Chapter 21 #2
How much should she tell them? It wasn’t like she was hiding any big secret. Well, no big secrets in her past. Now, her recent activity as Tonya, obviously that couldn’t be shared.
But no one wanted to hear about her sad life before she got to L.A. She tried to forget about it. Save for a scant few, there weren’t many good memories back in Kentucky. Though she missed the culture and scenery sometimes.
Just tell them the truth. Remember, this is your fresh start. No more lies.
“I wish there was something interesting to share,” she said. “I don’t really have any family left back in Kentucky. None that I have any contact with.” She shrugged. “Came to L.A. a few years back, looking for a change. I’ve been here since.”
“Hey, did you come here to work in the movies like I did?” Annika asked. “I mean, an internship brought me out there, but I took it because I thought maybe I could get a job at a studio or something.”
Samantha laughed, embarrassed to admit it. “Yeah. I wanted to go on auditions, actually. But nothing ever came of it.”
“Well,” Caroline said, “you never know. You’re not old. Still lots of time for you to follow your dreams.”
“That’s right,” Kendrick agreed. “You can do anything you want to. And I’ll help you. We actually have quite a few Hollywood contacts, including Lana, who works at a studio.”
“I sure do,” Lana said. “I’m in the FX department, but we know plenty of actors.”
The conversation continued for over an hour.
Samantha was shocked at how kind everyone was.
There didn’t seem to be any competition among the women who lived in the mansion.
And while they’d chosen to live their lives as Littles, it was evident they weren’t helpless.
Their Daddies supported them; they did not control them.
By the time dinner wound down, Samantha was struck by just how amazing it was to be included in such a group.
Already.
Was this real? Were there actually people out there actually like the ones she was with? People who actually cared about others, rather than just getting ahead or their own selfish desires?
Auntie Athena stood and reached for her dishes. Kendrick held up his hand.
“Nope. You’re our guest. I’ll take care of all this.”
“But—”
“You might call the shots at the nursery. But around here, Daddies are in charge.”
Hugging his arm, Samantha smiled. Across the table, Auntie Athena smiled, too, and was apparently willing to acquiesce with the edict. “Fair enough. But next time, we’ll host.”
“Yeah,” Caroline said. “And I’ll make some of that good southern cooking. I’m a little surprised we didn’t have that tonight.” She made a show of looking around the table. “I don’t see a biscuit in sight!”
He held up his hands and smirked. “I thought about frying up some good ol’ Nashville hot chicken. But when I got in the kitchen, I didn’t have all the ingredients. So, I settled on Italian.”
“Ooh, I can cook some southern stuff! Well, at least some Kentucky stuff,” Samantha offered eagerly.
Kendrick pulled away from her, shifted in his chair, and appraised her with obvious affection. “Like what?”
“I’ve made a lot of burgoo in my day. People back home used to love it. I’d make it for events and stuff in the little town I lived in.”
“What’s burgoo?” Iris asked.
“It’s a stew. Just with a few regional twists in Kentucky,” she explained. “I guess other places have it, too.”
“We had it in Tennessee,” Kendrick said. “But it might have been a little different than yours. What veggies do you put in it?”
Samantha shrugged. “Whatever I have. Okra. Corn. Potatoes. You name it, I’ve probably added it.”
Everyone seemed to be listening intently, as if they were fascinated to learn of this dish.
“Do you use beef?” Cami asked.
“If I can afford it. Honey, I’ve been so poor I’ve used rabbit!
Old Man Gentry, who lived just up the hill from my place, used to drop off meat to me sometimes when he had extra.
He hunted and trapped all up and down that region.
He’d get deer, sure. But sometimes we made do with rabbit or, I kid you not, when times were real lean, even ‘possum!”
She realized just how thick her accent had gotten as she explained the ingredients.
And she regretted revealing as much as she had.
The probably think I’m so pathetic! Tonya would have never revealed that. Of course, Tonya dined at fancy restaurants all the time and rubbed elbows with celebrities. She sure wasn’t cooking some hick-ass stew with rabbit and other critters she found in the local hollow!
“I love learning about different regional dishes!” Annika said. “Hey, would you make it for us sometime?”
Samantha was relieved to see no one was judging her.
“Sure.” She grinned wryly. “And I promise I won’t use possum.”
The group laughed.
“Honey, I think whatever you make it with will be just perfect,” Kendrick told her.
“Me, too,” Athena said. “Do you ever go back to Kentucky?”
Samantha shrugged. “Haven’t been back. I might.
I still own the house I inherited from my grandparents.
It was left to my mom, technically, but she ran out and…
” Realizing she was saying too much again, she just offered, “It’s not much of a house.
Just a cabin. Needs a lot of repairs. Probably isn’t even livable. ”
Athena nodded. “I bet it’s beautiful there.
But we’re glad you’re here now. And I can’t wait until you come play at the nursery for the first time.
You know, I have some cards out in the car with the nursery info printed on them, like the gate code, our number in case you ever need to call, and that sort of thing.
Walk out with me and I’ll grab one for you. ”
Samantha’s stomach turned an excited somersault. Was she really being invited to officially join Auntie Athena’s West Hollywood Nursery? And not the rich Tonya. But Samantha—the dirt-poor hillbilly from the Appalachian Mountains.
Athena, Caroline, and Trevon thanked everyone before leaving.
Outside, Trevon and Caroline split off from Auntie Athena and Samantha, walking to a large pickup. Trevon opened the passenger door and helped Caroline in like a true gentleman. Samantha didn’t have the sense that they were a couple, but rather he was just a polite guy.
Once Samantha was standing in front of Athena’s car, the older woman smiled and said, “It was lovely to actually meet you.”
What did she mean by actually? Perhaps she’d just heard Kendrick talking about her so much that it was nice to see her in person.
She opened the front passenger door, leaned in, and pulled something from the console. Turning back around, she handed Samantha a small wallet-sized card.
“Keep this on you. Call if you ever need anything.”
“Yes, Ma’am. And thank you!”
They hugged.
Once they were done, Athena didn’t walk to the driver’s side right away. It seemed as if there was something she wanted to say.
A moment later, she spoke.
“I choose to see the best in people. Very few people are actually bad. We’re all sort of… mixed bags.”
Samantha drew a deep breath, wondering where the Auntie was going with this.
“I love the people inside that mansion. And I don’t think you’d ever hurt them. At least, Samantha wouldn’t.”
Samantha froze. Her eyes stared unblinkingly at Athena.
Auntie put a hand on her arm. “It’s not my place to tell.
But I’ll just say this. If you want your relationship to be a success, I would make sure it’s built on honesty.
Trust is… everything. Don’t pour the wrong foundation.
” She leaned in and hugged Samantha again.
“Just some friendly advice for what it’s worth.
” After the hug, she moved her hands to Samantha’s shoulders.
Smiling warmly, she said, “You’re a good person, honey.
Don’t beat yourself up. Just… make good choices. ”
With that, Auntie Athena got in her car, drove away, and left a very stunned Samantha standing at the curb.