“Hi, Brandy, Ms. Patti.” Lilliana’s voice was full of faked Southern charm.
“Lilliana.” Ms. Patti drew out each syllable in her name. “I haven’t seen you in months. Tell me, what’s new?”
Brandy’s eyes flitted around the sanctuary while Ms. Patti’s gaze trailed down to Lilliana’s stomach. Heat set her cheeks ablaze. Thoughts of inflicting some form of childish revenge on Brandy circled. She knew exactly where the frying pan–sized toads lived.
But Lilliana was hardly an amateur. “Why absolutely nothing,” she said with a beauty-queen smile and a sweet buttery drawl.
“How are renovations to Hancock House coming? It’s been a while since I’ve been invited by.” Ms. Patti’s perfectly plucked eyebrows twitched with the volley.
“You are welcome over anytime. I’m usually home painting walls or painting pictures. In fact, I can always use some extra elbow grease.”
“Do you remember all the Sunday dinners at Hancock House?”
They were a tradition that died with her great-grandmother. Southern-style family guilt poked her into saying, “We should get all the Hancocks together for old times’ sake.”
“Well now, we should indeed. I’ll pass your invitation along.” A smile squinted Ms. Patti’s eyes into slits even as her tone veered toward sarcasm. “It was good of you to bring Mr. Grayson for a visit. Is he looking for a church home?” Again, her gaze dropped as if a baby might claw straight out of Lilliana’s stomach like in the movie Alien. Lilliana’s face felt hotter than the surface of the sun.
Ms. Patti transferred her full attention over Lilliana’s shoulder.
“Good morning, Ms. Patti. Will you excuse us?” Even though Alec posed it as a question, his voice brooked no argument.
“Certainly. I’ll be seeing you soon, Lilliana.” Ms. Patti moved aside, waggling her fingers. Alec herded Lilliana toward the exit, a hand at the small of her back. Several ladies cast them curious looks, and a few men stopped Alec to play armchair quarterback. By the time they stepped outside, she felt like they’d run a gauntlet.
“Why were you so embarrassed?” he asked once they were in the truck.
She sensed an underlying insecurity to his question. “If you must know, Ms. Patti was searching for a dadgum baby bump which means everyone probably assumes you’re only with me because you want to do right by me.”
Another of Lilliana’s relatives waved as she walked by the truck on the way to her car. Lilliana forced a smile and waved back. Alec maneuvered the truck out of the parking lot and into what was considered rush-hour traffic in Falcon. Most of the area churches let out a few minutes past noon. Except the Presbyterians, who were always the first to get tables at Adaline’s.
“I would have done right by you, Lilliana,” he said softly. She glanced over, but his gaze was fixed on the road and this time he didn’t acknowledge her stare in any way. “But, I’m glad you won’t have to question why I’m with you.”
He was right, she would have. She was a disorganized, impulsive mess. Yet, he had claimed she was exactly his type.
A red light stopped them in a long line of vehicles. “You mind if I drop you off and run by Hunter’s house?”
“Actually, I do mind.” He chose to acknowledge her answer with a frown topped with low-hung eyebrows. “I’m going with you.”
“It’s not safe.”
“On a Sunday after church? It’ll be perfectly safe. Anyway, my guess is you haven’t been particularly diplomatic or charming when it comes to dealing with Hunter’s family. I’m good at buttering people up.”
Alec stared at her so long, the car behind them tooted to get them moving through the green light. “I don’t like this. Will Galloway is trouble, and if Bone-man is hanging around, things could get ugly. Plus, Ms. Galloway basically told me to mind my own damn business.”
“My guess is that Ms. Galloway had Hunter’s and Will’s butts in the church pew this morning, which means everyone is probably sober with Jesus.”
He muttered something she couldn’t understand before clipping out a single word. “Fine.”
They drove through Mill Town, past couples dressed in their Sunday best visiting with neighbors. Hunter’s dead-end street was deserted, their knock going unanswered. Alec drove to the end of the street to idle in front of the wooded back lot, but nothing moved.
