Smoldering

by Tiffany Aleman

  “Is that what I think it is?” I ask in awe as I look between Lana and the stove.

  She smiles at me with a nod. “If you assumed a wood burning stove, then you guessed right. That husband of mine uses it all winter long. That’s why it always smells something is burning in here,” she jokes with a laugh.

  “Riley said you own a family business,” I state, trying to make small talk.

  “We do.” She nods. “Did he tell you what it is?”

  I shake my head and she laughs.

  “That sounds like him. He’s never been one to flaunt our wealth. But then again, my husband and I don’t either, unless the situation calls for it.”

  “We’re in cotton.” Riley says from behind me. “The business has been passed down from generation to generation. Right now, it’s our turn.” He shrugs. “This is a one hundred acre plantation. Three quarters of our land is cotton fields. But we also have other acreage for growing cotton. We grow, produce, and sell some of the world’s finest cotton. My family produces most of the cotton for some of the major textile companies in the United States,” he states proudly. He has every right to be proud. Riley’s family has made a name for themselves and kept the business alive and thriving.

  Lana pats my hand, gaining my attention. “Whether my boy decides to stay in the military or not, one day too, it will be his turn to take over.”

  “And if that’s not what he wants? To take over the family business, I mean.”

  Lana smiles at me. “Then it will go to my husband’s brother who’s next in line. They all work together, honestly, but the title of President must go to someone.”

  “Speaking of. Where’s dad?” Riley asks from beside me now.

  “He’s at the office. Had some things to clear up, but don’t worry, he’s off for the weekend.” She winks at us with a smirk. “I made sure of that and for the benefit tomorrow night.”

  With eyes wide, I look to Riley. “Benefit?” I ask, completely shocked. Not once in the past month has he brought up that there was a benefit we’d be attending.

  Sheepishly, he looks down like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

  As we step into the kitchen, Lana pulls my attention back to her with a nervous laugh. “Um… so this room has been completely remodeled.”

  I look back to Riley and give him a pointed look. He mouths the words ‘I love you’ and I shake my head, mouthing back ‘not going to work this time’.

  I turn my attention back to his mom as she points out how she thinks the white marble countertops make the espresso colored cabinets pop. And I couldn’t agree more. Like the rest of the state of the art appliances, a stainless steel, five-burner stove sits in the center of one wall with a stainless steel, vented hood hanging above it. Recessed lights are tucked in the ceiling throughout the downstairs.

  “And this is the main living room,” she announces as we pass through an arched walkway. Two wingback chairs sit at an angle in front of the windows that are draped with pale blue tapestries. The space is large and open and the sun shines so brightly, its rays come in through the windows and blanket everything in its path. “Come, sit,” Lana requests, taking a seat on the dark, brown leather couch with a cashmere throw draped over the back.

  I oblige her request, taking a seat on the love seat and Riley sits next to me, holding my hand in his. Even though he pissed me off by not telling me about the benefit, I need him for support and strength. I know I’m about to face the firing squad and whether I answer correctly will determine if our relationship will proceed.

  “So, tell me about yourself. I want to get to know the woman my son has fallen in love with. How did y’all meet?” She smiles as she leans back casually into the couch.

  A blush creeps up my neck and onto my face at her words. I look to Riley and back to her and, with a genuine smile, I tell her our story.

  “I work the night shift at a diner right outside of Ft. Stewart. Your handsome son here,” I look up at him, placing my hand on his knee and Riley wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me into him, “took me by surprise, to say the least. When I saw him walk through the door, I was captivated by him.”

  “So captivated, she smashed an entire strawberry shortcake into her shirt.” He squeezes my hand and grins at me.

  His mother laughs out, “Oh my.”

  I nod. “That’s what I thought too. Needless to say, I was completely embarrassed. I wound up running off to the back to clean myself up, only to have my shirt get soaked in the process.” I shake my head and look over to Lana who is smiling at us with a pleased expression on her face.

