Southern Charm

by Leila Lacey

  “I did, Savannah, darling, what is the problem?” Looking over at Shelby, they had both stared at her with their mouths opened.

  “Savannah, you look stunning,” Shelby said, smiling like she did not know why they were staring at her. She had to admit that she was looking rather nice today. Cassidy had helped her with her makeup again, because she had not quite gotten the hang of the fake eyelashes yet. She had worn a pink and purple ombre print body con dress with cobalt blue stiletto gladiator sandals and silver jewelry. She had pulled her hair to one side and pinned the style in place with sterling silver hair pins.

  “Momma, who is that?” Savanah had said to their mother still staring at Shelby. “I know that is not my sister. My sister is a fat slob with no class.” Shelby’s three bridesmaids stood in the corner laughing at her statement. Savannah had always managed to befriend the girl that bullied Shelby and now that they were adults, it was no different.

  “Savannah! What have I told you about airing the family dirty secrets in public?” Her mother had said looking around at the bridal shop employees with a fake smile on her face. The rest of the afternoon had been a day of her mother drinking every glass of champagne she could get her hands on and Savannah making snide remarks about Shelby’s new look. But Shelby did not care, because when she had put on her bridesmaid gown, which she was sure Savannah had chosen because she thought Shelby would look bad in it, it was actually two sizes too big, to which Sarah had said, “I can’t believe it. Are you sure that is her dress? Oh, Momma I guess you can put lipstick on a pig.”

  Shelby had not cared because she was so proud of herself. Bringing her mind to the present, Shelby looked at her watch and her knee started to bounce uncontrollably. She had fifteen minutes to get to the Country Club. She could not be late. If there was one thing her mother hated, it was someone being late and Shelby had a habit of being late…a lot. Just as she was about to go ahead and go alone, her doorbell rang. “Oh thank God.” Shelby thought as she raced to the door. When she opened the door, Logan took her breath away. He was wearing a three piece navy blue suit with a white button down shirt and a yellow silk tie. “God, I want to sit on your face right now,” Shelby thought. Thinking of the position that Cassidy had told her about this morning. She could feel that she was blushing so she stepped back and let him in. He was holding a bouquet of Gardenias, her favorite flower.

  “I didn’t think you were going to come. I tried calling you all day.” Shelby said to him as he walked into her foyer, handing the flowers to her. She took them and mumbled a ‘thank you’ to him as she walked toward the kitchen to get a vase.

  “I wasn’t going to come,” Logan said, leaning against her island crossing his legs at the ankle and his big arms across his chest. God, this man was going to turn her into a harlot! Whenever she was in his presence, all she could think of was sex, sex and more sex with him.

  “But then I realized if I didn’t, I would be no better than your family. I refuse to treat you like they do; punishing you for every little thing,” Logan said. Setting the vase down on the table with the flowers in it, Shelby looked at him realizing that in two days Logan had given her more acceptance than her family ever had.

  “Thank you,” She said, standing close to him. Placing his hand under her chin, he raised her head up to look him in the eye. Her eyes were such a beautiful shade of brown, yet they always looked so sad. Slipping his arm around her waist he whispered,

  “You never have to thank me for caring about you, Shelby. It is my pleasure,” He finished with a wink. He grabbed her left breast with his hand and with the other hand he pulled her head closer to his until they were within centimeters of each other. He bit her bottom lip gently before releasing deepening the kiss and then slide down and nipped her neck. Stepping away from her, he cleared his throat. “We better get going before I rip that gorgeous dress off you and fuck you but good right here on this kitchen floor.”

  Shelby could not think of one good reason for him NOT to do that. When had she gotten so horny? Probably the eight and a half years since the last time she had sex. Bad sex.

  “Ok,” She said smiling. Logan laughed out loud and took her hand. She had sounded like one of the chippettes when she answered him. It was so arousing to Logan to know he had the same effect on her as she had on him.

