Love & Devotion

by Jove Belle

  Lonnie stood next to her mama looking a little too disinterested for her lack of attention to be real. KC wanted to take Emma by the hand and lead her away but couldn’t justify being overtly rude. “Hello, Mrs. Truvall. You sounded lovely today, as always.”

  “Why, thank you, KC.” Lonnie’s sweet smile left a saccharine residue on the words. She obviously wanted to get out of there as much as KC did.

  “All right, we’ll leave you girls alone,” her mama said. “Emma, you are joining us for Sunday dinner, aren’t you?”

  KC couldn’t decide who looked more shocked at the announcement, Emma or Lonnie. It was going to be a fun afternoon.

  “Mama, I’m sure Emma has other plans.” She tried to give Emma an out.

  Lonnie narrowed her eyes and smiled. “Well, we’ll sure miss you, sugar.”

  Emma stepped closer to her. “As it turns out, I’m free for the afternoon. I’d be delighted to join you.”

  “Perfect.” Her mama just about squealed like a schoolgirl. How long had her mama been wishing for her to date Emma? Or maybe it was just a desire to see all her girls happily settled, and this was the first hint KC had ever given of heading that direction.

  “What’s perfect?” Kendall joined them. Trina was nowhere in sight.

  “Where’s Trina?” KC asked. One of them should be with her.

  “I don’t know. I thought she was with you.” Kendall looked around, her brow furrowed.

  “You didn’t go with her to the bathroom?”

  “No. I needed to speak to Melissa’s Sunday-school teacher.” Melissa was Kendall’s oldest daughter.

  “Oh. I’ll be right back.” She started walking before Kendall finished, Emma following her.

  “I’m with you.” Kendall fell in step.

  They found Trina standing just outside the restrooms. Buddy was on her hip and she was talking quietly with Jackson. Tears ran down Jackson’s face, and Trina looked thoughtful and resigned, but not afraid.

  “Everything okay here?” KC held out her hands to take Buddy, but Trina stopped her.

  “We’re fine. Jackson wants to see his son.” Trina sounded eerily calm.

  Trina might have been calm, but that statement had the opposite effect on KC. “What?” She tried to channel whatever Zen Trina was demonstrating, but she fell short. Jackson was volatile and, as far as she was concerned, had no business being near Buddy until he sorted himself out. Emma touched her arm, which helped settle her breathing.

  “We were just trying to sort out the best way to make that happen.” Trina’s voice gained strength with each word. “He knows how I feel about him being alone with Buddy right now, but we’re trying to find a compromise.”

  “Whatever you want, Trina. I just miss him.” Jackson sounded broken. If she hadn’t seen his whiplash-quick transformation from enraged to remorseful for herself, she might have believed him a changed man.

  Trina turned toward Kendall and her, her face set in a strong line. “Why don’t you all let me talk to Jackson alone? This is between us.” When Kendall started to protest, Trina cut her off. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay.” Kendall nodded as her mouth curved into a knowing smile. “We’ll be just over there.” She led KC and Emma away.

  “What the hell just happened?” KC asked.

  Emma slapped her arm. “KC, language.”

  “Sorry.” She flashed on the image of her and Emma together twenty years in the future. She would still say the wrong thing, no doubt, and Emma would be there correcting her. The thought made her impossibly happy. “But seriously, what just happened?”

  Kendall studied Trina. “I think our baby sister might have found her feet.”

  *

  “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this.” Emma didn’t sound nearly as angry as she expected.

  “I didn’t think you’d want to go. I was trying to save you from an awkward afternoon.” With my ex-lover. They were sitting in Emma’s car outside KC’s family home. By the look of the driveway, they were the last to arrive.

  “You don’t get it, do you?” Emma took her hand. “You know how hard you tried to impress my mama last night? It worked. Now I want a chance to do the same with your folks.”

  “My parents aren’t the only ones in there, Emma.”

  “I’m not going to crawl away every time Lonnie Truvall shows herself. She needs to know that you’re off-limits.”

  “She does.”

  “Really? You think she won’t come calling for you the second she has the inclination? Just because you said no doesn’t mean she believed you.”

