaking the table in the process.

  She’d apologized to Ty’s parents for her rudeness but not to his brother for her words. I didn’t blame her. Since he started it.

  “I can’t do this.” Zander threw his napkin
down.

  “You can’t sit and have one meal with your family?” Tim leaned forward to see past the heads between them.

  “Not with her.” He nodded in his father’s direction and the bottom fell out of my stomach.

  “Me?” Angi asked.

  “Angi,” I hissed, suddenly feeling very queasy.

  “Well?” she replied in her best “I Love Lucy” voice.

  “He means me,” Delaney said softly.

  “So that’s what this is all about? Delaney?” Maggie frowned, the hurt visible on her face as she looked up at her son.

  “Not just her. Everything she represents. Momma, how the hell can you stay with him? How the hell can you look at yourself in the mirror knowing your husband is an adulterer? You think I buy all this love and happiness bullshit?”

  Jessa leapt to her feet, clapping her hands. “Travis, Rene in the kitchen. Now!” Neither child argued, and nobody spoke. Hell, nobody breathed until they were gone.

  “Alexander! How dare you talk to your mother like that,” Susie scolded. “Apologize! Disrespectful whelp.”

  Tim groaned. “Zander, don’t do this. Please.”

  Poor Maggie looked as if she’d been shot and was slowly bleeding to death in her chair.

  “Too late! How can you look at her ... how can you tolerate that daily reminder living in your house?” His voice was almost loud enough to crack the crystal. “I can’t. I won’t. I don’t even want to look at her. She makes me want to puke.”

  How Maggie found the strength to stand I had no clue, but she slowly rose from her chair, eyes on her middle-born son. “You’re using Delaney’s presence as a cop-out, Alexander. Her being a part of our family doesn’t account for your absence for the last nine years.”

  “Oh, yes it does, Momma. You see, I’ve known about Delaney since I first left for college. I found the pictures and letters from the whore that spawned her! No wonder you were so angry at Dad all those years! He cheated on you. He broke a sacred trust!” He jabbed a finger in the air toward Jerrod, then continued, pointing at Delaney. “You are not a part of this family! You will never be...”

  I flinched as Maggie’s hand made contact with his cheek, silencing him. Thanksgiving had become the stuff nightmares are made of. Utter chaos reigned as all the men sprang to their feet, and on Angi’s far side, I heard Delaney sniffling. Poor baby. My heart just ached for her.

  “She’s become more a part of this family than you! Do you think the last six months have been easy for me, Alexander? For any of us? Your father’s ... your father’s infidelity is between your father and me, and nobody else!”

  “A-men,” Susie piped up softly.

  “As angry as I am right now, finding the right words are difficult, but I’ll do my best, and then you can leave my house and not return--ever! Your father and I have dealt with our past. A past where the both of us made mistakes...” she sobbed, then paused to collect herself, “--young man, and we worked to forgive each other. We work at it every day.

  “You’re right. Delaney’s not my daughter! But we’re working very very hard to build a family relationship--the three of us and your brothers.” Her voice cracked and rose shrilly. “How dare you just walk in here and presume to think you have the right to judge your father or me?”

  “Young man, apologize to your mother and sister,” Jerrod growled softly.

  “She’s not...”

  “No, Daddy! I don’t want him to say he’s sorry.” Delaney leapt to her feet, her chair falling to the ground behind her, and turned to face Zander. “My mother died, you asshole!”

  I struggled to my feet and Ty shoved Delaney into my arms. She sobbed huge, painful sobs on my shoulder as we headed for the kitchen, Angi right behind us. When we had room to maneuver, Delaney broke free and screamed at Zander at the top of her lungs. “My mother was my best friend, not a whore!”

  Glaring at Zander, I shushed her and pulled her toward the kitchen.

  “You better watch how you look at me, you white-trash bitch.”

  I froze as my head slowly swung around and my eyebrows shot up with a mind of their own. “Oh no you did not?”

  “You don’t talk to my wife like that. Apologize, now.” Ty’s voice barely reached above a whisper. He now stood between us and Zander, and I couldn’t believe how calm he sounded because I was ready to scream at Zander myself.

  “Fuck you, headcase.” He jerked his arms free from Tim and Zack’s grip.

  “Apologize to my wife, my sister and my sister-in-law.” The two men stood so close you couldn’t have slipped a piece of paper between them. “And while you’re at it, to my mother and aunt, for being so disrespectful and swearing in front of them.”

  “What are you gonna do if I don’t, stud? Do you even have a clue how pathetic you are, Tyrell Boudreaux? You no sooner get out of one bad marriage, you fucking stupid hick, than you knock up Bad Betti Blanchard! Hell, it’s probably not even your kid!”