Alec drove out of Mill Town too fast and silent. He pumped the brakes on her street. “What’s going on at your house?”
Six cars and trucks filled the circular drive and spilled onto the curb. Grown-ups milled on her front porch while children in Sunday clothes played tag around her magnolia trees. A rush of panic slowed her brain and dropped her stomach to her ankles like an old woman’s saggy hose. “I think this is Hancock Sunday dinner.”
“Did you invite everyone over?”
She mouthed a litany of “Oh Gods” and jumped out of Alec’s truck as soon as it rolled to a stop.
A mental inventory of her pantry threw wood on the heat of her panic. A tally put the number of adults and children close to twenty. Another two cars pulled behind Alec’s truck. Two children shot out of the first car to join the melee at the side of the house, while her third cousin, once removed and his wife walked up to her.
“Lilliana! When I heard all the Hancocks were getting together, I couldn’t resist stopping by. I’ve told my kids stories about how we used to climb Granny’s magnolias, and they’re itching to try.” Isaac Hancock pulled her in for a half hug while she shook his wife’s hand.
“Remember when I got stuck at the top and you had to come get me? I had a little crush on you even if we were cousins,” she said, smiling in spite of herself. The memories of those summer Sundays applied a numbing balm to her panic. Her aunt and Miss Jane eased out of the second car. They stopped to have a quick word with Alec, who was still standing in the open door of his truck.
The slam of his door and the growl of the engine had her taking a step toward the truck. He hadn’t even said good-bye or good luck. Probably this many people had induced a panic attack. Hellfire, it was her family, and she was close to a panic attack. She should give him a break, but in truth, his desertion pissed her off.
Dammit, he should be standing next to her, patting her hand, telling her everything would be fine. That’s what a real boyfriend did. If she couldn’t count on him for the small things, then what would happen down the road? Would he hide out in his house and pretend she didn’t exist?
She smiled and laughed along with her cousin even though his words garbled in her head. He hugged her again, took his wife’s hand, and headed to greet the passel of Hancocks on the porch. Alec’s taillights disappeared around the corner.
That was that.
She pasted a happy hostess smile on her face and walked up the porch steps with outstretched arms. Although Ms. Patti was front and center, Lilliana chose to ignore her.
“Welcome everyone! I can’t believe we haven’t done this in so long. I can’t promise a spread like Granny used to put out, but I can certainly get everyone some iced tea.”
Blowing out a steadying breath, she unlocked the front door. Everyone poured through it, their chatter echoing through the entryway. The men migrated to the sitting room. A couple of the men who’d long ago defected from the First Baptist Church made straight for her bottles of liquor on the buffet.
The women formed conversational circles around the base of the stairs, their voices falling on top of one another like magpies. The waft of distinctive perfume had her turning. She hugged her aunt and whispered in her ear, “Help. Me.”
“Considering we sat together at church and you never mentioned Sunday dinner, I assume this was a surprise?”
“Ms. Patti did some Vulcan mind trick after church. I didn’t even realize I had agreed until we drove up.”
“Sounds like Patti,” her aunt muttered. Miss Jane added a judgmental affirmative hum.
“What can we do, dear?” Aunt Esmerelda laid a hand on her arm.<
br />
“Could you brew some tea?” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “All I have to feed everyone is frozen pizza and Doritos.”
“You remember the parable about Jesus and the loaves of bread and fishes?”
“If you are implying my bag of Doritos is going to supernaturally reproduce in my pantry, then my money woes are over.”
Aunt Esmerelda shook her head; her lips thinned, but with the hint of a smile in place. “Sacrilege. Come on Jane, let’s brew some tea.” Her aunt and Miss Jane marched through the crowd and into the kitchen, a two-woman cavalry.
With the beverage situation attended to, Lilliana visited with family she’d only seen in passing or at football games. Either the resentment she’d sensed when she inherited Hancock House had dissipated over the last two years, or she’d projected her own guilt onto her family. Ms. Patti was the only one who acted like she had a lemon stuffed in her mouth.
