Tennessee Heat

by Cami York

  “You sure you want to spend the rest of your life with that no good scamp? He’s got a good job and he’s kind to a fault, but the boy’s just too pretty for his own good; soft.” He whispered the last in her ear and she giggled.

  “Unhand my woman dad, you don’t let anybody get near yours, you know the rules.” Chase took her out of his dad’s hands where he’d been clasping her shoulders while they spoke.

  Mrs. Worthington threw them out of her kitchen with their ‘stinky’ men selves as she put it, and the two of them bustled around the kitchen like they’d been doing it for a lifetime. “I knew since before the picnic, he told me, well not in so many words.”

  “But when he called me all het up about getting you into school I sniffed something in the air. Then he finally came out and told me and his daddy said he always knew, damn upstart…” And she went on to blow Annabelle’s mind with her easy acceptance.

  “Now you listen to me Annabelle, I know a lot of these fast tail girls around here are after my son, but I couldn’t have wished for better for him. Not one of them can hold a candle to you, you hear?” She could have no idea that her words were like balm to the young girl’s soul.

  Mrs. Worthington was in a roundabout way letting the young girl know that she knew about her troubles with Lisa, and whose corner she was in. Kimmy had let her in on the fact that Annabelle didn’t think she was good enough for her son, that she in fact thought that loose moral trollop Lisa was a better match because of her family status. If she only knew.

  Family status my foot, she thought, as she watched Annabelle stir the pecan syrup they’d just made to fill the homemade pie crust she’d also helped make. Lisa and her ilk were starter wives if that. She didn’t give a fig if Annabelle had money or not, Chase had more than enough for ten of them.

  What mattered to her was that her boy had got his heart’s wish. That after mooning after the girl for the better part of a year, she’d finally given into him. She was sure as spit that had it been Lisa, that hussy would’ve been in and out of his bed already.

  Annabelle was having the time of her life and it wasn’t even the holiday yet. She’d never had a night before Thanksgiving like this. And each time she felt guilty for her thoughts, and the fact that her mother was probably sitting home alone with a bottle of cheap liquor, she reminded herself that had she gone home nothing would’ve changed and she’d just be sitting in her room all alone, missing Chase.

  Every once in a while Chase would sneak into the kitchen to steal a kiss before his mom ran him off again. And then she’d go back to sharing childhood stories about her kids and the holidays.

  By the time Kimmy came through the door, her ‘it’s about time’ was just the last thing needed to put Annabelle at ease. It was one thing for them to joke around about a relationship between her and Chase, but quite another now that it had become a reality.

  But her friend seemed genuinely happy for her and nothing really changed between them except now she felt an added warmness; the difference between friend and family.

  That night they all sat around the large open space family room with a fire burning in the grate, Kimmy and Colin sitting in front of it, roasting marshmallows, and low holiday music playing in the background while they sipped on pumpkin spice lattes.

  The house had indeed been decorated for Thanksgiving and it was the first time Annabelle had seen some of those decorations outside of a store window. It was certainly a far cry from her usual and she couldn’t help but feel tears begin to form in her eyes.

  “You okay baby? It’s not too much?” Chase sat next to her on one of the many loveseats with his arm wrapped around her, right there in his family’s home and she was full to bursting. “No, this is fun, I like it. Thanks for bringing me.”

  “That’s an odd thing to say, who else would I bring?” He kissed her nose and turned back to his dad who was regaling the room with stories of his children’s exploits on Thanksgivings gone by.

  When it was time for bed Annabelle was once again nervous. They lived together sure, but this is the south and mothers don’t cotton to their sons sleeping in the same room as girls they’re not married to. “Chase Worthington, Annabelle’s sleeping with Kimmy and don’t you let me hear your feet making tracks in my carpet during the night.”

  Chase looked like he was about to argue but then he got a devilish twinkle in his eye. “Don’t worry mom, I’ll be on my best behavior.”

