Chapter 53
Dax
I try not to roll my eyes or give away the fact that I’m eavesdropping, but Selene’s voice is like nails on a chalkboard. To irritate her, I take out my phone and send a text.
“How did you let him find out?” Selene’s voice is accusatory. “You had one job, Cori.” I can see her rolling her eyes now.
“Well, he read my texts, and I’m glad it’s over.”
“You’re just going to stay married to him now?”
“Yeah.”
“After he destroyed your grandmother’s sewing machine, stole your money, and all the stuff for you to sew dresses?”
I let out a scoff at that.
“Except he didn’t do any of that. He was hiding them. Everything is back in order. And he bought the location on Main Street for my shop. Bought it outright for me. I have the deed.”
If I thought that would get me any points with Selene, I was wrong.
“He just throws his money and his weight around. I’ll never forgive him for trapping you the way he did.”
“Well, I have, so can you please give him a break? For me?” They lower their voices, and I can’t hear anymore. The baby in my arms grabs my collar and tries to put it in her mouth, but I pull it away and bounce her.
“Oh, Daxton, the housekeeper you sent is wonderful.” Annette Lamb waves me over from her seat in the living room. She has a walker next to her, and she’s refused to use her wheelchair. “You’re such a godsend.” She wraps her arm through mine after I take the seat next to her.
“You look wonderful. I’m so glad I can help you.” She smiles, and she reminds me so much of her daughter.
Ruby babbles, and her grandmother strokes her cheek.
“You’re so good with her.” She cranes her neck to look around.
“I wish Cori would take more of an interest in her niece.” She lets out a long sigh.
I look across the room and tilt my head toward her son, who is fast asleep on the couch.
I look back at Annette but don’t say anything.
“You know how men are when it comes to kids.”
“That’s an outdated stereotype.” I keep my voice low and hope Cori doesn’t hear. “I helped take care of my sister after my dad passed away. When Dad was alive, he was an active parent, despite being stuck in a wheelchair.”
“But Devin isn’t like you. He’s so lost.”
I don’t offer an answer. My wife has asked me to listen to her and be her champion, and I’m not about to fumble the ball this early in the game. She also said she wasn’t ready to confront her parents about what she found out.
Despite everything that’s happened, she wants her mother to get better and doesn’t want to add any stress that would impede her progress.
“Well, maybe it’s time he finds himself,” I finally mumble. I get up and put Ruby on top of him. She hits him in the face, but he doesn’t stir. She gets bored and lifts her arms, so I take her again.
“Cori!” Annette yells, and I hope she doesn’t ask her daughter to take Ruby. Cori and Selene come walking in, arm in arm. “Your dad will be home soon. Let’s get ready to eat. Selene, I need your help, too, baby. Is Eden still coming?”
“Yes, Auntie,” Selene says sweetly, and I almost want to vomit.
Just as the words leave her mouth, the bell rings, and Eden arrives.
Selene gives me the side eye from across the room, and I decide to ignore her. She’s irrelevant.
“Do you need help, sweetheart?” I put my hand on Cori’s shoulder and kiss her cheek.
I hand the baby to Eden and help my wife bring the food to the table while Selene gets the drinks and chats with Eden.
Cori’s father gets home just as we finish setting the table.
“Eden, is your husband joining us?” Annette extends her hand, and Eden walks to her and takes it. I already know the answer to that question. Ripley is handling business and won’t be home for hours. Ruby reaches for her grandmother, who takes her from Eden.
“Not this time.” Eden doesn’t offer any more than that, but I didn’t expect her to. Her phone rings, and she excuses herself. “My King,” I hear her say as she walks away.
While I pull out a chair for my wife, Leander kicks Devin’s foot, jarring him awake. He sputters and falls to the floor.
“Get your ass to the table or go to your room.” Leander’s words are harsh, and like a spoiled child, he stomps to the bathroom but joins us at the table a few minutes later. I take Ruby from Annette and put her in her highchair.
The doorbell rings, and Leander glares at his son. “Go get it.” His words are sharp, and Devin puts his head down, but gets up. He returns with Preacher following him.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I invited a friend. This is Preacher. He’s lonely and has no one else in his life. He could use a home-cooked meal. He usually just opens a can of something.” Preacher narrows his eyes at me, but his eyes light up when he spots Selene.
“Take a seat, son.” Leander gestures to the table. “Welcome to our home. Any friend of Dax’s is welcome here anytime.”
“It’s Gabriel,” Preacher says. “Gabriel Santana.” He watches Selene as he talks, but she has her head down texting.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to wash my hands first.” Someone gestures toward the bathroom.
Preacher rushes in and returns seconds later.
He takes the empty seat next to Selene and pushes his chair so close that their arms touch.
Selene doesn’t react.
“Preacher, you want to say grace?” I lift Cori’s hand and kiss the back of it. Her mother notices and smiles at me, so I wink at her. She blushes.
“Please,” Annette says. Selene sighs.
“Um, sure.” Preacher seems uncertain. “Let us bow our heads.” He clears his throat. “Let us take a moment and appreciate the beautiful meal, which I’m sure was lovingly prepared. May we bask in the beauty of the world and also remember the connection that we all share with our loved ones.”
He doesn’t say amen, but looks up and around the table. His eyes narrow at me, and I smirk.
“How lovely,” Annette says. “Amen.”
