by Shae Shannon
His lips came down to plant on her cheek. “I haven’t either, Emm. But, I have never loved a girl the way I love you either.”
EmmaLee’s heart stopped. She was dead. She had to be, right? Or had she drifted off to sleep? Oh hell, had she dreamt the whole thing? Oh well, even if it was all a dream, it was a perfect one. She allowed the words she had waited for all her life to sink into every crevice of her brain. It washed over her and filled her soul. A deep cough yanked her out of her fairy tale. “Is this all real? Pinch me.”
“I love you, Emmie. I have always loved you, ever since that day you were down playin’ in the creek with your Barbie dolls in nothing more than a pair of pink Strawberry Shortcake panties.”
She turned her head to look at him. “You remember that day? That was the first time I ever met you or your family. I was five. Your momma gave me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a grape pop. Afterwards, you shared your chocolate cupcake with me.” Her hands caressed little circles in the middle of his chest as they stepped back in time, lost in a memory.
“Now how could I ever forget those little pigtails? You had mud smeared from one ear to the other, a bucket full of crawdads that you let us all know were your dolls’ pets. You had the sweetest smile any of us had ever seen. You still do, Emm.”
“Jase, I have always loved you. Always. I know that I am not supposed to because you guys are my family. Y’all are the only family I have ever had really. I don’t want to mess that up because I need you guys.” The muscles that had finally relaxed into mush began to tighten again. Fear gripped her heart, and all of the thoughts came rushing back in a hurricane. She felt Jase tighten his hold on her.
“Don’t go getting that pretty little head of yours all tangled up again. Those days are over. You are never going to worry and feel down about anything, ever. Do you hear me?” Jase rolled off of his back onto his side, gaining the ability to look straight in her eyes.
“You can’t keep me in a protective bubble forever, Jase. And, when you get tired of me, I not only lose you, but your family, too. I just can’t stand to even think about it.” Her eyes fell back down to look at his chest.
Jase knew the minute her damn insecurities took over. When her eyes fell in defeat, anger began to bud in his veins. Ever so gently, he reached down and tipped her chin back up, forcing her eyes on his.
“EmmaLee Brooke Anderson, look at me and listen up. First and foremost, I will never get tired of you. Do you hear me with those pretty little ears? N-e-v-e-r. Second, we will be your family until the day you die.” He gently caressed her cheek before her continued. “My parents wanted us boys to come ambush you in the middle of the night and use all means necessary to get you back at the house where you belong.” She opened her mouth in what was surely an argument of some kind, so instead of listening to her excuses about why she wasn’t good enough, he kissed her. When he finally pulled back, all negative thoughts appeared to be erased.
A loud growl came from the hollowness of her tummy, making both chuckle. “I take it you didn’t follow Ma’s orders and eat breakfast?”
“No, I didn’t get a chance. I sat down to drink my coffee and found the treasure map to that pretty purple truck sitting in the yard. Then, as if that wasn’t amazing in itself, a hot, hunky cowboy jumped in and then jumped me.” A sly smile tugged the corners of her well-kissed lips.
“Well, I guess that is a pretty good excuse. I don’t think Mom will think so though. We better get you something to eat before that bear in your stomach comes out and kills us all.” He kissed her again, only this time sweet and gentle. When he started to get up, her hand caught him and stopped him.
“I know, but not right now, Jase. I don’t want this moment to end.” He agreeably complied, and pulled her closer into the curve of his body.
“I can stay like this as long as you like, love. If I had my way, I wouldn’t ever move again.”
“You have a way with words, cowboy.” EmmaLee released a deep sigh, relaxing into Jase’s warm, hard, embrace. She was almost asleep when the door busted open. In a few long strides, Lyndon was standing beside the bed with the muscles of his face bunched up and radioactive heat vision shooting from his eyes. EmmaLee frantically reached for the covers in attempts to hide her bare naked body.
“What the son of a fuck is going on?” One fist was clenched tightly to his side, but the other moved to lean on the wall in a cocked and loaded position.
“Don’t do this right now, Lyndon.” The dangerous warning coated Jase’s words.
