“Me?”
“Yeah, it’s common knowledge you’re boinking a white man. The consensus is you’re a very bad, bad, naughty girl.”
“Jesus.”
“Is that who you call out to when you’re doing the nasty?” Lisa asks saucily.
Her sassiness is not welcome at the moment.
“What’s being said?”
Lester definitely let the cat out of the bag, because my father would’ve taken this to the grave. He’d be too embarrassed to confide in anyone.
“Lester wasn’t in church on Sunday, and rumor has it, he isn’t coming back. The reason why spread through the congregation like wildfire. No exact details were given. Your father was livid.”
Patrick is clueless to all of this or else he would’ve relayed it to me. He missed church last week, but I’m surprised Dad didn’t mention anything to him.
“I’ll be considered a leper among the members now.”
“Who cares? They’re a bunch of old, stuffy, judgmental sons of bitches.”
While Lisa devours her ice cream, mine is left melting and forgotten. I’m not in the mood for it anymore.
“Who’s the guy?” she asks.
“That’s private.”
“You can trust me.”
“Lisa, I’m not telling you,” I say sternly to stop her from pressing the issue.
“Okay,” she replies, crestfallen. “Do you regret coming?”
“No, absolutely not. Despite the circumstances, I’m thrilled to have a sister.”
“I always hated being an only child and remember constantly wishing on shooting stars for a sister. Having a brother too is a bonus.”
“I’ll plan a day for the three of us to spend together.”
“That would be so awesome.”
We chat a little longer before promising to see each other again and leaving. I dial Patrick on the drive home.
“Hello.”
“Hey, what are you up to?”
“Just got to work.”
“I’ll give you a ring later, then.”
“I have fifteen minutes to spare.”
I recount the conversation Lisa and I had in full detail, answering his questions if further clarification was needed.
“That’s why he’s been in a shitty mood all week and barely spoken two words to me,” Patrick says.
“It’ll be hard for him to save face.”