  CHAPTER 6

  The party was in full swing when Shelby and Logan arrived. The formal ballroom was filled with 250 of the Beasley family’s “closest” family and friends. The second ballroom was set up like a lounge for cocktails and chatting. Savannah’s theme for her wedding was golden opulence; the decor was luxurious, elegant, and amazing. The colors were purple, blue and gold and the decorations looked fancy, because the colors exuded luxury. Ornate lamps and flowers livened the atmosphere of the celebration. Gold was being used as the main base color in the decorations; it symbolized the sanctity of the event and provided an elegant impression. The rest of the decorations could only be described as Pretty in Pink. It made the decorating look so soft and elegant. However, the luxury was still reflected in the decor. The dining tables were decorated with beautiful flowers with a soft pink color.

  As Logan and Shelby stepped into the ballroom, Logan reached down and grabbed Shelby’s hand. Standing so close to her he could feel her trembling, he wanted her to know he was there for her. Shelby spotted her parents at a table near the main table talking to some of their family members and Shelby’s grandmother, Queenie.

  “There are my parents,” Shelby said and they started to walk to the table. “Hi, Daddy,” Shelby said to her father as she hugged him.

  “Shelby, you know when I am around, I am the first person to get some sugar.” Queenie said to her teasing her granddaughter.

  Laughing, Shelby said, “I am so sorry, Granny. I do know you want your sugar first.” She leaned down and gave her grandmother a tight hug. Queenie Beasley was the matriarch of the Beasley family; ninety-three years young and still kicking and screaming. She had a cordial relationship with Sarah and Savannah, for that matter, but she loved her Shelby.

  “Who is this you bought with you?” Queenie said to her granddaughter extending her hand to Logan so that he could kiss it, which he did.

  “I am Lance...” and before Logan could finish the sentence Shelby cut him off and said. “This is Logan Chandler, Granny, my date”

  “WHAT?” Shelby’s mother said speaking for the first time since Shelby had arrived at the table.

  “Oh sit down and hush, Sarah! My grandbaby is introducing me to her boyfriend.” Looking up at Logan smiling, she said, “Sit down, young man, I am old. I want to get a good look at the man that caused this amazing transformation in my granddaughter.” Laughing, Logan said, “Yes ma’am” as he squatted down in front of Queenie.

  “Oh, yes Shelby, I see why you have a smile. He is a cute one. So what do you do for a living, Logan?” Queenie said.

  “Ex-con,” Sarah said before Logan had a chance to speak. “Honestly, Shelby, what are you doing dating an ex-convict? I thought you were dating the brother?”

  “Momma, I...” Shelby started but her grandmother cut her off.

  “Sarah, if we all judged someone for the rest of their lives on their mistakes in the past, then you would still be known as the town tramp swinging from a pole at Juice’s,.” Queenie said winking at Logan.

  “MOTHER!” Jackson said to his mother. “There is no call for nastiness!” Sarah stood up suddenly and said, “Excuse me,” and walked toward the ladies room.

  “Granny, that was not nice,” Shelby said trying not to laugh.

  “Well, it made her shut up, didn’t it?” Queenie said. Logan could not believe what he was hearing. They may be a family with money, but they were not a family of love and he suddenly felt sorry for all of them “Shelby, are you dating both the Chandler boys?” Her father asked her. “Because I know when we saw you at dinner you told me that he was Lance.”

  “I know, Daddy. I am sorry that I lied to you. I
did not want Momma to be upset that I could not get a date so I asked Lance to pretend to be my boyfriend until after the wedding. But when he had to leave town on business, Logan agreed to have pity on me and pretend to be Lance.”

  “Baby girl, have you been watching those soap operas with your grandmother again? What possessed you to lie?” Jackson said with a disgusted tone.

  “Well, son, if watching soap operas made Shelby do this then you must have been watching porn right before you selected your wife. Jackson, I am tired of watching you dismiss your child and let your wife be a nasty human being,” Queenie said angrily.

  “Mother, we will not have this conversation now, and in mixed company,” Jackson said standing up and walking away.