“I can’t believe you fucked Emmie! Our like-a-sister Emmie! What were you thinking? Have you totally lost your ever-loving freaking mind?” Lyndon ended the sentence with a pissed yell.
Tears flooded EmmaLee’s vision. The deep wound in her heart opened more, and emotions took over. “I am so sorry, Lyndon. It was my fault. I know you don’t think Jase should have lowered his standards or whatever, but you don’t have be such a heartless bastard!” She flew out of the bed, stomping around to collect her clothes. With the heap piled in her arms, she all but sprinted to the bathroom and locked the door.
“Are you retarded? You ask me if I have lost it, but look in the mirror, fucker! You just managed to crush what little healing I had just accomplished! Now let’s see how bad her inner disposition is! You better clarify that dipshit comment before I write ‘I’m sorry’ in your blood after I beat the living fuck out of you!” Jase had stood as well, and was pulling his jeans.
“I cannot believe that you just referred to fucking as a healing process. That is stupid, even for you, Jase.” Lyndon squared off his shoulders.
Jase was pulling on the last boot when a pure, angry rage charged through him. “How fucking dare you insinuate that I used her in any way! Do not ever talk about her like she is a slut again! And if you ever talk to me like that again, you will be speaking through a wired-shut jaw!” He had taken a step with each sentence, and now was toe-to-toe with his older brother.
Lyndon’s tone had changed to a quiet, feral, almost whisper through clenched teeth. “Get. Out. Of. My. Face, Jase.”
“I don’t have time to do this right now. I promise you, we will pick up where we left off later. Right now I have an emotional, upset, scared little girl to go find and attempt to put the pieces back together, no thanks to you. Fuck you, dickhead.” He didn’t wait for an answer. He turned and all but ran out the back door, in search of a heartbroken EmmaLee.
Chapter 5
When EmmaLee had bolted after Lyndon’s obviously unhappy intrusion, her tear-filled eyes had failed to notice Lilly walking in the door and pummeled her. She had somehow managed to keep them both from getting an up close and personal look at the floor, but they still fell against the wall in a bear hug.
“Oh my gosh! Lilly, I am so sorry are you okay?” Her surprise made her voice raise two octaves.
“Emmie, yes, hon. I am fine! Calm down!” The older woman hugged the girl reassuringly and kissed her cheek. When she pulled back, her eyes narrowed in an inquisitive expression.
“Now, do you mind telling me what you were running from before we teeter-totter around the front room in the world’s worst waltz?” Her hand planted on her hip in that “you better not lie to Mom” posture.
“Oh, nothing is wrong. I was just heading to the barn. I want to go ride for a little while, if you don’t need me to help with anything for a couple hours.” EmmaLee held her hands together to hide the sudden shaking. Lilly unhesitatingly grabbed her hand and led her to the massive chocolate suede couch in the enormous living area. The whole lodge-style log house had gorgeous log walls, ceiling beams, and dark wood floors. Lilly had decorated in warm tones, making the whole house cozy and inviting. Family pictures lined the room. The rock fireplace took up almost a whole wall. Every Christmas, the mantel was heavily decorated with stockings, lights, garland, and a full nativity scene. It was EmmaLee’s favorite thing in the whole house. An enormous television where countless movies had been watched by he
r and the boys all sprawled out on an island of covers hung facing the couch. After she had her seated, Lilly sat beside her and wrapped her arm around EmmaLee’s shoulders.
“That was great, truly. Now, how ’bout you tell me the truth?” Her eyebrow arched up.
“Oh, Lilly, nothing, really. I just screwed up, again. I don’t know if I can fix it or not. Oh! I almost forgot!” Hoping for a distraction from the current conversation, she bounced out of her seat and flung her arms around Lilly with so much energy she almost ended sitting in the woman’s lap. “Thank you, so very much for the truck. It is more than I could ever dream of. It was way too much money though. But, it is absolutely perfect! I love love love love love it!”
Giggles erupted from Lilly. “I am glad, sweetheart. Did you find my present?”