  “I bet you scamp! Husband, you better sleep with your gun next to the bed tonight, we gotta protect our girls.”

  Mr. Worthington wriggled his eyebrows and glared at Chase comically. “I’m on it dear. And Emory, no climbing down the wisteria outside your bedroom window. Justine’s dad is like to shoot you if he catches you sneaking into his house in the middle of the night. And that goes for you too Colin. When you drive down my driveway don’t park on the street behind and duck back.”

  The room was boisterous with laughter one minute and the next it was like the whole place had gone to sleep at once; dead silence. Annabelle and Kimmy stayed awake long into the night laying side by side, their faces close together as they whispered about the changes in their lives.

  “I knew Chase was trying to get you into school but he swore me to secrecy until he got everything squared away. It used to kill me every time you’d get so down in the dumps about it, but I figured this day would come and it would be all- better. Are you happy Annabelle?”

  Now the tears that had been threatening all night found their way down her cheeks. She knew her friend was being genuine and she nodded her head as Kimmy squeezed her hand. “I’m happy for you. I know my brother will be good to you. He’s a great guy Anna, the best. Well after my Colin of course.”

  “Of course! I can’t believe this isn’t all a dream, that I’m not going to wake up tomorrow and it’s all gonna disappear.”

  “Believe it and it’s only gonna get better from here. If I know my brother he’s going to spoil you rotten.”

  “He already does.” It was true; in the short few months they’d been together he’d gone above and beyond. The only thing she’d put her foot down about was the car that he wanted to buy her. Since she didn’t go anywhere without him but to school and back home she’d seen no need for it. And besides, she knew the Memphis city bus like the back of her hand.

  At least living over this way she now shared seats with less degenerate types. That got her to thinking about that ‘you’re a product of your environment’ thing. She’d been born and raised in the worst part of town, but even though she never thought of herself as better than anyone, she knew she was a far sight different from the people she’d grown up around.

  Then she thought about the kids from the center and how Chase and her had gone earlier in the week to drop off turkeys and some other groceries so that the kids and their families could at least have a decent meal for the holiday.

  Those kids were from not so good neighborhoods as well, and now that she’d gotten to know them, she wanted only the best for their futures too. Chase’s dream had become hers.

  She had no idea when she’d fallen asleep, but she came awake when she felt arms lifting her from the bed. “Chase?”

  “Shh baby, go back to sleep.” He walked down the dark hallway carrying her close to his heart.

  Chase was pretty sure that his mom knew this was going to happen, she just had to do the mom act for propriety’s sake. At least that’s what he was hoping since he’d never brought a woman home before.

  That night he made slow passionate love to her, with their lips sealed together to hide her screams and moans of pleasure. And in the morning no one said a word about their sleeping arrangements or that her neck was covered in hickeys that weren’t there when she went to bed last night.

  They didn’t say anything about that, but the innuendos were flying around the room. “Looks like she was attacked by the hickey monster.” That from Mrs. Worthington.

  “Dad, I think we need to b
reak out the garlic again, there’s a neck biter on the loose. Remember when Kimmy used to have that problem?”

  “Don’t remind me Em!” Their father glared at Colin who’d just arrived. “Dude, I just got here.” He held his hands up and backed away with a pretend scowl. All in all for Annabelle it was the best time she’d ever had and the day hadn’t even started as yet.

  Just about the time her mother was to appear, Mrs. Worthington pulled Annabelle aside. “Now I want you to look at this as no different than any mother in law meeting the other mother in law. I understand your mother has some problems, both my son and my daughter has already warned both their father and I, so we know what to do. You just relax and enjoy yourself you hear.”

  Annabelle nodded because she couldn’t talk around the ten-pound boulder in her throat. She hoped so, she really-really hoped that her mother didn’t spoil what was turning out to be the best holiday of her life so far. And in thinking it felt guilt for her own thoughts.