  “It sounds like you two have created quite the memory.” The softness in her tone is one that only a mother can convey, and it makes me wish that I’d had a mother that loved me like Lana loves her son.

  “We have,” Riley whispers as he places a sweet kiss on my temple.

  “Tell me, are you originally from Savannah?”

  I clear my throat. “No, ma’am. Originally, I’m from Richmond, Virginia, but I grew up in Connecticut. My roommate is my best friend and has been for many years. We met my sophomore year in college.”

  “Oh? Where did you go to college?” She smiles and tilts her head to the side.

  “Yale. I have my Master’s Degree in Nursing,” I whisper.

  Lying is not in my repertoire of the things to do. I’ve never lied to Riley, but I wasn’t completely forthcoming with everything. If he had asked, I would have told him. So, the audible gasp coming from beside me is completely warranted.

  “Oh.” A shocked expression crosses her face and I’m sure my answer isn’t what she expected. “That’s wonderful,” Lana states. “Your family must be so proud of you.”

  My grip tightens in Riley’s as I nod, instead of dismissing her statement. My family could care less about my accomplishments. As long as I did what was expected of me, then I was in their good graces.

  Lana’s eyes flitter between Riley and me before she hesitantly asks, “How was the drive in?”

  “It was good, but Kelsey had to work overnight,” Riley answers for me.

  “You must be tired, dear,” she states her eyes growing soft.

  “A little bit.” I chuckle and then grin.

  “Well, Riley dear, why don’t you and Kelsey go settle in? Your father should be home shortly and dinner is almost done. I’ll let you know when everything’s ready.” Lana smiles as she stands.

  As Riley and I stand, he leans down and whispers in my ear. “You know we’re going to talk about this, right?”

  I nod as he kisses my temple.

  When we get to our room, my eyes wander over the lavishness of it. A gargantuan bed sits along one wall with a vintage trunk at the foot of it. In front of a set of windows sits a taupe colored chaise lounge. On another wall stands a large armoire. A fireplace is tucked into the wall across from the bed.

  “Was this your room?” I ask Riley, who now sits perched on the bed.

  He pats the bed, silently asking me to sit completely dismissing my question. “So, are you going to explain to me why I never knew you went to Yale or that you held a Master’s degree?”

  I cross my arms over my chest. “Are you going to tell me why you didn’t mention the benefit?” I counter.

  “Fair enough,” he agrees. “I wasn’t sure you’d come if you knew. Geez, Kelsey.” Riley groans as he gets off the bed and runs his fingers through his hair before he turns his eyes back on me, eyes filled with a hurt that I’ve never seen before. “You’re already nervous about meeting my family. Could you imagine if I’d said, ‘Hey babe, there’s this benefit coming up at my folks’ place and I’d like you to come. Oh, and by the way, meet my parents while you’re at it?’ Give me a break.” His hands drop from his head as he blows out a harsh breath.

  “How do you know what I would have said?” I ask softly, feeling like a scolded child. There is some truth behind his words. I was a nervous wreck about meeting his parents. Throw in a benefit a
nd I probably would have found every excuse in the book to stay in Savannah.

  “I’m not going to answer that. I know you better than you think I do, so please do not insult my intelligence.” He shakes his head and turns his heated glare on me. “Now, your degree?” he asks, plopping back down on the bed.

  “There’s nothing to explain, really,” I begin as I walk over to him and take a seat next to him on the bed. “I told you that you and I weren’t so different. I come from a wealthy family who paid for my degree. That’s why I went to Yale. I didn’t really want to go there, but when it came to my parents, their wish was my command. My only form of rebellion was choosing a nursing degree. I may have had to go to a school they chose, but I picked a degree that I loved. I could go take the NCLEX-RN to get my RN license and then go on to take all the necessary steps to get my nurse practitioner licensing instated if I wanted.”

  With a raised brow, he asks, “Why do you work at a truck stop then?”