EmmaLee pulled the beautiful gold locket from under her T-shirt that was fastened around her neck. “Oh! Yes! It is gorgeous. Thank you so much. I will never take it off.”
Lilly smiled. “Good. Did you read the inscription?”
“Yes, ma’am. It was the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” Her eyes dropped to the ground, her telltale sign that something had flooded her mind.
“I mean it, EmmaLee Brooke. You will always be my daughter, no matter what. Now, tell me which of my boys has you crying and not out driving your shiny new purple ride.”
Tears literally sprung from EmmaLee’s eyes as she busted out in sobs. She should have known the woman would see through the transparent diversion. She instantly covered her face in her hands. Lilly wrapped her up in her arms and held her tight. “Oh, baby girl. Calm down now. Nothing can be that bad. You can tell me anything, sweetheart. That’s what moms are for.”
EmmaLee felt so horrible. The only mom she had ever had was comforting her, when she had done something so unforgiveable she should be running her off with a shotgun. Just thinking of never having her hug her again made more sobs wrack from her body.
“Emmie, you are going to make yourself sick. Look at me.” She pulled EmmaLee away enough to look her in the eyes. EmmaLee hesitantly removed her hands, with the tears still gushing like geysers. “Let me guess. Something happened with Jase. One of the other two found out and threw a shit fit. Am I right?” Lilly’s eyes widened, waiting for confirmation that her suspicions were correct.
“I am so sorry, Lilly! I know that you probably will hate me now, and I will get my stuff moved out as soon as I can get my old truck fixed! I know I don’t deserve you guys as family! Y’all have been nothing but welcoming and loving to me and I went and screwed everything up!” Wailing sounds blubbered from her lips.
“Oh, child, stop it now. Here, wipe your face and blow your nose.” She grabbed a wad of tissues from the side table. EmmaLee took them and did as instructed. Small whimpers still shook her, and the tears streamed after each wipe. “Here.” Lilly reached over like a normal mom, and blotted her eyes. She wiped her nose, like she did the same way when EmmaLee was five and had gone into hysterics because a calf had been stillborn. She had truly been her mom from the first time she had met her. EmmaLee loved her and the family so very much. She couldn’t handle the thought of losing them forever. It broke her heart.
“You are my daughter, EmmaLee Brooke. Nothing will ever change that. We are your family forever. Do you understand?”
A small nod was all EmmaLee could manage in response. All of the horrible nightmarish thoughts still swirled in her head, strangling her brain. Not after I tell you this, Mom. She knew that honesty was the only option, but her throat constricted and made it hard to breathe. Lilly just sat and waited until she was ready, calmly soothing her and rubbing her arm comfortingly.
“Jase…I…Jase and I…We…” Her voice trailed out, unable to spit out the right words.
“Go on, sweetheart. You and Jase?” The calmness in her tone gave a tiny amount of courage to spit out the dreaded words.
“Lyndon walked in and freaked. He is so mad, and now not only have I ruined the relationship with one brother, I have another, too, and as soon as Dixon finds out, he is going to explode even more. Things will never be the same again.” EmmaLee’s bottom lip began to quiver under the sheet of tears.
Lilly tipped her chin up. “You are right. Nothing will ever be the same again.” The horrified look that flashed over EmmaLee’s face was stopped short. “Wait, sweetheart. Things will never be the same, because you are meant to be with them. I knew Jase would come around easily. Lyndon and Dixon are going to go through a few trials before their stubborn asses realize it, too. We knew this day would come, love. It is going to be all okay, I promise.”
Surprise erased her fear, and words wouldn’t form in her mouth. Had she just heard correctly? Did she mean, they would accept her and Jase together, or did she possibly think that all three would be with her? There was no way she could mean the latter, right? “I can’t be with Jase if it will cause them all problems. I just won’t come between them like that. It is not right.” She watched intently to see Lilly’s reaction.
“You aren’t going to come between them, dear. They will all come around and figure out what Jeremy and I have known all along. They are all in love with you, Emmie. Soon they will quit fighting it, and we can plan the wedding I have been dreaming of for years. You need my boys, and my boys need you, darling.”
