I arrive before both of the guys and sit in my truck waiting for them. My phone buzzes with a text from one of my sisters.
Avery: There is a lot of poop at Cora’s house.
Me: And what does that even mean? Do I want to know?
Avery: It seems that the twins have the stomach flu. I got a text from her telling me that I should avoid the house of poop.
Me: And I needed to know this?
Avery: Yes, and you’re welcome.
I roll my eyes. Avery is the baby of the family and fills the role with the stereotypical cheeky personality. She’s kind of a nerd, but amazing with social media. Everything I know is due to her patient instruction. And by patient instruction I mean she griped at me until I learned how to do it.
Avery: How was Gran?
Me: It was a good day. She can’t wait to see you.
Avery: I can’t wait to see her. I need some Pammy hugs.
Out of all of us, Avery took the dementia diagnosis the worst. She sobbed. Like outright broke down and sobbed as if everything was dead in her world. As close as I am to Grannie Pam, she’s especially close to Avery. By the time my mom went back to work full-time, all of us were in school but Avery. She spent the most time with Grannie Pam.
Avery: I take it you don’t have a date for the wedding.
A statement, because if there is one thing my sisters know about me, it is that I hate to take a date to a wedding. Too many possibilities, and I never want a woman I am dating to get some kind of idea about where our relationship was headed.
Me: No date. Well, not really.
Savannah and I were sort of stuck together. We hadn’t really talked about it, but I have a feeling that our duties will keep us busy.
Avery: Interesting.
Me: I’ve never been in a wedding, and since I’m living with the woman I’m walking down the aisle with, I figured we would just hang out.
It’s been odd. I thought that Savannah and I would have more time together. She’s been so damned busy we’ve barely seen each other.
A knock on the window startles me and I see Harry smiling at me. Asshole.
I slip out of my truck as my phone starts buzzing.
“Busy texting with a woman?” he asks.
“If you must know, I was chatting with a young woman.”
“Is she legal at least?”
“Ugh, ew. I was texting with Avery.”
He chuckles and I notice that Ed is standing on the sidewalk.
“What is going on in Averyville?” Harry asks.
When Avery came down to teach us how to utilize social media better, she became like a little sister to Ed and Harry too.
“Not much. She did say that Cora’s house is a river of poop.”
“Like literally or figuratively?” Ed asks as he grabs the handle on the store door.
“A little of both. Apparently, all the kids have the stomach flu.”
He makes a face and I laugh. “It won’t be long before you’re in that situation,” I say, following him into the store and then running into his back. He has come to a dead stop in the middle of the aisle.
“Fuck me,” he mutters under his breath.
“Is there something you need to tell us?” I ask, silently chuckling as I watch his face loose a little color.
“No. I just…okay, we want to have kids, but it’s just now sinking in that we’re going to have kids at some point.”
I know what’s behind it. Growing up in foster care has always made Ed feel as if he might not have the family gene. Truth is, he was the one who made our group in the Army feel a bit more like a little family. He kept up with everyone and kept us all informed of their life happenings. It’s why four of our old buddies were flying down for his wedding.
“You’ll do fine, old man,” I say clapping him on the shoulder. “Besides, you just let Allison take the lead on that, you’ll do fine. She’s the kind of woman who will know what to do. There’s always a YouTube video for any situation.”
“What’s up?” Harry asks.
“You’re soon to be brother-in-law freaked out about having kids.”
Harry nods. “Yeah, I can see that.”
“What do you mean by that?” Ed asks crossing his arms over his massive chest. We’re all big, but Ed is the biggest. With his 6’4” frame, skull tattoos, and his bushy beard, he makes an imposing figure. All of us knew that there was a sweet side to him, one that Allison had brought out even more. And Harry knew it.
“Kids are scary. You put all your hopes and dreams into this tiny human that can wreak havoc on your life—and he or she will.”
“Where did you hear that?” Ed asked.
“Mom,” Harry says with a chuckle. “Don’t worry. When you and Allison have kids, you have that proverbial village to help you.”
Ed’s shoulders relax and he releases a breath I’m not sure he even knew he was holding.
“Yeah, I’m sure Ed has been practicing making those babies more than what will happen after they get here,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. I know Ed catches on when his mouth curves into a smile.
“Yeah. Sunshine likes to practice a lot.”
“Ugh, you two suck,” Harry says. He looks at me. “I’d think that you would be on my side with that.”
“I don’t care what Ed and Allison do.”
“With four sisters, I’d think you’d understand.”
“I have no problem with my sisters being sexual creatures.” I just don’t think about it.
“Uh, I seem to remember you not being happy about Tommy dating Liv,” Ed mentions.
My sister married one of our Army buddies. She came out to visit me and they ended up falling for each other. I wasn’t happy at first because Tommy had been kind of a player before meeting my sister. When I confronted him, he just shrugged and said, “When you meet the one, you just know.”
Why I remember that right at this moment, I don’t know. It’s been years since I thought about the conversation we had.
“Traitor. I was mad because I thought he wasn’t serious about her. Once I found out, I was chill about it.”
