EDITH, AKA HER PA’S GOT HIS EYES ON THE TARGET
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Lying proves to be too much for me. My drama attack wore me out, yet I feel another one building. If I look another person in the eyes and lie right now, I’ll likely flip out again.
That’s why I keep to myself during the homestead party. Ma-Journey explains to the family that I’m grouchy from Tuesday’s “close call.” All I can think is how when we tell the truth tomorrow, everyone will remember the lie.
My brain is on fire with disapproving looks and hurt feelings. My pa is going to be so upset. We have a good relationship. He trusts me to trust him. My ma has also been overly quiet as if keeping secrets is wearing at her. How much trouble will the truth spawn?
My plan to avoid lying hits a roadblock after Duke arrives at the homestead. He’s wearing the same shirt as when we stayed overnight at the Dunphey hotel. That night feels like a lifetime ago.
I’m lost in my thoughts when Val and Lola approach me. I need to be left alone! No more lies or pretending. But Lola is dead set on finding me a man. Her heart is in the right place. I’m her new friend, and she hopes I’ll be as happy as she is with Val.
Except I’ve been lying for weeks right to her face! What kind of person will she think I am?
Seeing Lola up close, I begin to spiral. She can’t stop smiling. That’s why Duke and I waited to tell people. Has there been enough time? Should I cancel tomorrow’s dinner? Will I ever stop lying to my pa?
As the drama builds inside me, I start crying. Tuesday runs over. My brothers are worried. I hear Pa-Donovan call out to me. Everyone is looking at me, thinking I’ve gone insane. If I was more myself, I’d tell them to frick off and leave me be. But I feel guilty and lost.
With my eyes filled with tears, I don’t see Duke coming until he’s next to me. His lips cover mine, silencing my panic.
Suddenly, I’m okay again. I can think straight. I remember why I’ve been lying for weeks. Duke is mine.
I hear Ike’s confused voice announcing how he might tackle Duke to stop our kiss. Wrapping my arms around my dream guy, I don’t want to face what’s beyond the heat I feel for this one man.
Duke ends the kiss and stares down at me. I wait nervously for his reaction. He mostly seems relieved.
The words “I’ve had a bad day,” spill out of me. I’m afraid to share more, yet the additional secret weighs me down.
Duke strokes my hair as his beautiful blue eyes study me. “This wasn’t how I wanted to announce our relationship, but I couldn’t watch you cry.”
“Because you love me?” I ask in a whisper.
Duke’s smile holds no hesitancy. He’s a man who has the answers. With my confidence shot lately, I embrace the certainty in him.
Our gazes hold as people react to our kiss. I don’t know what to say. Duke might be nervous, too, but he only smiles at me.
Tuesday begins clapping. Bullet Train follows her lead. Roxie joins in since she’s a team player. The clapping grows louder, yet I also hear my brothers asking each other if they knew. I feel my pa moving closer.
“No more secrets,” Duke tells me before yanking his gaze free and looking around at the people either clapping or muttering disapprovingly.
Lola and Clover stare at him. Val stands next to the women, nodding and smiling like he always knew.
My gaze flashes to my father on Uncle Court’s deck. Pa-Donovan doesn’t hide his irritation. He glances at Ma-Journey nearby. She shrugs, and he frowns harder.
“Edith,” Otto says and steps closer, “do I need to drop this guy?”
Taking Duke’s hand, I smile at my brother. “Duke is my nerdy accountant.”
My brother narrows his gaze until he looks asleep. He’s likely replaying our every conversation over the last few weeks. Otto starts to shake his head disapprovingly, stops to look at Ike, realizes our brother wasn’t in on the secret, enjoys a moment of relief, and then returns to shaking his head.
Otto declares, “I don’t approve.”
“Okay,” I say and shrug.
Otto glances at Ike again. “Help me tag-team her.”
Ike frowns at our older brother. “Edith was crying. Now, she isn’t. Let’s not tempt fate here.”
“Wuss.”
“Now, now,” Betty says and takes Otto’s hand. “Edith is a grown woman. Let her enjoy her fun.”
When Otto turns to his wife to complain, she gives him a look that means they’ll be plotting together later. Realizing he’s got an ally, Otto lifts his chin arrogantly and stops bitching.
Duke guides me closer to Lola and Clover who look happy yet confused.
“Why not say anything?” Lola asks immediately.
“I told you how it might cause drama,” Duke explains and sighs. “I wanted you to have a chance in the spotlight. But I can’t sneak around anymore.”
Lola looks up at Val and then at her pa before focusing on me. “I won’t call you ‘mom,” she says in an overly earnest tone.
