CHAPTER 12
Nellie
A knock on the front door of Vivian’s house drew my attention and I had to bite back a wave of emotion when Vera let herself in. She spotted me and her eyes watered instantly. “I’m sorry! It’s this baby! It’s making me a crybaby.”
I rushed over to her and wrapped my arms around her. “Oh, V. I missed you so much.”
She took my hand and pulled me over to one of the overstuffed couches in the sitting room. “Why didn’t you call? I missed you so much and no one knew if you were safe, or even alive.”
A sense of shame washed over me but I fought it. “They told me not to.”
Vera’s eyes widened. “Who?”
Panic hit instantly and I feared that telling the truth and speaking ill of our parents would shove a wedge between us. I felt like I was getting a sister back and I didn’t want to risk losing her. “Never mind that. I can’t believe you’re pregnant.”
“I can’t believe you have a kid! A big kid! How old is she?” Vera looked over my shoulder and grinned. “Old enough to be a super sneaky eavesdropper, apparently.”
I looked back and saw Waylan peeking in from the hallway. “Come here, Way. This is your Aunt Vera.”
Waylan walked in with her arms crossed over her chest. “Are you going to be mean like the big jerk?”
Vera laughed, thankfully. “I’m assuming you mean Mills. I’m nothing like him. He’s a giant cranky pants. I’m your fun aunt. I’m going to introduce you to lots of trouble when you’re a teenager and your mom’s going to want to strangle me.”
“Cool!” Waylan plopped down next to me on the couch. “My name’s Waylan. I’m nine.”
Vera’s head snapped up. “Nine?”
“Yep.” Waylan popped the p. “We have cookies. Want some?”
Vera nodded. “Yes, please. The baby inside me is making me so hungry all the time that I feel like I could eat a whole cow.”
“Even the poo parts? Gross, Aunt Vera.”
Vera’s eyes watered again as Waylan ran towards the kitchen. “God, she looks just like you, Nellie. Acts like you, too. I already love her. And don’t think we’re not going to talk more about her age and who told you not to call home.”
I sank into the couch as the weight of all the things unsaid settled over my shoulders like a weighted blanket. I held out my hands as I shrugged. I didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t rock the boat. Truthfully, I didn’t know Vera anymore, either. I didn’t know any of my siblings and what they’d been through since I’d left. They knew nothing of my life, either. We were strangers.
“God, Nellie. You’re younger than me and you just crumpled in on yourself like an old lady. Are you okay?” She moved across the room to sit with me. “I love you. No matter what, I love you. I think I love you even more than I did before after being left alone with our oldest brothers and perfect Maxie.”
Waylan skipped back into the room with Papa Jack trailing behind her and the cookies she had in her hand. “Hurry! Eat them fast or Papa Jack will mug you!”
Before Vera could eat her cookie, Papa Jack was in her lap, batting at her hand. She grunted under his weight. “Holy shit, Nellie. I’d convinced myself you had some kind of weird dog at the party but this really is a cat.”
“Papa Jack is part cat, part asshole, and part mountain lion. That’s what Grandpa Blade said.” Waylan saw me open my mouth and sighed. “I know, Mom, no cussin’ in the house.”
Vera tossed the cookie across the room to get the cat off of her. “First of all, that’s a full-grown panther. Second of all, I’m dying over here. Waylan, you’re the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. No cussin’ in the house? Seems like a silly rule but whatever.”
I sighed. “Being around family is going to be a headache, isn’t it?”
“Oh! I came over to invite you to a…gathering.”
“A gathering?” I turned to Waylan and tapped her on the tip of her nose. “Do me a favor and go play upstairs for a minute? Momma needs to see if Aunt Vera is planning to sacrifice her.”
Waylan rolled her eyes and took off.
“I guess the word gathering does give off a creepy vibe.” Vera grabbed my hand. “It’s a secret club. For just the women in town. I started it after visiting the middle brothers. Come with me tonight. I want you to be a part of it.”
“A secret club?” I stowed away the information about Gray, Owen, and Keaton for another time.
“Come with me and see for yourself. I think you’ll appreciate it.” She winced. “Plus, I already told everyone you’d come and they’re excited to see you.”
“Who’s everyone?” I shifted in my seat, nervous about what I’d be walking into. I felt like a leper coming back into town and I wasn’t sure I was ready to be verbally cast out just yet.
“I’d never take you somewhere I thought would be bad for you. You know that. I’m your sister and I love you and you’re coming with me. I can have my guys come over to babysit if you want. It’ll be fun for all parties involved to see how they act around Waylan. They need to get used to kids.”
“Guys? As in multiple?” I saw her face turn pink and rushed to reassure her. “I’m not judging, Vera. I promise.”
“I have three men. Dean, Lennon, and Reed. They saved my life a while back and I gave them all of my virginities as a thank you.” She cackled at the surprise on my face. “I’m kidding. I gave them my virginity before they saved my life.”
I suddenly felt like a complete loser next to my cooler older sister. I’d had sex one time and after that resulted in Waylan and becoming homeless, I’d sworn it off. “Wow.”
“You’re judging.”
“Me. I’m judging me. You’re so much cooler than I am.” I sighed with longing. “Want to know a horrible secret? I’ve had sex once and have never orgasmed.”
Vera fought against her belly to stand up. “You’re coming with me. You need this club more than anyone. Come on.”
“Wait. Waylan—”
“Is taken care of.” Vivian stepped into the room, another eavesdropper. “Go on to the meeting, Nellie. I’ll watch Waylan. Sugar will send me a long and detailed message about what happens tonight, anyway.”
Vera grinned. “Do you think she’s hooking up with Steve? She won’t say and you know Steve’s tight-lipped.”
“ My Steve?” I realized I sounded strange and rushed on. “Steve the garage owner? Steve, who taught me to mechanic? With Sugar?”
“We’ll get it out of one of them eventually.” Vera looked up the stairs at Waylan. “I’m stealing your Mom for a bit, Waylan. That okay with you?”
“Only if I get ice cream tomorrow.”