  “Oh, hell, you’re not going to talk to her, are you?”

  “I’m not planning on it. I just want her to see us together.” Emma climbed out of the car and leaned back in the open door to finish speaking. “That’s enough for me.”

  “Fuck,” KC muttered as she got out of the car. This afternoon was going to be a disaster.

  “Yes, before you ask, you can hold my hand.” Emma took hold of her. Under other circumstances, she would probably have enjoyed Emma’s commanding touch, but as she walked up the front stairs all she had time to do was brace for impact.

  They entered to find everyone present except Glen. The Truvall family car was in the driveway, so his absence was conspicuous. After she said her hellos, she asked, “Is Mr. Truvall coming?”

  In retrospect KC realized she probably shouldn’t have asked, but Lonnie was a handful even with Glen present. KC didn’t want to find out how difficult she could be when her husband was missing from their regular Sunday dinner.

  “He had a minor issue at the store. He’ll be along shortly.” Lonnie sipped her whiskey and carefully avoided looking at Emma.

  “Inventory?” Emma asked the question with an arched brow.

  KC squeezed her fingers and telepathically screamed for Emma to stop.

  “Mmmm.” Lonnie regarded Emma levelly. “Tell me, Emma, when are you moving to Austin?” She smiled with far too many teeth.

  Emma held Lonnie’s gaze. “In about a week.”

  Lonnie inclined her head to the side. “What will our poor KC do without you here to entertain her?”

  KC choked on her own fear. They were about two seconds away from a full-on catfight. She wrapped her arm around Emma’s shoulders and held on for dear life.

  “I’ll be wearing out the road between here and Austin, that’s for sure.” She kissed Emma on the cheek. Before she pulled away, she whispered in Emma’s ear, “Please, Em.”

  “Oh, you two are so sweet.” KC’s mama clapped her hands together. “Lonnie, didn’t I say they would be adorable together?”

  “You sure did.” Lonnie drained her glass.

  “KC, I have to admit, I didn’t think I’d like your hair when you told me about it over the phone yesterday, but it really is attractive on you.” Her mama smoothed the spiky part of her hair.

  “Quit it.” She ducked out of reach. “It’s supposed to look like that.”

  “I know. I just think it’d be so much nicer if you’d get it to lay down properly.” Her mama eyed her critically. “What do you think, Lonnie?”

  “It looks very becoming.” Lonnie smiled archly. “If you don’t mind the whole town knowing.”

  “Knowing what?” Kendall stood, hands on her hips. It was unclear if she didn’t realize what Lonnie meant or if she was defending KC.

  “That I’m gay, Kendall.” She touched Kendall’s arm lightly. She appreciated Kendall’s self-appointed need to act as guardian, but she didn’t need protection from the truth. “They already know, Mrs. Truvall. Secret’s been out for a long time.”

  “And with that, it smells like dinner is ready. Let’s get it on the table.” Their mama headed toward the kitchen, and her daughters fell in line behind her. The subject was officially changed.

  “Come help us?” KC asked Emma. No way was she was leaving her in the living room with Lonnie. Even with the men and children to act as a buffer, they wouldn
’t both survive.

  Emma stared at Lonnie a moment longer, then smiled at KC. “Absolutely.”

  All the side dishes were already laid out on the sideboard and ready to be served. KC’s mama pulled a ham from the oven and said, “This is the only thing we were waiting for.”

  “We have a full house today,” Kendall observed. “Wish it was cool enough to eat outside.”

  “That would be nice.” Trina pulled plates from the cupboard and took them to the dining room.

  KC followed with utensils. “Em, grab the glasses?”

  They propped open the door between the kitchen and dining room while they set the table.

  “We’re all here, Trina. Tell us what happened with Jackson,” Kendall called from the kitchen, where she helped slice the ham.

  “I told you already. He asked to see Buddy.”

  “There’s more to it than that. Last time you saw Jackson, you couldn’t stop shaking.” KC spoke gently. She didn’t want to advertise Trina’s business, but she was amazed at the change in her demeanor toward Jackson.