I make sure to serve Cori before myself. She sits back and lets me do it, but she feeds me a piece of her chicken before she eats. I wink at her, and she blushes just like her mother.
Preacher glares at Devin from across the table, but all that idiot does is stuff his face while Ruby looks around, confused. She starts to whine.
“Devin, feed your daughter,” his mother snaps. Ruby bends down and tries to stick her hand in her father’s plate.
“Can I do one thing for myself first?” Devin snaps. “Selene, can you help her? Cori’s selfish ass won’t.”
“You’re God damn right about that.” My wife offers me a piece of her zucchini while smiling in my face.
“Language,” Leander says.
“Fuck him,” Cori whispers it under her breath, but Selene hears and chuckles.
“She’s your daughter, Devin. Your parents always fed you first. And you want to talk about selfish?” Selene points her fork at Devin.
“You three witches always stick together.” Devin looks around.
“I’ll tell Rip you called his wife a witch.” Devin swallows at Preacher’s threat, but he doesn’t respond.
“I don’t appreciate you calling my wife that either.” My words come out so sharp that Ruby cries. Devin looks away, so Preacher gets up and takes her out of the highchair. He sits back down with her on his lap. “Can someone get me another plate? I’ll feed her.”
“If you don’t get your ass up and do something, I’m kicking you out of my house.
” Devin nearly sprints to the kitchen at his father’s threat.
He returns with a kid’s plate and a spoon.
Preacher puts food on it, cuts it into small pieces, and feeds Ruby, who gets him dirty in the process.
She wipes her mouth on his shirt, puts her hands on the plate, and wipes food in his hair. He doesn’t mind.
“And how do you two know each other?” Annette asks while she looks from me to Preacher.
“Church,” I announce.
“Church?” Selene says the word as if it’s dirty. “Yeah, right.” She eyes me and whispers, “Like he goes to church.”
“Oh, yeah. It was at Preacher’s father’s church, and he was giving the sermon that day. Remember, Preach?”
“I’d rather not,” he snaps. “And that’s not the day we met. We met when we—"
“It was about women’s virtue and how precious it is. You talked about Jezebels, whores, and eternal hellfire. It was a great sermon. You did your thing, boy.” I grin at my friend, whose nostrils have now flared.
“So, you were on a platform talking about women and their bodies?” Selene pulls her chair away from him.
“Bodies? What? No. And that was—”
“I wish men would stay out of women’s business. Ugh. That’s just gross.” Selene makes a face of disgust, and Preacher shifts in his seat.
“You don’t understand,” Preacher begins in protest.
“I agree,” Eden says, while giving Preacher a dirty look.
“You three aren’t real women anyway,” Devin says with a loud cackle. “Don’t worry about it. And I agree with Preacher. Women need to be told what to do.”
“Boy, shut the hell up,” Leander says.
“Leander, be kind,” Annette says.
“I’m just saying, Preacher is a bro like me. Maybe I should go to church more.” Devin cackles, and Selene scrunches her face, just like I knew she would.
“Oh, wait. You don’t understand. I’m—”
The doorbell rings, and Selene can’t get away from Preacher fast enough.
“What are you doing?” Preacher whispers, but all I do is grin. Selene returns with her arm wrapped around a man.
“This is my boyfriend, Gill. He was at the wedding.” Preacher sits back and tilts his head to the side. I know that pose. That crazy motherfucker is plotting something, just like I knew he would.
Gill strolls in and greets everyone. Selene gets an extra chair and sits Gill next to Preacher. She moves her plate into the new chair, and Gill sits down.
“I’m on the waiting list,” Gill announces, with a pleased smile on his face.
“Gill’s trying to get us tickets to the Beyoncé concert in Houston.” Selene wraps her arm through his and puts her cheek on his bicep. “From there, we’re gonna go to Vegas for a few days.”
“Oh,” Preacher says. “I tried to get tickets for my sister, too, but they’re sold out. How did you get on a waiting list?”
I choke on my potatoes, and Cori rubs my back.
“You okay, baby?” she asks. “Have some water.” I notice Devin narrowing his eyes at us.
“Oh, I’m in a queue,” Gill says.
“A queue?” Preacher scratches his head. “I’m clueless about those things. Can you show me your phone?”
“Uh, yeah.” Gill pulls out his phone and shows Preacher his screen.
Ruby fusses and tries to take the phone.
Devin makes no moves to take his daughter, so I do, and feed her the rest of her food.
For the first time, I catch Cori smiling at Ruby, but when she notices me watching her, she drops the smile and scowls.
“Too late. I caught you.” I wink at her.
“So, you have to get an app?” Preacher asks, scratching his head again. I roll my eyes. He pulls out his own phone. Ruby slams her hand on the table, and Preacher pretends to jolt, and she lets out a big belly laugh. He drops both phones on the floor and jumps out of his chair to get them.
“Oops. I got some gravy on your phone, Gill. Give me a second, and I’ll go clean it off.” Preacher jogs into the kitchen.
“It’s okay, mate,” Gill says, waving his napkin around, but Preacher pretends not to hear.
He’s gone for about ten minutes, and when he returns, he hands Gill back his phone. I shake my head. The good dentist won’t know what hit him.
Seconds later, Gill’s phone buzzes.
“Oh, shoot. I have to go. There’s an emergency.” He stands and thanks the hosts.
“Oh, no,” Preacher says. “Did a kid break a bracket?”