We all sigh, the moment sobering as we think about Tommy. He was the best husband and any guy would be happy to call him a brother-in-law. Unfortunately, Tommy didn’t make it back from his last deployment, leaving my sister to raise their two children by herself.
“Damn, I shouldn’t have brought up Tommy,” Ed said.
“Naw, we need to remember the good people in our lives, especially when they’re not around anymore,” I say. Grannie Pam always told us that while we were growing up.
“Are you the Cooper party?” a man says as he steps from the back of the store.
“Yep,” Ed says. I step up to his right and Harry on his left.
“Enjoy it, Ed. We fought too hard to get back here alive,” I say.
Chapter Nine
Savannah
It’s my last day of work before the wedding and I am pumped for it. I’ve never been one for weddings. With such a big family, I’ve been to dozens of them since I returned from California. I grew up going to a lot of them too. It isn’t just the cousins, but also our workers who invite us as a family. I can’t always go, but I try to because I believe in supporting my workers. I know, I sound much different frothy way a lot of people perceive me. That’s okay. I don’t really care how people think about me. So…just keep it between us.
Tonight has been an easy night at work. It is the week of Cinco de Mayo, but it’s still a few days off. I’m exhausted from work, burned out from the hours I have put in, but again, Allison and Ed are worth it.
I smile as I think about the couple. Allison is so bubbly and happy right now and Ed is sweating. He’s not worried about the wedding or being her husband. Nope, that big Ginger Jesus can’t wait for the honeymoon. I know he just wants to call her his. It’s sweet. Again, that’s just between us, okay? Don’t make me ruin my very expensive knives by stabbing you.
It
’s shortly after nine at night, so when I see my mother and father walk into the kitchen, I’m confused. They rarely come into the kitchens, and they very seldom worry about anything unless they have something brewing. My stomach clenches. This isn’t a good sign, but I’m prepared for it. I have a plan ready for when they try and tell me I have to work on Saturday.
“Savannah,” my mother says. I step away as Mario gives me a nod telling me he has anything that comes up.
“Slow tonight,” my father says.
“Yeah, working with a skeletal crew right now.” I try my best not to show the wreck I am on in the inside. I know there’s something up and the timing makes me suspicious. No. They like Allison, probably more than they like me. I step into my office.
“What do you need?” I ask. I know that it shows my weakness, my need to fill the silences. I hated them when I was growing up. It was worse than the angry words.
“We have a friend who will be in town this week and he wants to come to the restaurant this weekend.”
“I’ll make sure Mario knows to prepare something special.”
My parents share a look. “No. We need you here.” My mother does the speaking, as usual.
I look at my mother. “Allison is getting married this weekend. I am in the wedding.”
“I don’t see a reason why you need to be there.”
I blink. “You know I’m a bridesmaid. You RSVP’d to the wedding.”
She waves that away. “That’s not important. We need you here this weekend, and I don’t want to discuss it.”
I can feel tears burning the backs of my eyes. I blink them away because crying is for losers. Or, that’s what my brothers all say. Losers.
“I have worked fifteen days straight for this. I will be off for that wedding.”
Another beat of silence that tells me she is weighing her options. See, she doesn’t give a flying fuck if I am here or not. What she cares about is controlling things. Controlling me.
“You can’t believe picking a friend over your family is more important.”
I look at my father, who is avoiding my gaze. He’s always been weak when it comes to my mother. She has always been mean. I can’t understand why it is so important to treat me differently, but she does. It’s like she gets off on being mean.
“No.”
Her mouth tightens. “It is not a question. You will work.”
I cross my arms beneath my breasts because I don’t want them to know how much they’re shaking. I feel ill, as if I just got off a teacup ride after eating a funnel cake.
“I will not work. You made an agreement. I will offer to work for the next month without a day off, but I will have off this week.”
For a moment, my mother says nothing. She stares at me, her cold, dark eyes focused on my face. I don’t know whatever made her this cold, this mean, but it must have been something horrible.
“That is unacceptable.”
At this point, I know what she is expecting. She’s expecting me to agree to whatever she wants. I’ll be honest. She thinks I will fold because I have in the past. Over and over again. No matter what the situation, I have always put this restaurant, this family, before my own needs. I will not budge…not this time.
Another long moment of silence fills the air and, for once, I stand my ground. I do not say anything. I wish it was because I was brave, but it’s not. I’m afraid if I speak right now, I will cry. Truth is, my throat is so tight I find it hard to swallow.
“What the hell are you about, Savannah?” My father asks the question.
“I made an agreement with you. This is the only time since I returned that I have asked off. I upheld my end of the bargain.”
“This is about family.” This comes from my mother.
“It isn’t about family. It’s about punishing me for something I did. I wish you would tell me why you feel the need to make me feel like shit.”
“Watch your mouth,” my father says, but my mother and I are in a stare down. We don’t even look at him. Anger is now coursing through me, and I don’t know what makes this situation different than every other time. Maybe it is just Allison and how important she is to me. Or maybe I am sick of dealing with their shit.