Realizing she’s teasing me, I laugh nervously. Duke seems relaxed, but his hand also tightens around mine. He feels certain eyes on us, but we don’t dare turn around.
Tuesday wraps her arms around my shoulders from the side and hugs me to her body. “I kept your secret,” she whispers in my ear. “I was loyal. Never forget how you owe me. If I need help hiding a body one day, you can’t ask questions, okay?”
I hug Tuesday and hold on tight. I force my gaze to the sight of my father and uncles standing in a line like a wall of muscle intending to flatten Duke.
My father’s gaze is hard and mean. He’s pissed. I thought it would be worse to see him hurt by my secrets. Now, I wish he was wailing in pain rather than looking ready to dropkick Duke.
“Val,” I say, glancing at my cousin who still smiles as if there’s nothing wrong in the world.
“Yes, Edith?”
“This is the time to support your president.”
“And anger my pa?” Val asks, looking horrified before grinning. “Sure, let’s do this thing.”
Before we can face my pa, Tuesday yanks me against her and whispers, “The baby thing remains a secret, right? I don’t want to get tripped over what we’re still hiding.”
I look into her eyes and hope she can recognize my pure panic at the thought of anyone knowing yet. Kissing my forehead, she releases me from the hug and fixes my hair.
“You look lovely for a swamp whore.”
Giving her a grin, I wish I could push Tuesday in front of me to act as a shield from my father’s disapproval.
Instead, I take Duke’s hand and walk toward Pa-Donovan, Uncle Court, and Uncle Emmett.
“Duke and I are together. We didn’t want to steal Lola and Val’s spotlight. I’m sorry we kept things a secret, but I love him,” I blurt out. Once the words tumble from my mouth, I add, “No wrestling.”
“What do you mean by together ?” Pa-Donovan demands while frowning at Duke.
Inhaling sharply, Duke struggles between acting like a club president and behaving like a guy facing his girlfriend’s pa.
“I’m in love with your daughter.”
Pa-Donovan wants to rage at Duke, but I sense he’s mostly angry with me. I’m the one who lied to him. I’m the person he trusted. I’m the daughter he thought he knew.
“This is good news!” Val announces. “Edith deserves a quality man.”
Duke doesn’t react to his son-in-law’s words. He also doesn’t engage in a staring contest with my pa.
Instead, Duke looks down at me and exhales softly. His gaze isn’t worried. I feel like I shouldn’t be worried, either.
“How about you go have a quiet moment with your family and get them updated?” Duke suggests and then gestures back at Lola and Clover now joined by Erin. “I’ll do the same with my family. Then, we’ll see about enjoying this party.”
Duke wipes a stray tear from my cheek. I don’t want to leave his side. Duke takes a step back. My hand stays locked with his until he moves too far away and our fingers slip apart.
“This is weird, right?” Otto asks Ike. “I’m not just high off drama farts. This thing here is weird, don’t you think?”
“No, it’s fine,” Ike says and walks over to me. I gasp when he lifts me off the ground and cradles me in his arms. “Edith’s just crazy in love. We’ve all been there. Now, let’s go inside where she can cry her way out of this situation.”
I smile at my brother. “I’m sorry I didn’t understand why you ran off with Oana.”
“The magic seems dumb when it’s happening to other people. But you get it now.”
Once my family is inside the house, the women stand on one side of the couch while the men line up on the other side.
“Are we dueling here?” Betty asks and looks at Otto. “Why are you over there?”
“Just go with it,” he says and gives her a reassuring wink.
Betty frowns and asks, “Go with what?”
“I’m sorry I lied,” I announce to stop Otto and Betty from babbling to fill the silence. “I was trying to help Val and Lola enjoy their new relationship. Also, in the beginning, I worried about upsetting the alliance between the clubs. But mostly, it was the Lola and Val thing.”
“Duke’s the hickey guy,” Otto mutters as if that weren’t obvious. “And the overnight guy.”
Frowning at Otto sizing me up, I demand, “Stop thinking of me having sex.”
“Should I beat on Duke?” Otto asks our pa. “Is that where this is leading?”
Our father stares at me. “Everyone go somewhere else. I want to talk to Edith and your ma alone.”
“Go where?” Ike asks while Oana and Betty stop standing on my side of the couch and glue themselves to their men.
“Ike’s room.”
“And do what?”
“Figure it out,” Ma-Journey grumbles and points to the room.
Once the four of them shuffle away and lock themselves in Ike’s bedroom, Pa-Donovan walks around the couch and rests his hands on my shoulders.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Rather than have me answer, Ma-Journey explains, “You’d be forced to keep it from Court. And I wasn’t sure you could act normal around Duke.”