  “I am so sorry, Granny,” Shelby said sitting on the arm of the Queen Anne chair her grandmother was sitting next to.

  “Oh, baby, don’t you worry about that now. What’s done is done. Logan, take my granddaughter to the dance floor and dance her socks off,” Queenie said.

  Standing up and laughing under his breath Logan said, “Yes, Ma’am,” as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Don’t you try and sweet talk me, young man. I am more than you can handle.” Logan busted out laughing loudly.

  The rest of the evening was tense with the family, to say the least. But Shelby had not noticed; she was having such a good time with Logan. Her female family members seemed to be enjoying his presence there, too. Her fifteen-year old cousin said to him, “I do not care what side of the tracks you come from, you are HOT,” and walked away. Logan had turned and looked at Shelby. She was not able to contain herself.

  “Well, she has good taste,” Shelby had finally said.

  Shelby and Logan were walking back to the family table, coming off the dance floor from dancing again. They had danced most of the night. Anytime Logan and Shelby were sitting for too long, Queenie would tell them to get and hit the floor and she would end with, “Shelby. No twerking,” and then laughing. “Excuse me, Logan. I need to go to the ladies room.” Shelby said grabbing her purse off table. “Will you be ok for a minute?”

  Shaking his head and chuckling to himself Logan said, “Shelby, I am not five, I can handle myself for three minutes,” he said smiling at her. “Besides I am going to see if I can get your grandmother to fall in love with me while you are gone,” he finished, winking at Queenie. Shaking her head, Shelby headed for the restroom.

  When she walked into the bathroom, she was shocked by what she saw. Savannah was sitting on the sink with her ankles on the shoulders of a man; his pants and boxers were down, Savannah’s panties were hanging from one ankle and the man was slamming into Savannah like a jackhammer as Savannah moaned.

  “OH MY GOD SAVANNAH!” Shelby said, startling the couple. When the man turned toward Shelby in shock she could see that her sister was sleeping with her soon-to-be husband’s brother, Mark.

  “Oh God! GET OUT SHELBY!” Savannah screamed at her. “GET OUT!” she yelled again when Shelby did not automatically move. Jarred into action, Shelby turned and walked out of the bathroom. As she got back to the table, she was shaking. She could not believe what she had just seen. What was she going to do? Shouldn’t she tell someone; at least her father?

  Just as she was sitting down at the family table, she saw her sister storming toward her. As Savannah got to the table, she grabbed Shelby’s arm to turn her toward her saying in hushed tones that made Shelby feel like she was spitting fire on her. “Look, you fat pig! You better keep your mouth shut or I promise I will make your life miserable.” Shelby did not realize until that moment, she had accidently sat next to Michael, her sister’s fiancé.

  Snatching her arm away, Shelby stood toe to toe with her sister. After what she had just seen, did she really think she was going to allow her to keep playing the high and mighty roll?

  “It’s not like you have not already done that my whole life, Savannah.” Shelby said to her crossing her arms over her breasts. It was taking all she had not to call her sister out right then. Pushing her left shoulder, Savannah said, “Do you think it has been a picnic being the sister of the town pig!? How many entrees have you have tonight, Shelby? Five, six?” Savannah was walking toward Shelby which was causing her to have to back away a little. Jackson, Sarah and a few other guests had noticed that Shelby and Savannah were in a heated conversation. Because of the music and discussion going on in the room, they could not hear the words being said.

  Shelby could see her father coming toward them out of the corner of her eye and decided to defuse the situation and not embarrass her mother and father. She could smell the four glasses of tequila and five glasses of champagne that Sarah had already drank. She knew that she was tipsy, if not drunk.

  “Savannah, I am not having this discussion with you right now. Go back to your FIANCE,” Shelby said to her sister starting to turn and walk away.