Her words slowly sunk in. Holy shitballs. All three of them? Wedding? Her thoughts blurted out. “I can’t marry all three, it’s not even legal. I can’t choose either, so it is best if I just duck out now, Lilly.”
“Oh hosh posh. Laws are made to be broken. We will have our wedding, even though only one name will be on the marriage certificate. I think Jase will be the one that insists on being on the license, with an obvious argument.” Lilly dismissed her worries with the wave of her hand.
“What about the town? Everyone will be talking. It won’t be accepted, and will surely affect the ranch. This ranch means everything to me, Lilly. It has been in the family for generations.” Her hands were mindlessly wringing, again.
“Yes, it has been in the family for generations. Generations of plural marriages, dear. Dad and I are the first Dennisons who have a conventional marriage. His dads, Greg and John, married Marion. Before them there were three males in the home. Granddads Eugene, Pat, and Mathew married Granny Iwilda. This town is full of plural relationships. Have you never noticed?”
“No, never.”
“You know Betty Jones at the beauty shop? Hank isn’t her only husband. Haven’t you noticed that she spends a lot of time with Lee also? And when they are out and about in town, she is usually with both of them? And Lucy Williams, from church. Every Sunday she is sandwiched between her two hubbies, Vance and Vinnie. They are twins, and she has been with them since 1954. I could go on and on, sweetheart, but you get the idea. This town is not what you think it is.”
“Okay, I thought that Vinnie lived with them because he was Vance’s brother, and just had never married. I so did not see that one coming. Wow.”
“So, now you see. Everything will work out, baby. Jeremy will handle the scuffles that arise out of my offspring. You stop worrying. Go ride, clear your head, and come back for lunch. Tina called for you this morning, and I told her to come for dinner. Afterwards I want you girls out having fun in that new truck! This weekend I might just have to tag along. These boys are beginning to get on my last nerve. I think it’s time they fend for themselves for once.” Her warm smile eased all of the hurt, worry, and pain in EmmaLee’s heart.
“Oh, Mom, thank you so much! You are the greatest woman in the world. I can never tell you just how much I love you.”
“You just did, sweetheart. I am your mom, Emmie. Get used to it, kay?”
“Yes, ma’am.” She squeezed Lilly in a tight embrace. Finally, she stood and walked into the kitchen. Waiting for the ass chewing she knew was coming, she punched the buttons on the microwave and heated her breakfast plate. A sarcastic, you-are-in-big-trouble clearing of a throat sounded fro
m the doorway.
“I didn’t get a chance to eat earlier, but I am now, see?” She smiled the biggest, overdramatic grin that showed both rows of teeth.
Lilly just rolled her eyes, and laughed. “Well, at least you are eating now. You are getting extra at dinner time, little lady. You are thin as a board. Your skin is pale, and those circles under your eyes make you look like you got hit with a double shiner. I am getting you back to healthy, got it?”
Emmie giggled. “Yes, ma’am.”
* * * *
Jeremy waltzed in the kitchen and sat beside EmmaLee while Lilly brought him a glass of sweet ice tea. “Hello, girls. How are the two pirdiest girls in the world doing this mornin’?” His eyes instantly drew to EmmaLee’s swollen, poufy eyes and tear-washed makeup. His eyebrows drew together, and he looked at Lilly promptly for an explanation. She just shook her head “yes” subtly, with her eyes rolled up in her head. The unspoken answer was understood, and no questions were asked.
“So, Emmie girl, how did my shopping skills turn out?” His smile reached his eyes.
“Oh, Dad, the truck is unbelievable. It is a girl’s dream come true! Thank you so much!” She stood and wrapped her arms around his neck before planting a kiss on his cheek.
His heart swelled with emotion. After all these years, she’d finally called him Dad. He choked back the tears that burned behind his eyes. With a cough, and his voice a little lower and more manly than normal, he said, “If I would have known all it took was a purple truck to get you to call me Dad, I would have bought you one of those little battery operated ones when you were little.” His smile warmed the room. Finally, after all these years, she called him what he was. Her dad.
