I gestured toward the table that Ida Bell sat at. “Wondering if it would be weird to just tell her the truth.”
Dad took up a lean against the wall, lifting his foot to press against the paneling before saying, “Maybe not at your wedding. We don’t want a scene.”
I snorted. “Are you kidding? Nettie would love a scene.”
Dad looked on thoughtfully before he admitted, “I can admit that I’ve been dying to tell her.”
“Oh, can I do it?”
We both looked over to see Nettie standing behind a pole, only her head poking out from around it.
“You’re such a stalker.” I laughed and pulled her to me by the dress.
She came willingly and leaned into my side, reaching for my beer.
I handed it to her, and she took the tiniest of sips before handing it back. “God, I miss beer.”
I ran my hand over the round globe of her ass. “You can taste it off my tongue again later.”
Dad gagged.
I smiled.
Nettie pulled away and started marching toward the table with my grandmother and Ida Bell at it.
“Fuck,” Dad and I said at the same time.
We watched, enraptured, as Nettie sat down opposite Ida Bell and started talking.
We watched the expressions play across Ida Bell’s face.
First shock. Then anger. Shock again. Disbelief. Shock.
Every emotion spelled out plainly on her face before she sat back in her chair rubbing at the scar that was peeking out from beneath her clothing.
“I can’t believe she thought that I wouldn’t want this girl because she had a heart condition.”
“Just an excuse to fuck with you, Dad,” I said. “Just like she cheated on you and had me with another man. Just like she’s stolen money off of you for going on thirty years. Just like she…”
Dad held up his hand when Ida Bell’s head turned to survey the crowd.
Her searching gaze paused when they landed on us.
“Shit,” Dad said.
Ida Bell stood and walked out of the room.
She passed by Koen so fast that he paused in his discussion with our VP, Major, and followed after her.
Nettie came our way again, bringing Grams with her.
“How’d that go?” I asked as I pushed off the wall and caught a seat from a nearby table.
Grams sat and shook her head. “Like a turd in the punch bowl.”
“Grams, it didn’t go that bad.” She paused. “I hope she hates Gail as much as I do now.”
Sawyer snorted. “Honey, you hate with your whole heart. I don’t think anyone is like you in this entire world.”
