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“Okay, I guess that leaves us three,” I said, linking back up with Justin.
“More bad news,” Justin said.
“What?”
“I’m going to hitch a ride with John,” Evan said. “He’s swinging over here now to get me.” He looked down at his watch. “Said he has something to show me.”
“Are you serious?” I protested. “But it’s a family day.”
“He’s said it’s really serious. I’ll have him drop me by your parents’ if we end early.”
“Work. Work. Work,” I repeated. I moved over to hug Evan good-bye. “Will I really get to see you later?” I asked, feeling the happiness of the moment.
“Sure, sweetheart.” He kissed me and when he moved to step away, I saw in Evan’s eyes a trace of worry.
“Everything okay?” I asked as he opened the car door for me.
“Everything’s fine. You guys go ahead. I’m sure I’ll be over shortly.”
He closed the door and stepped up to the curb beside the car.
“So, Ms. Thing, what is going on?” Justin said when we finally pulled out.
I kept my eyes on Evan in the rearview mirror. When we got across the parking lot, I saw John’s car pull up and Evan got in.
“What do you mean?” I shifted the mirror.
“Jr’s acting all crazy. May was reading scripture in the dining room when I left to come here. And Mama and Daddy hardly said two words to each other.”
“It’s a lot of stuff,” I said, telling Justin all about Jr’s affair and how I’d run into his live-in mistress at our old house. He and May were still awaiting the paternity results and she swore she was going to stick by her husband’s side.
“Well, that explains the Bible being everywhere,” Justin said.
“I don’t know why she’d even try to put herself through more of Jr’s garbage, but she’s prepping herself for the role of her lifetime.”
“Speaking of preacher’s wives, what’s up with Mama and Daddy?”
“I don’t know, Justin,” I said. “I had lunch with Mama a few weeks ago and she claimed she was upset with Daddy because he’s expanding the church, but then I saw her speaking to Deacon Gresham.”
“From the church?” he asked.
“Yeah. And you know he’s a divorce attorney.”
“Just because Mama was talking to a divorce attorney doesn’t mean she’s leaving Daddy,” Justin reasoned. “She’d never do that.”
“I don’t know. She could just be fed up. Anyway, I’m just waiting for the first shoe to drop, so I can know what’s going on with her. But you know Mama; she’ll never talk about herself,” I said. “But what’s up with you, Atlanta Man? I’m sure you’re making it happen in the big city. I see you’re putting on a little weight. Must be eating good.”
“I actually wanted to talk to you about that.”
“About putting on weight?”
“Not that directly,” Justin started, and I could feel the uneasiness in his voice. Turning onto my parents’ street, I slowed down the car a bit and rolled the windows up so I could hear him. “But more about the reason I came home. I think it’s time I told all of you about my life.” He paused. “This is really hard for me.” His voice weakened.
“Justin,” I said, pulling into my parents’ driveway, “you don’t have to tell me anything. I know about your sexuality and I want you to know that I will always accept you. I’m your big sister and I’ll always love you.”
“Do you really mean that?”
“Of course I do. And you know, they’ll have to accept it, too. I know it will be hard, but it’s time for us all to stop living these lies. I’ve gone through some things recently myself. And I just realized how lucky I am. I just want us all to be happy.”
