Xeni slowly sat down at the desk, like any sudden movement would end her mom’s confessional right then and there. When she spoke, she was careful to keep her voice calm and neutral. She wasn’t accusing her mother of anything. She just wanted to know the truth. “What happened?”
“Sable was selfish, but so was I. We both should have told you a long time ago. I just didn’t want you to get hurt because the whole truth wasn’t pretty, Xendria.”
“I know, Mom.”
“I wasn’t about to tell a twelve year old that her aunt who had just finished doing a Divas of The Eighties reunion tour,Sable Everly, was her real mama.”
“I don’t think—I don’t think of you as any less of my mother. I just wanted to know why.”
When her mother’s only response was a sad tilt of her head, Xeni knew there was nothing more to be said. She had already made the choice. Joyce Everly was her mom and had been her whole life, no matter what her original birth certificate said. She would always be grateful to Sable, for the joy and the memories and her mere presence as someone Xeni knew she could reach out to, but her mother had done the real work every day and if that wasn’t proof enough, she’d hopped on a plane, no questions asked to be by Xeni’s side.
Her mom turned and looked at her. “This the ring?” Xeni looked down and realized the bright diamonds were in full display.
“Oh. Yeah.”
Her mom came over and gently lifted her hand. Her own hand was starting to age. The dark brown skin creasing more and more, but Xeni was still familiar with those hands. The hands that had held her and wiped away her tears, rubbed her shoulders after a tough day at school, handed her the last piece of candy from her purse. Joyce Everly wasn’t perfect, but she’d been a damn good mom.
“What do you think?”
“It’s gorgeous,” her mom replied, the expression on her face letting Xeni know she wasn’t lying to protect her feelings. She patted the back of her hand, then started back toward the kitchen. “Come sit down, have your tea. You can tell me about this Mason boy and his jackass of a daddy.”
21
That Saturday morning, Mason left the hospital his father had been transferred to in the city and drove back up to the farm. While Kinderack County had one hell of an emergency staff, they weren’t equipped to deal with the angioplasty procedure his father needed. Xeni had been kind enough to put him in touch with her friend Sloan, who it turned out was one of the best heart surgeons in the country. While his father’s physicians in New York were fully qualified, Sloan had a better bedside manner, even over the phone. She thoroughly explained the procedure and did her best to answer all of Mason’s questions. Some of the information wasn’t new, but he appreciated hearing from an expert close to someone he trusted.
His father came through the procedure just fine. When he made a point to criticize how long Mason’s beard had gotten, he knew he’d be back to his old asshole self in no time. He left the old man to his breakfast and the patient nursing staff, and got on the road. He had to get back to say goodbye.
He and Xeni had come to an unspoken agreement that it would be easier for them to communicate via text. Her mom had come to town while he’d been busy with his bedside vigil. From their short correspondence, she’d let him know that her mom had accompanied her on a quick overnight trip to Martha’s Vineyard. They’d arranged for short-term caretakers of both homes while they figured out what to do next. She’d checked in, asking after his father’s health even though the cruel bastard didn’t deserve her kind consideration or well wishes, and then she’d let him know it was time for her to go. She was leaving a day early.
He parked beside her car outside of the cannery and shored up his nerves. Weeping like a child, loud enough for the whole county to hear, wouldn’t convince her to stay.
He stepped inside and found her with Liz, Maya and Ginny. Silas was wandering down the aisles. Sad goodbyes were not his scene.
“Late to the farewell party, I see,” Mason said as the door closed behind him.
“Just sending your girl off with some of that good stuff,” Liz said.
“This family jam is crack. And you said you guys ship?” Xeni asked.
“We sure do.”
“Okay. I’ll be ordering by the case.”
Silas stepped to the counter and tossed down a green McInroy Farm t-shirt. “All that on the house,” he told Ginny.
“Silas, no. I’ll pay for everything,” Xeni pleaded.
“Too late, you’re a McInroy,” Silas said.
“Yup,” Liz added with a smile.
“Seriously, I hate you guys. I cannot keep crying.” Xeni shook her head. Then she went back and grabbed two more t-shirts. “These are for my parents and I’m paying for them.”
“Fine,” Ginny laughed. “Buy two, get ten free deal.” Ginny totaled her items up and handed them off to Maya, who packaged everything neatly for her. Then they all came around the counter and swarmed Xeni.
“You are welcome here anytime,” Liz said.
“I’ll be back to see about the house. I just have no idea when.”