“Were you all sneaking around together behind my back?”
“Of course not. You know where I am at all times, ya stalker,” Ma-Journey tells her husband who nods after a moment. “You knew Edith was dating someone. You knew she was spending the night with him. I’m surprised you didn’t have her followed.”
“I did,” Pa-Donovan says and pats my shoulders.
“Wait, what?” I ask while Ma-Journey frowns at her husband.
“I followed you on your first overnight date.”
“What?” Ma-Journey and I ask together.
“I wanted to make sure this guy wasn’t dangerous. I stayed overnight at the hotel and made sure you left safely the next day. I did lose you for a while when you went on the motorcycle ride, though.”
“You told me that you were gone on club business,” Ma-Journey demands. “I mean, yeah, I suspected you were lying, sure. Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”
“I figured if you knew, you’d want to talk to Edith about it. I wanted her to keep her secret if that’s what she felt was necessary.”
“Screw you, Mooney,” Ma-Journey snarls and yanks out her phone. “I’m going to inform my sisters that you kept a secret from their husbands.”
My father rolls his eyes and tugs me into a hug. “I don’t like how you had to lie, but I trusted you to have a good reason.”
“So why did you seem so angry at Duke outside?”
“To keep the ruse going,” he says and kisses the top of my head. “I’m glad you found someone special, baby.”
Tearing up, I whimper, “I hated lying to everyone.”
“I know, but that’s over.”
“Except for the baby,” Ma-Journey says and shoves her phone into her back pocket. “Duke doesn’t know, and Edith isn’t ready to tell him.”
“The secrets never end,” I mumble.
My pa asks me, “Why wouldn’t you tell him?”
“He isn’t sure he wants more kids.”
My pa glances at my ma before scowling at me. “That seems like a huge stumbling block.”
“I wanted to give us a chance to be a normal couple before he had to make the choice.”
“But you’re pregnant,” he says and hugs me. “He should know.”
“Lying stresses you out,” Ma-Journey adds. “That’s why you got upset today.”
“I can’t tell him tonight.”
My pa holds me against him and sighs. “Tomorrow then. He’ll come to dinner like we planned. You’ll tell him the truth. If he gets upset, you’ll give him time to adjust. That’s what your ma did with me when I got rattled about our relationship.”
Ma-Journey frowns. “That’s not how any of that happened.”
“You’re remembering it wrong.”
My parents scowl at each other while I tug Ma closer. “I need lots of affection. I’ve flipped out a lot today.”
“She went full Earlham,” Ma-Journey tells my pa.
“You were overdue,” he says and chuckles at my ma’s expression. “But you’re okay.”
“Why are you so cool with this?” Ma-Journey asks. “I thought you’d be angry about them sneaking around. Also, Duke’s in his forties.”
“So is Bullet Train. But at least, Edith is older than Tuesday, and Duke isn’t a hitman.”
“If Duke and I live together, it’ll be in Basin Rock,” I announce and begin to cry.
“Are these Earlham tears or preggo tears?” Pa-Donovan teases while hugging me. “Just relax. You seemed happy when I spied on you. Focus on that.”
Ma-Journey bursts into laughter, winning a grin from my pa. “You lying queef,” she says and playfully punches his arm. “You rode all the way to Dunphey to keep an eye on our baby girl.”
“Once I saw who she was with, I probably could have left. I decided to stick close just in case she had second thoughts and needed to drive back in the middle of the night. I paid the front clerk to tell me when you were coming and going.”
As they share a chuckle at my pa’s stalker ways, I wipe my eyes and enjoy their amusement. Their loud chuckles draw my brothers from Ike’s room.
“What’s happening?” Ike asks.
“We’re accepting how our family is bigger now,” Pa-Donovan explains.
Otto announces, “Duke McGraw is too old for Edith.”
“Not really.”
“He’s an outlander,” Otto insists while Betty nods supportively to his grumpy declarations. “He doesn’t come from our town. No outsiders.”
“He’s got a house, money in the bank, and won’t expect us to hide our illegal behaviors,” Ma-Journey replies and pats Otto’s jaw. “Let’s be supportive, so your sister won’t cry anymore tonight. She’s bordering on dehydration at this point.”
My family huddles up around me and takes turns patting my head. I laugh at their sympathetic gestures, feeling like maybe all my drama has been over nothing.
After all, my pa and ma aren’t angry like I expected. Duke wasn’t upset about exposing our relationship to everyone. Were all my worst-case scenarios nothing more than a battle between my sensible side and my Earlham brain?