  “Because when my parents and I had our falling out, I left that life behind, including my fancy degree.” I shrug, as I look him in the eyes. “Call it being stubborn, whatever. When they told me I was dead to them, then in return, they and everything they gave me was dead to me, too.”

  Sympathy shines back at me as he reaches out, taking my hand in his. He brings it to his lips and kisses my knuckles as he nods. “Is there anything else I should know? Any more surprises that you want to tell me about?”

  I take a deep breath and look away from him before I explain. “I was engaged two years ago,” I whisper.

  My hand leaves his warmth to meet the cool, soft fabric of the duvet below as he drops it. “Engaged,” he repeats as if he didn’t hear me correctly. “To your ex?” A shocked expression takes over his face.

  I nod and he waits for me to explain. Dread fills my gut as I realize this is it. My confessions, right here and now, will either make or break our relationship. If he can’t understand, then we will be at an impasse, because I refuse to feel bad for the decisions I made concerning Todd and my parents.

  “I broke off the engagement.”

  “How could you not tell me you’d been engaged? That is definitely something I should have been informed about within the first couple of months of dating, not when we’re almost five months into our relationship.” Riley glares at me, his mouth set in a thin line and my defenses going up.

  I stand from the bed, ball my hands into fists, square my shoulders, and hold my head up high. “Don’t judge me until you’ve walked a mile in my shoes, Riley. You have no idea what I’ve been through. Not with my parents. Not with Todd.”

  “Because you won’t tell me. And who the hell is Todd?” he asks, standing from the bed only to pace back and forth in front of me.

  Tears well up in my eyes. We have never fought. Yes, we’ve had disagreements but not to this extent. And of all places, it has to happen is at his parents’ home the first time I meet them.

  “Because I don’t want to poison you, poison us, with the details of my past. To me those details are insignificant,” I whisper.

  The first tear falls and I wipe it away before he can see what he’s doing to me. Unfortunately, I’m not fast enough. In a matter of seconds, I’m wrapped in his arms as one of his hands cradle my head to his chest.

  “I’m sorry, okay?”

  “Me, too.” I nod.

  “Just like you want to know all about me, well, I want to know all about you, too. I love you, Kels. You may think your past is inconsequential, but it has shaped you into the woman you’ve become,” he murmurs against my temple.

  More tears fall as I think of the woman I used to be, compared to the woman I am now. Two years ago, I was a Stepford daughter always doing what my parents asked of me, always afraid of disappointing. I never stood up for what I thought was right or what I believed in. I never stood up for me. I was a Persian rug that had been walked on so many times that I eventually became worn in spots and held no value. Now, I am a woman who knows my worth, defends herself, and refuses to stand in the shadows of others to make someone else happy.

  Riley places his hands on either side of my face and pulls back to look at me. His thumbs brush away my tears.

  “That woman in the past, from two years ago, no longer exists. What you see is the real me. The me I’ve always wanted to be,” I choke out around a ball of emotion stuck in my throat. “I’m sorry I don’t talk about my past. It has nothing to do with me not trusting you. It’s just something I don’t like to talk about. I will tell you this, though. I lived a life full of expectations. There was no sacrifice deemed too large that my parents didn’t think I should make. I always aimed to please them just to gain one ounce of affection from them that I never received. I was willing to marry a man I loathed to make them love me.” I take a deep breath and look deeply into his eyes, hoping he can see the sincerity of my words, and not the intent of lying to him. “At the last minute, I left it all behind because I realized there wasn’t anything worth me sacrificing my happiness or my heart.”

  For a few moments, we stand there, his eyes searching mine, and mine searching his before he finally nods and smiles at me. “Thank you for telling me.”

  I answer with a smile and a nod of my own.

  Collard greens, grilled vegetables, an apple Caesar salad, and herb crusted rack of lamb grace the exquisite dining table and fine china that Lana, Riley, and myself are gathered around. Beautiful, cut crystal wine glasses hold the red Bordeaux in front of our place settings.