  “Yes, and I decided then that I wasn’t going to let him have that power over me any more. I just kept breathing and reminding myself we were in the middle of the church. No way Jackson would do anything in front of the whole congregation.”

  That made sense. Jackson was big on appearances. “Still, you looked so—”

  “I had to prove I could talk to him without falling apart,” Trina said. “I can’t hide behind you all forever.”

  KC reassured her. “Yes, you can.”

  “I’ll happily kick his ass forever.” Kendall spoke at the same time as KC.

  “I know. And I appreciate it. But I have to think about Buddy. It’s best for him if we can communicate without a mediator.”

  “That doesn’t mean you should ever be alone with him.” Emma focused on the glasses as she spoke. They were speaking candidly about a difficult topic, but that didn’t mean they were easy words to say.

  The color drained from Trina’s face at the suggestion. “I’m definitely not ready for that.”

  “So what did you work out?” KC asked. “About Buddy.”

  “Buddy misses Jackson so much. I can’t justify keeping him from his daddy.”

  “That’s understandable.” Their mama wiped her hands on her apron and pulled Trina into a hug. “You have to think about what’s best for your baby.”

  Trina took a deep, shaky breath. “Right. So, I’m going to take him to Jackson’s mama on Saturday. Jackson can visit him there.”

  This seemed a reasonable solution to KC. Mrs. Monroe loved her son, but she followed her convictions. Right was right, regardless of who was involved. And Jackson’s treatment of his wife was just plain wrong.

  “That sounds good.” Kendall nodded thoughtfully and the rest murmured their agreement.

  “Now that that’s settled, it’s time to eat.” Her mama said the last part loud enough for those waiting in the living room to hear.

  “Look what the cat dragged in.” Her daddy walked in with Glen and clapped his hand against Glen’s shoulder. “Tough business that keeps you from family on a Sunday.”

  Lonnie brought her highball glass to the table. A poor substitute for the iced tea KC’s mama made, but Lonnie’s eyes were already fogged with drink. She was well on her way to sloshed and didn’t appear willing to slow down just because mealtime had arrived. Lonnie glared in turn at Emma, KC, and Glen.

  Emma tensed when Lonnie entered. KC kissed her cheek and said, “We’re okay, right?”

  Emma claimed her hand and held it tight. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

  Leann sulked into the room. She hadn’t said a word to KC since she’d revealed that she knew about Lonnie and KC’s affair. KC doubted she would start talking today.

  Between them, they were building toward a large explosion. KC hoped they made it through the main course first, because she loved her mama’s ham.

  *

  They survived the meal without bloodshed. As if by unspoken agreement, they all referred to their childhood Sunday-school lessons for how to proceed—if you can’t say anything nice, say nothing at all.

  The rest of the family kept the conversation moving along while KC waited quietly for either Lonnie or Emma to blow. At that point, KC’s money was on Lonnie speaking first, based solely on the amount of Jack Daniel’s she’d consumed.

  “I’ll take care of the dishes, Mama.” Maybe that would keep her and Emma out of the line of fire for the rest of the afternoon.

  “Nonsense. I want to talk to you and Emma while you’re here.” Her mama looped her hands through KC’s and Emma’s arms. “Come on now.”

  Lonnie saluted them with her glass. “That’s right. It’s Leann’s turn. I’ll help her. You go tell your mama all about your new girlfriend.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Truvall.” She escaped while she had the chance.

  Her mama settled on the couch between KC and Emma and opened the family photo album. Under normal circumstances, this would make her want to run away, but any embarrassing photos her mom might produce probably had Emma in them as well. That took the sting out.

  They looked through the album, with KC making the appropriate noises of outrage and Emma giggling as she thumbed through the pictures. When they got to the end, Emma said, “Is that all?” She looked genuinely interested in more, and KC thought about all the ways she could punish her later.

  KC rolled her eyes. Emma knew exactly how many albums they had full of childhood pictures.

  “Oh, no, honey, that’s the tip of the iceberg.” KC’s mama was thoroughly charmed. “KC, run upstairs and grab another one out of the hall closet. Get the one from 1996, the year you girls were ten.”

  There was no point in arguing. Escape wasn’t an option. “I’ll be right back.”