Several ladies had drifted upstairs, and a shot of knee-weakening dread sent her up the stairs two at a time. Slightly out of breath, she stopped in the doorway of her makeshift studio to find a half-dozen of her relatives browsing through her work.
“Why don’t you ladies come along and see what I’ve done to the horrid pink bathroom?” Her voice sailed too high and didn’t make a dent on the chatter.
Ms. Elizabeth, a distant relative who was looking at the Alabama stadium scene, called her over. “Lilliana Hancock, come over here right now.”
Old feelings of inadequacy slowed her steps, but when she got within arm’s reach, Ms. Elizabeth grabbed her elbow and pulled her forward. “I would love to give to Ralph a painting like this for Christmas. An original, not one of those prints. I’ll pay, of course.”
“You like it?”
“I love it.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “You could make a killin’ off Alabama football fanatics.”
Lilliana laughed partly at the irony but mostly from relief. “Thank you, Ms. Elizabeth, I would be happy to. I’ll be in touch later this week about specifics.”
Before she could escape, she fielded several inquiries about her work and whether it was available. She walked down the hallway in a dream state. Her family wandered through the upstairs rooms like visiting a museum, pointing out certain pieces of furniture or dings in the walls to their children. Laughter echoed out of rooms while the hum of conversation carried from downstairs.
She jogged down the steps, the rich aroma of coffee drifting from the kitchen. Three pitchers of tea were lined up on the counter, and her coffeepot was full. Beverages were covered, but food was still an issue. The natives, especially the kids, would be getting restless. She pulled out a bag of Doritos, a half-empty box of Saltines, and a mostly full jar of peanut butter.
A rap sounded on the kitchen door. Before Lilliana made it to the doorknob, Jessica Wilde backed in, holding a huge aluminum pan. Logan was right behind her with another pan.
“What in the—” The sight of Alec with a smaller bowl tucked under his arm like a football and two gallons of tea stopped her short. He shrugged and held out the tea as if the two gallons explained everything.
He hadn’t abandoned her; he’d gone for reinforcements. Ignoring everyone else in the kitchen, she walked over to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, laid her cheek against his chest, and squeezed.
She tilted her face up to his, their lips inches apart. “I thought you’d left me.”
“I told your aunt I’d be back.”
With her hurt feelings mended, she chuffed a laugh. “You’re my loaves and fishes.”
“Have you lost it?”
“Actually, I think I might have found it.”
He looked for a minute as if he might close the distance and kiss her. She lifted to her toes, but before anything happened, Logan called out to them. “Let’s get everything set out. The kids outside are putting out serious Lord of the Flies vibes.”
She let Alec go even though she didn’t want to. Jessica sidled over and hip-bumped her. “I thought you two were just hooking up. What’s going on?”
“He is officially my boyfriend.”
“We couldn’t believe it when he came barreling into Adaline’s asking for a favor. He’s never asked for anything, so of course, we gathered up the leftovers.”
“You saved me from utter humiliation.” Lilliana held up the box of Saltines before putting them back in her pantry. “I was trying to figure out how to make peanut butter crackers gourmet.”
“Have you told him he punched your V-card a decade ago, yet?”
“No and I want to keep him in the dark. Trust me, he would not find the irony as amusing as we do.”
“Gotcha. Wow. Don’t worry, I’ll keep it in the vault.”
Silence fell between them. Her aunt and Miss Jane arranged the food, while Logan and Alec mimed a football play in the corner.
Jessica propped her hip on the counter. “The craziest thing happened. Logan made a joke, and Alec laughed. And, honestly, it wasn’t even one of Logan’s better attempts at humor.”
“You make it sound like he never laughs.” Even though she defended him, hadn’t she said the same thing about him not that long ago? The words sour and humorless came to mind, but now she recognized his ruse to keep people at arm’s length.
“I assume the transformation has something to do with you. I told Logan—”
“Do I hear my name being taken in vain?” Logan joined them, throwing an arm over Jessica’s shoulders.