“Roberto, leave us.”
He hesitates for a second, but then steps out of the office and leaves me with my mother.
“You have always been a problem, Savannah,” she says, shutting the door. She sits down on the chair in the corner.
“Yeah, that’s what I’d call the woman who is running your restaurants. A problem.”
Surprise lights her eyes before she conceals it. I always watch my mouth. My grandmother taught me to respect my family, especially the older generation, but I can’t. Instead, my anger and true personality come lashing out.
“I’ve done nothing but work my ass off since I got back here. I haven’t had a vacation in almost five years. I know you and Dad might not have noticed, since you’ve been on three cruises, a trip to Europe, and then there are the yearly jaunts to Hawaii. But I work. Every weekend. Every week. All the fucking time. I don’t get a break. And for some reason, you act as if I owe you. Like I should be treated like a fucking servant. I’m sick of it.”
I see her eyes flare every time I use the f-word and I don’t care. In fact, if I am honest, I get off on it. There is a certain kind of excitement to getting a reaction from her. It is so hard to do because she keeps her cool all the time.
“We don’t have time for your dramatics, Savannah.”
Really, this woman. God. “Tell me. Tell me what I ever did to make you hate me. To treat me like a second-class citizen in my own fucking family.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
There is a shiver of something in her voice that I can’t figure out. Fear? Anger? What the actual fuck is going on in her head?
“Tell me. Get it over with. You know there is something burning back there in your mind that you blame me for.”
“There is not.”
Liar. Every word is uttered from behind clenched teeth. It is her own true tell in all of this. She never shouts or smacks, but she holds onto her anger by clenching her teeth. “Fine, you don’t have the courage. Either way, I’m not working.”
“If you don’t, you’re fired.”
For a long moment, I stare at her. Part of me is freaking out. Not working? What the fuck would I do? Then, there is part of me, that little devil on my shoulder, that is rejoicing. That bastard is pushing me to make sure I stick it to her. I don’t know where all these thoughts are coming from, but maybe it’s because I am just done. All these years, all this hard work, and I can’t have five fucking days off?
“Just like that? You’ll fire me.”
“I want you here. You will be here.”
She thinks that will do it, and seriously, if it were anything else, any other time, I would probably cave. But I am in this wedding, and nothing will stand in my way. It’s time to lay it out for her.
“Fine. I’ll get my things and that will be the end of it.”
She stands, the stunned expression on her face telling me she wasn’t expecting me to call her bluff. Even with the way my stomach is twisting and turning, the abject freak out my head is having, I feel a sick happiness at that look. I have never been able to get to her like this.
“So easy for you to walk away, now that you’ve used this family.” Venom drips from every word, her eyes narrowing as she studies me. My mother, the woman who gave birth to me, treats me like I am vile.
“Are you kidding me? I think you’ve lost it, Mom. Either way, I agreed with you. I said I would leave. You have your wish.”
Her lip curls up in disgust. “I should have expected you to bail on your family.”
“Really? I mean, I think I’m the one who gave up a career in San Francisco to come back here to run the restaurants. One five-day reprieve is not the end of the world. You’ve wanted me out since I returned and now I will be.”
“You
r kind is always like that. Walking away so easily.”
I frown not getting her meaning. Maybe she has had some margaritas. My kind?
“What the actual fuck are you talking about?”
“I always thought you would figure it out. That Tito would have told you, but he didn’t, did he?” She laughs but there is no humor in it. “No, Tito was good with secrets. Just like that bitch of a mother they had.”
I curl my fists. She can say what she wants about me, but I won’t allow her to say things against my grandmother.
“Mom—”
“Don’t call me that. I’m not your mother. I never was, never wanted you.”
I open my mouth, then snap it shut. I try to make sense of what she just said, but I can’t. I blink, my head spinning, my mind melting as I try to piece together this conversation. “What?”
“You’re not mine!” She practically roars the words at me as if she had been wanting to tell me for years. “I had no choice in the matter. Your grandmother thought it was best. That you needed a mother figure and for a few years, I agreed. I couldn’t have any more children and, well, you were a pretty little thing.”
“Are you saying you’re not my mother?”
I don’t believe her right now, but why would she lie? It’s the first time I stood up to her. Maybe this is just another ploy to try to get me to work for her. It’s a dumbass move, but still, maybe she thinks I will try to please her.
“That whore your uncle married. She got pregnant with you and they got married. He was talking about stepping back from the business.”
“What happened?”
She rolls her eyes as if she is bored with this discussion. “There were complications when you were born. She died less than a week later. Tito was devastated and didn’t have the first clue about how to take care of you. Your grandmother told us to adopt you. That we were to raise you as ours. Well, I’m done. Trash is trash.”
“Trash? Are you fucking kidding me? You didn’t even know who your father was.”
“I didn’t have to get pregnant to get Roberto to marry me. At least you know now. I am sick of pretending, of acting like you are the good daughter. You aren’t even my daughter.”
Scrumptious: A Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy (Camos and Cupcakes Book 3) Page 8
