“Good, because I never wanted a marriage with lies and dishonesty.”
“What are you trying to tell me?”
“I already told you yesterday on the phone, but you didn’t believe it was possible.”
He growled, “Did you fuck Freedom?”
“Did you fuck another woman?”
He yanked my arm hard. “Don’t play with me. Did you have sex with Freedom?”
“You tell your truths, I’ll tell you mine.”
“Or we bury them and move forward,” He countered.
Loud voices tumbled over our ears as our sons returned, KJ bursting through the side door to ram himself into my side. Kody dropped my hand, though his angry gaze remained fixated on me.
“Mommy, Mommy…Granddaddy started cursing this lady out for cutting us in the line at Sea World. It was so funny.”
Jamie walked in with his Beats around his neck and a duffel bag on his back and went straight to the refrigerator. “It was kind of funny. He hardly ever gets mad, and the woman kept rolling her neck while he yelled at her.”
My mother, a pretty, curvy woman who didn’t hide her graying hair, followed closely behind Jamie. “Didn’t I tell you not to tell your mother what happened?” She kissed my cheek, and we hugged with KJ still in between us, eating it up. He loved his grandmama so. “We had such a good time, and the first thing you can tell her is the worst thing that happened?”
Jamie closed the refrigerator, holding a small apple juice bottle. “It’s because Grandad never loses his cool. Like never.”
Kody bent to kiss my mother’s cheek. “Hey, Ma. How was the road?”
“Ooh, going to San Antonio, we kept getting stuck in traffic. It was a breeze coming home today.”
“That’s because I insisted we leave right after breakfast.” My staunch father, still fit, with slight wrinkles in his forehead and around his eyes, hinting at his advancing years, finally walked through the door, holding KJ’s Paw Patrol roller bag. “She wanted to stay for lunch.”
“We would’ve still been fine if we skipped breakfast and had an early lunch on the Riverwalk.” She tapped my father’s chest and kissed his cheek. “As long as he got us all home safe and sound.”
“Always.” He smiled at her, the love for her evident as it had always been. His tenderness and kindness toward my mother and his daughters balanced the times he could be gruff and strict. Over the years and after retirement, he’d mellowed out, loved his grandsons, and respected Kody as a son.
I slid next to Kody and whispered, “That’s a couple who are still in love, are we?”
Kody glanced at my parents before he lowered his head to kiss me on my lips. Hard. “Dad, you and Ma should stay for dinner so we can catch you up on the latest? Since we’re all family, we thought you should be the first to know. We’re going to be working with Freedom Cade on his new home here in Dallas. It’s a contract worth millions.”
The reactions around the kitchen were mixed to say the very least. KJ jumped up and down. My worried mother grabbed my now frowning father’s arm. And Jamie. Well, Jamie had the brightest smile I’d ever recalled him having. If anyone took a pic of him at this moment, there would be no doubt about who his father was.
Kody grabbed me around my waist when I attempted to leave his side and spoke only for my ears, “Fuck Freedom again, and I’ll kill him myself.”
At my stunned expression, he grinned, though his eyes were serious. “Is that enough passion for you?”
Peace waved me over as soon as I entered the crowded, trendy brunch spot where everyone came dressed and ready for socials. On the side of the restaurant, a pretty backdrop of pink and gold flowers against fake green grass covered the wall, allowing patrons to take a quick pic and advertise the restaurant whenever they posted it. Soft jazz played throughout the area.
After we hugged and settled across from each other, he said. “I took the liberty of ordering both of us the blueberry lemon drops. It is to die for. The owners give me special treatment because of my brother. I get everything free as long as I take a selfie here.” He chuckled. “It’s how I get all my meals free. I’m a walking ad.”
“The lemon drop sounds good, and I don’t blame you for using nepotism to get what you want,” I admired the busy restaurant. “I’ve never been here before. What should I get?”
“Can’t go wrong with their grits and chicken and waffles.”
“As long as it’s not thighs.” I wrinkled my nose. “Hate dark meat.”
He leaned back with his hand across his chest. “Girl, no. It’s all wings here.”
“Then that’s what I’m ordering. Share the cheese grits with me? I won’t be able to eat it all by myself.”