Alec stood next to Lilliana, so their arms brushed, but he didn’t touch her otherwise. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t claiming her as openly as Logan claimed Jessica. Alec might never be the kind of man who made public declarations, but he’d been there, silent and supportive.
Lilliana punched Logan’s arm. “Thanks. Sometimes you aren’t a complete tool.” The trading of insults had turned from a childhood desire to annoy into a familiar game that made her smile.
“Anytime, twerp.”
“How much do I owe you?”
“Not a damn thing. I’m going to go stir up some trouble with your relatives.” Logan winked and bussed her cheek. He pulled Jessica alongside him, but the look she cast over her shoulder indicated a follow-up conversation was in the offing.
The buzz in the kitchen increased as people filed through, loading up paper plates with food. Alec had backed into the corner next to the back door, the look of the hunted on his face. If all the people overwhelmed her, there was no telling how Alec was feeling.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him outside. The cool air soothed the stress headache that pulsed at her temples. The sound of kids’ giggles and yells came from the magnolias, so Lilliana continued into the woods.
“I was feeling claustrophobic. How about you?” She peeked up at him as they walked side by side. She stopped by a group of pines, the ground riddled with cones. The breeze carried the tang of pinesap.
“You have lots of family,” he said absently.
Maybe this was all too much for him. Lord knows, dealing with church would scare some men away, but walking into a veritable family reunion? His backpedaling wasn’t a shock.
She bit the inside of her mouth and considered his blank expression. Maybe laying it out was her best option. She poked him in the chest. “I get that you’re used to being a loner, and I come with”—she gestured back toward the house, the squeals of children mixing with birdsong—“lots of extras. You can’t throw a football in Falcon and not hit a Hancock. They can be nosy and judgmental, but some of them can also be pretty dang awesome. So if you can’t handle this, maybe you should get gone. For good.”
He blinked a few times before chuffing a sighing laugh. “Listen, I’m not good at this.”
“Obviously.”
He looked to the treetops. “I’m an only child. And my parents … well, you know. I won’t lie. Your family is a lot to handle, but— Hang on, you said earlier that you thought I’d left. Why?”
“Because … well, you were ac
ting—” she took a deep breath, the words coming in a rush. “You didn’t say anything. Just drove off. What was I supposed to think?”
He rubbed his nape, looking up into the needles. “Jesus, I don’t know. Not that I’d abandoned you.”
She wrapped her hand around his wrist and leaned into him. “Okay, so we’re learning about each other. I won’t doubt you again, but you have to throw me some bones. And, in case you didn’t catch on, you coming back with Logan and Jessica meant a lot.”
“They’re your friends. They’d do anything for you.”
“You understand they weren’t just helping me. They did it for you too.”
While he still looked troubled, a small smile turned his lips. She weaved their fingers. Rising on her toes, she brushed her lips against his, the prelude to something more meaningful.
A bird-scattering whistle pierced through the woods. Her aunt’s wavery voice lilted from the back door, stripping away any attempt at intimacy. “Lilliana, quit messing around and get your hiney back in here. This is your shindig, not mine.”
Feeling somewhere around ten years old, she pulled back. “Well, that kind of killed the moment.”
“I need to go anyway. I’ve got some stuff to do.”
“Stuff?”
“I thought I’d go buy some shoes for Hunter. Maybe drop them by his house as an excuse to check on him. I can’t shake this bad feeling.” He picked at the bark on the pine tree. “But, I’ll stick around if you need me to.”
With her aunt and Miss Jane and Jessica here, she didn’t need him to stay. Want was something else entirely. “You go check on Hunter. Will you come by later?”
He cleared his throat. “I don’t have any of my stuff. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day at work and then practice tomorrow—”
“Ohmigod, it’s okay. A simple ‘No, I don’t feel like it tonight’ is fine.” They walked back toward the house. Although they’d settled some things, a sense of uncomfortable tension remained. She might as well make it worse. “I don’t want you to take what I’m about to say the wrong way.”
Melting Into You Page 17