  “Don’t you turn your back on me, you fat pig!” Savannah said grabbing Shelby’s right arm tightly to spin her around. Fed up with her sister’s crap and knowing that her mother and father would somehow make things her fault and not caring anymore, Shelby turned and pushed her sister. “Don’t touch me, Savannah. I promise you will regret it.” Savannah stumbled backward and fell on one knee which caused Michael to stand up and grab Shelby’s arm and push her back saying, “What do you think you are doing, Shelby?” Shelby had not even noticed that Logan was standing very close by the entire time. When Michael grabbed her arm, he was there standing between Michael and Shelby.

  “Don’t touch her!” he said to him. Logan did not raise his voice or even physically touch Michael but Logan’s eyes and his body were screaming loudly. “I will beat your ass!!”

  “What in heaven’s name is happening here?” Sarah said as she approached the group. “Do you see, Shelby, do you see what happens when you bring trash into the family?” her mother said with the same venom that Savannah had spoken to her.

  “This is...” Logan started to say but was cut off by Shelby.

  “Momma, this is not about Logan. This is about your whore daughter!” Shelby yelled at her mother. It was like the world had stood still and all eyes were on her. Her father and mother were in shock. Savannah was fuming and Logan was protecting her with pride. Turning to look at her sister, Shelby said, “Tell them.”

  “Tell us what, Savannah?” Jackson said to his daughter.

  “Nothing Daddy; I do not know what she is talking about,” Savannah said trying to pretend like she was unfazed but shaking like a leaf.

  “Tell them, Savannah, or I will!” Shelby said again but even louder than she had said it before. If she had thought she was imagining things when she thought that everyone was looking at her before, she was sure of it now.

  “For heaven’s sake, Shelby, you stop that yelling. You are embarrassing your father’s family name!” Sarah said to Shelby as she stood next to Savannah in support of her… as usual. Completely fed up, Shelby yelled, “Me? Me? Momma, I am not the one that was just fucking my future brother-in law-in the ladies room.” Shelby could hear the collective takes of breath around her, but really did not care at this point.

  “Well, I knew my granddaughter was a tramp! I am so proud!” Queenie said sarcastically from her wheelchair. Logan busted out laughing. This was the best party he had been to in well…ever.

  “MOTHER!” Jackson said loudly. “I will not have this! Into the cigar room, now!” he finished, pointing in the direction of the private room.

  “Jackson, can’t this wait…?” Sarah started to say but Jackson cut her off saying, “I said MOVE, now Sarah!”

  “Yes, dear,” Sarah said walking in the direction he pointed. Shelby, Savannah, Michael and Queenie all started that way too. Before Queenie got past Logan, she grabbed his hand and said, “You too, Shuga, I think our girl is going to need some support. There is only so much I can do from this chair.”

  Logan was the last one to walk into the private suite. As soon as he closed the door behind him,
Savannah said, “Does HE have to be in here?”

  “Savannah! Sit down and shut your mouth until I tell you it’s ok to speak, young lady!” Jackson said to her. It took a lot to get under the skin of the patriarch of the Beasley clan, but when you did, it’s best to do as he says. Logan was surprised. He didn’t think that Jackson Beasley had a backbone, let alone balls.

  “Jackson, she is right. He should not be here for a family meeting,” Sarah said to her husband taking seat in the brown wing-back chair that was next to the fireplace in the room.

  “Sarah, when I say ‘quiet’ I mean don’t ‘speak’ until I point to you,” Jackson said angrily looking at his wife.

  Clapping her arthritic chocolate brown hands, Queenie said, “Well, my son seems to have located his balls at the bottom of your purse today.”

  “Mother, with all due respect...Shhh.......,” Jackson said.

  “Boy, don’t you shish me! I may be in this chair but I will stand up to hit you with this cane,” Queenie said to him.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Jackson mumbled. Taking a deep breath and grabbing the bridge of his nose Jackson said to his daughters,

  “Savannah, Shelby, what is going on with you two?” putting up his finger to stop them both from speaking yet, he finished, “I warn you, I am in no mood for disrespect or nonsense so please do not try your daddy today.”