  27

  When Ms. Scacci climbed out of the taxi at the head of the drive and saw the monstrosity of a house her heart did a little back flip. This is the kind of place she’d once dreamed of being mistress of. When her beauty was going to be her ticket out of poverty, she’d always imagined that she’d end up in a place like this.

  “Well-well-well.” Looks like the little bitch landed on her feet. She thought as she headed for the door to ring the bell. Chase had been looking out for her so as soon as the bell rang once he was out the door to go pay the cab as arranged.

  By the time he rushed back in to be by his girl’s side, Ms. Scacci was already being introduced around. Annabelle wasn’t sure which personality of her mother’s was going to show up today.

  Will it be the surly discontented woebegone woman who society had crapped all over since birth, or the low-key liar, whose life had once been that of a fairytale princess, whose family had fallen on hard times and thus had thrown her into her present predicament? Her only wish was that there would be no alcohol served.

  As soon as Annabelle's mother appeared it felt like all the air and light had been sucked from the room. “Good afternoon everyone, Mrs. Worthington isn’t it?” she said, politely as she held her hand out to Chase’s mom.

  “Yes it is, welcome to my home Ms. Scacci, how was the ride over?”

  “It was fine thank you, not much traffic on the road anymore.” Annabelle was holding her breath. This was too good to be true.

  Her mother didn’t seem to be intoxicated which would be a first for this time of the day. And so far she hadn’t said or done any of the things her daughter was terrified of her doing to embarrass her. And then it started, that slow slide into bedlam.

  Mrs. Worthington made the mistake of asking after Ms. Scacci’s health, not knowing the rotten can of worms she’d unwittingly opened.

  “And how is your health these days? The change of weather treating you well I hope.”

  “Now that you ask, I’ve been terribly sick for the longest time now. And since it’s only me there with no one to even get me a cup a water, I’ve hardly been able to climb outta bed and go to work of a morning.”

  Annabelle dug her nails into her palms at her mother’s words, knowing very well where this conversation was headed. Mrs. Worthington responded with sympathy, which only made the other woman pour it on thicker. “Oh, it's just awful. Some days I don’t know how I’m going to make it.”

  “Well what does the doctor say?

  “Oh, you know, same old same old. I’ve had these aches and pains for so long now it’s like a part of me. I make do I get by.” Annabelle rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth, while the Worthington family kept pleasant smiles plastered on their faces.

  “Annabelle used to be there to rub me down with the medication every night, but now that I’m left by myself….” Ms. Scacci let that little dig hang in the air and then Mrs. Worthington excused herself to go into the kitchen.

  When her mother turned a sickeningly sweet smile her way Annabelle knew the worst was yet to come and braced herself for it but all the other woman did was pat her hand as Mrs. Worthington called them all in to dinner.

  Chase saw the nerves in her eyes and held her hand as they went in to dinner. “Relax, I’m here.” He squeezed her hand and gave her a wink when she looked up at him for reassurance. Chase tweaked her nose playfully before pulling out her chair and pushing it back in once she was seated.

  Dinner went off without too much drama, though every once in a while Ms. Scacci would make some off color remark pointedly aimed at her daughter of course. And to hear her tell it, she’d been the epitome of motherhood while Annabelle was nothing more than an ungrateful sapling.

  Chase, for all that he’d never had any dealings with his mother in law, was very adept at turning her own words back on her without seeming to, something Ms. Scacci realized and was none too pleased about.

  But when she tried glaring him to shame the look he gave her back told her that she was going to have to come up with a new plan of attack. She’d mistakenly believed that the rich were a bunch of slovenly idiots with more money than brains. Why else would the boy take up with her daughter who had nothing to offer?

  But so far she hadn’t seen that side of them. In fact, they all seemed sharp as a tack and were quick on their feet. She’d put off taking a drink all day because she wanted to be able to outwit them, but now that it didn’t seem to be working, she could do with a drink.

  Annabelle was feeling queasy. She thought for sure it was her mother’s presence and the strain she was under, wondering when and what the woman was going to say to turn her new life upside down.