  “Sorry I’m late,” says a man, approaching the dining room, with blond hair, green eyes, a dazzling smile, and well-kept build. He slings a dark grey suit jacket over the back of his chair as he loosens his burgundy satin tie, and then he leans down and kisses his wife on the cheek. When his eyes find me, his smile grows. “And you must be Kelsey.” He walks around the table as I push my chair out and stand.

  “Mr. Jackson.” I nod, reaching my hand out for him to shake.

  He grabs hold of my hand, bends, and kisses the back of it. “It’s my pleasure, and please,” he straightens up, “call me Ron.”

  “Like father, like son, I take it?” A laugh escapes me as I look at Lana.

  She nods her head and chuckles. “Oh honey, you have no idea,” she smiles.

  “Well, dinner looks fabulous, dear,” Ron says as he takes a seat at the head of the table, his wife on his left, Riley and I on his right.

  As we fill our plates with food, Ron starts, “So, how was the drive up? Did y’all hit any traffic in Atlanta?”

  Riley takes a drink of his wine before he answers. “Not really. You know how Atlanta is. There’s always traffic. It’s knowing the best times to maneuver through the city.”

  He takes a bite of his food and chases it down with a sip of wine before he smiles at me. “Kelsey. Now be honest, how has my son been treating you?”

  My nerves aren’t near as bad for some reason when I speak to Ron, maybe because he reminds me of Riley so much. “Very well. You and Lana have raised a perfect gentleman.”

  Lana throws her head back in laughter as she clutches her linen napkin to her chest. She looks to her husband with a smile on her face. “You hear that, Ron? A perfect gentleman.”

  Ron shakes his head as he looks from his son to his wife, his eyes squinted in humor. “Then you must know about—,”

  “Dad,” Riley groans. “Don’t start please.”

  My eyes flicker between the three of them. From what I’ve seen, Riley doesn’t really possess any bad traits, none that are deal breakers, anyway. I prop my elbows on the table and rest my chin on my folded hands. With a raised brow and curious grin, I ask, “Are there some things I should be warned about?”

  Riley reaches under the table and places his hand on my knee, slowly gliding it up and down the length of my thigh, pulling my attention to him. “Babe, you think I’m perfect all you want. There’s no need to listen to these two.” He smirks with a wink.

  Lana
takes a drink of her wine and points her fork at her son. “Now, your father and I happen to know a thing or two about you.” She picks a few pieces of carrots, radish, and lettuce from her salad before continuing. “We did raise you, after all.”

  “Don’t you think Kelsey should know what she’s getting into?” Ron asks with a smirk directed towards Riley.

  “Yeah, don’t you think so, Riley?” I ask through a smile of my own.

  Riley looks at me with a wicked smile and daring gleam in his eye and his tone full of promises. “You already know what you’re getting into with me.”

  And in that one statement, he means I’m not just getting the man who drinks out of the milk carton or steals the covers at night, who showers before he runs or who leaves empty water bottles in his car. No. I’m also getting the man who kisses me sweetly and with compassion one minute, and then assaults my mouth with his tongue the next. I’m getting the gentle lover and the kinky bastard. I’m getting a voice of reason and a confidant. I get the whole fucking package.

  After dinner, I help Lana clear the table while the men go catch up on what’s been going on in their lives. Lana laughs and tells me their lives consist of work and football.

  “I’m assuming, because that perfect son of mine didn’t inform you about the benefit, you have nothing to wear?” she asks as she hands me a piece of china to hand dry.

  Melancholy sweeps over me as I stand next to Riley’s mother, doing something as mundane as drying dishes, and it's making me ache for something I’ve never had. My mother never would have cooked, let alone stuck her hand in a sink and, God forbid, washed dishes. Chores such as cooking and cleaning would have been left for the chef and maid to take care of. But for Lana, she doesn’t look at what we’re doing as chores. She looks at it as taking care of her family. And that’s a trait I admire in her.