  KC found the album quickly and was halfway through the return trip down the hall when Lonnie crested the top of the steps.

  “There you are, sugar. I was afraid I’d never get you alone today.” She slurred the words slightly as she made her way down the long hall, placing her feet with an overt amount of care. She’d reached the stage of inebriation where she could no longer keep track of her limbs properly.

  KC backed away and held up her hands. She wished a second staircase would appear at the other end of the hall. “Lonnie, I think you’ve had too much to drink.”

  “Don’t be silly. I haven’t had nearly enough.” Lonnie smiled lazily. “I miss you. Why have you been ignoring me?”

  “I’m not ignoring you.” If she wanted to, she could make it around Lonnie, but there was no guarantee Lonnie would remain on her feet if KC pushed past. She waited.

  Lonnie stopped at KC’s old bedroom and gripped the doorknob. “What do you say? One more time?” She rested her head against the door. “We had a lot of fun, didn’t we?”

  “We did.” KC spoke gently. Despite their history, she cared for Lonnie. She was a lifelong family friend and KC didn’t want her to suffer like this. “But that’s over now.”

  “Why?” Lonnie reached out, beckoning her closer. “She doesn’t have to know. It can be our secret.”

  She stood her ground, not even tempted. Lonnie held no appeal; she had nothing KC wanted. “No. I won’t do that to Emma.”

  Lonnie smiled cruelly. “And what about after she moves? I’ll be right here when you need me.”

  “That’s not going to happen.” She shook her head. “I won’t cheat on Emma.”

  “Sugar, everybody cheats. It’s a fact of life.” Lonnie waved her hand like she’d just revealed a winning poker hand.

  “Not everybody.” She shook her head. Lonnie’s version of the truth was too bleak for her to assign it to her own future. There had to be good people in the world, people capable of honoring their vows. Love and devotion had to be more than just myth. Her parents seemed to have it, as did Kendall and Owen, but she didn’t want to dig deep enough to prove whether that was real or not. She wouldn’t b
e able to take it if they weren’t as devoted as she thought.

  “Why did you pick now to get a conscience? I need you, dammit.”

  “No, you don’t.” She stared at Lonnie, trying to reconcile what she knew about Lonnie with the broken woman before her. There was no way ending their affair had sent Lonnie into this morose state.

  Tears pooled in Lonnie’s eyes but didn’t run over, and she dropped her head into her hands. Lonnie’s shoulders shook and KC’s resolve to remain distant cracked. Regardless of her leftover, misplaced urge to comfort Lonnie, KC wasn’t the right person to do it. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Truvall. Let me get my mama for you.”

  She retreated down the stairs, photo album in hand. When she got to the living room, she said, “Mama, Mrs. Truvall needs you upstairs. She seems a bit emotional.”

  “Oh, dear.” Her mama cast a sideways glance at Glen. “I hope everything is all right.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be fine. In the meantime, I need to get Emma home. I promised her mama I wouldn’t keep her all day.”

  She told the rest of her family good-bye and escorted Emma outside. When the front door closed behind them, she pulled Emma into a tight embrace and held her for several moments. She needed a moment of emotional reprieve, and in Emma’s arms was the safest place she knew.

  “Everything okay?” Emma stroked her hair and brushed light kisses over her cheek.

  “It is now.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Mama? You home?” KC poked her head in the front door and called out. Her parents never locked their door, despite Kendall’s best effort to get them to start. Her daddy said if someone wanted to come in without his permission, they could discuss it with his Smith and Wesson. It was a conversation she wanted to avoid, so she was very vocal when she entered their house.

  “I’m in the kitchen, KC.”

  Evelyn Hall spent a good portion of her time in the kitchen. When KC was younger, she asked her why. The thought of her poor, oppressed mama slaving away to cook for her daddy didn’t sit well with KC. Any man who wanted to eat bad enough should figure out how to fix a meal or two if properly motivated. As it turned out, her mama simply loved to cook. She’d explained that if she’d ever pursued a career outside of her home, she would’ve been a chef. Early in their marriage, her daddy had tried to help, and she’d banned him from her kitchen.