  She put her fork down before she’d eaten half of what was on her plate and that hadn’t been much to begin with. “Hey, you okay?” Chase leaned in to whisper in her ear.

  She shook her head miserably at him and moved to stand up. “I’ll be right back, I need to splash my face with water.” As she turned to excuse herself to the rest of the table, the room went dark and all she heard was Chase screaming her name.

  “Dad!” Chase called out to his dad in a panic even as the other man was pushing his chair back. Everyone was on their feet now with worry, everyone except Ms. Scacci that is, who was too engrossed in the first turkey dinner she’d eaten in years.

  Mr. Worthington, who happens to be Dr. Worthington, rushed his new daughter in law into the family room, which was the closest place with a comfortable flat surface and laid her down on one of the couches. “Kimmy run down to my office and grab my bag for me.”

  Kimmy flew into action as her father put his finger on Annabelle’s pulse. His eyes got that look of surprise before he checked again. “Is she okay dad? What’s the matter? Was it something she ate?”

  Mr. Worthington got to his feet and pulled the Afghan off the back of the couch to place over the still unconscious girl. “No son, she’s pregnant.” The room was still for a few seconds before everyone started talking at once.

  But one voice was heard above all the others, and just as Annabelle’s eyes were beginning to open. “I knew it, I knew she wasn’t going to turn out to be anything good. I guess now you’ll be expecting me to take her off your hands, well good luck with that. I can hardly do for myself. I’ll be damned if I’m going to kill myself taking care of a no good daughter and her brat....”

  “Get out.” Chase hadn’t wanted the day to come to this. He’d suspected that it might, but had hoped nonetheless, that for her daughter’s sake, once she saw how well she was doing, and how happy she was, that the woman would keep a civil tongue in her head, but this was too much.

  He looked down at Annabelle as she tried to sit up and moved to help her. “Lay down baby, until you feel better.” Kimmy was only too happy to escort the complaining Ms. Scacci who was none too pleased that all her plans had fallen through to the door.

  Annabelle had never been more miserable. Her own mother had spoiled this family’s wonderful holiday dinner and she herself h
ad added to the fray with this new mess. She felt numb, out of her body, separated from the whole thing.

  “Chase take me home.” He studied her for a few seconds before nodding his head and getting to his feet. “Mom, dad, I’ll call you later, I’m going to take Annabelle home now, she’s had enough for one day.”

  “Of course son, you take her home and put her to bed. I’ll call or come by tomorrow.” Annabelle was surprised when Mrs. Worthington kissed her cheek as Chase carried her out of the room with the Afghan over her.

  And again at the way everyone else stood on the steps waving them off as he drove down the driveway. “Well dear, looks like you’re going to have that grandbaby you’ve been yearning for.”

  “I know, but she’s so young.” Mrs. Worthington bit into her lip worriedly.

  “She’s no younger than you were.”

  “I know that!” She smacked his chest. “But you know these young people today, they’re young.” She put much emphasis on the word young. But no matter the words that came out of her mouth, there was no hiding the shit-eating grin on her face.

  “Don’t you two go getting any ideas! Chase is a grown man with his own business. He can take care of a family and then some.” Mrs. Worthington pointed at Kimmy and Colin.

  “Yeah, and I got gun.”

  “Double standards much dad?”

  “It’s every daddy’s right to protect his little girl from letches like this one.”

  “You weren’t saying that when you had me sneaking outta my daddy’s house in the middle of the night.” Shot back Mrs. Worthington, which had everyone else in stitches.

  In the car ride home Chase kept giving the silent Annabelle looks. He was afraid that this pregnancy might be too much for her. She seemed to have withdrawn into herself and he didn’t quite know what to do.

  It was one of her biggest fears he knew, to be pregnant and alone as a teen. And after the nonsense her mother just spewed the poor girl must be terrified. There was no doubt that he was responsible for this, and he now wondered if subconsciously, this is what he’d wanted all along.