  I frowned, suddenly sick at my stomach. Ty stepped back and swung, his fist connecting with his brother’s jaw. I winced and ducked my head but couldn’t stop watching. Zander shook his head like a dog and spit a bloody tooth into the palm of his hand. “Did Rhea teach you how to do that? ‘Cause you hit like a fuckin’ girl.”

  Zander shoved past Ty, zeroing in on me. “Oh my God.” The bloody grin that lit up his face was positively gruesome. “You don’t know.”

  “Shut up, Zander. Shut your mouth right now!” This from Rowdy who, up until now had quietly taken it all in. “It’s not your place.”

  “And then there’s Mr. I-Don’t-Have-No-Family.”

  This was like being in a car wreck. There was nothing you could do to stop it and things would only get worse--horribly so--before things got better.

  “That’s enough,” Jerrod roared.

  “Do you get it now?” Zander ignored Jerrod and zeroed in on me. “Are you brighter than you look? Are you a natural blonde? Is she, Ty? I bet there’s plenty of men we could ask.”

  “Shut up, Zan.” Ty gave him a hard shove.

  My face burned even hotter with embarrassment, and I winced at a muffled, “Oh my God!” from somewhere.

  I prayed he’d fall and hit his head just so he would just shut up, but he managed to stay on his feet.

  He leaned forward and laughed at some private joke, unaware or uncaring that bloody spit ran down his chin, then turned back to Ty, shaking off his arm. “I guess twelve years of being married to Rhea really toughened you up, but can you handle not being Daddy’s favorite anymore?”

  Feeling lightheaded, I frowned, trying to force air into my lungs. I didn’t want to hear any more. Confused and suddenly afraid of what I didn’t know. What was it he stood there trying to tell me? Whatever it was, it had to be bad if he could stand there grinning like an idiot in the circus he’d caused.

  Before he could speak, Mr. Boudreaux stepped in. “Alexander! Get the hell out of my house.”

  “Oh believe me, I have every intention of leaving, Daddy.” Zander let lose an ugly chuckle, spit again and slung an arm around Ty. “But first, Ty, when exactly did you plan on telling your new wife that your ex used to use you as her punching bag?”

  The Earth stopped spinning.

  Nobody moved. I searched for my husband and saw the truth in his eyes. Then everything happened at once. Jerrod yelled, Maggie yelled, Susie yelled and the men dragged Zander away, but Ty stayed behind.

  My brain shorted out. Then went into overdrive. I shook my head, hoping he’d deny it, but he just stood there, staring at me. Words weren’t necessary though, because everything finally made sense. All the pieces fit.

  I’d finally mastered my Martial Rubik’s Cube.

  “She hit ... it’s true?”

  Ty nodded, and I wailed until I had no more air in my lungs. I’d screamed it all out, and then doubled over from the sudden lack of oxygen. I felt as if I’d swallowed a stick of dynamite and it was exploding in slow motion from my solar plexus o
utward.

  I ran for the downstairs bathroom as my stomach rolled over, barely making it. French toast and sweet herbal tea were offered up to the porcelain gods. I leaned against the wall in that tiny bathroom, a washcloth someone handed me pressed to my face, my stomach still heaving. My face dissolved into a snotty, tear-filled river.

  I wanted to go home, start the day over, skip Thanksgiving, anything. I couldn’t stop my tears.

  “Let’s get her home to bed,” I heard Susie murmur.

  With Susie’s help, I struggled to my feet, and she and the girls led me out of the house. Everything felt surreal, and I still hadn’t figured out how to process it all.

  Where was Ty? I couldn’t ask anyone and I couldn’t talk.

  Things like that just didn’t happen. Men were beaters not beatee’s--weren’t they? I felt a brief surge of glee for having popped her in the grocery store. Talk about divine.

  But I was gonna hunt her down and kill her first chance I got.

  “Ty, honey, just let us take care of her,” someone said from far off.

  My husband. She’d beaten my husband. The man I’d spent my whole life loving.

  Another round of sobs broke through. The nightmares, the panic attack, the insecurity, the nervousness, even the sex all made sense now.

  Halfway home I collapsed.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Living with ghosts

  Ty stood on the porch with his father watching Aunt Susie and Angi walk Bettina home when she collapsed. He paused in mid-sentence and flew off the porch and across the drive to where she lay. “What happened?” he asked, crouching down beside her and smoothing her hair away from her colorless face.

  “She’s fainted.”

  He slipped an arm under her neck and another under her knees and picked her up, suddenly worried to death about her and the baby. The baby girl they hadn’t even discussed a name for.

  “Need some help?” Tim asked.

  “I got her, thanks. Go take care of that punk, Zan, would you? Once I make sure she’s okay, I’m coming back for my share.” He lifted her and got a better grip before turning for home.