AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Weston changed the subject and talked about his night at work and a small kitchen fire they put out while we all ate, but as soon as the table grew quiet, Beverly spoke up.
“So, Parker. You’re such a gorgeous girl. I have to believe you have a boyfriend, yes?” she asked, spooning seconds of my sweet potato casserole onto her plate.
My back went straight and my eyes flew to Parker. I instantly went all momma bear. I didn’t know how this was going to go and I was prepared to boot people out on their asses if need be.
But Parker didn’t even look up from her plate. She just gave a shrug of her shoulders and said, “Nope, no boyfriend. I’m gay.”
I swallowed down a juicy ass piece of turkey that all of a sudden felt dry as hell.
West looked at me and then at his mom and then at Parker before repeating the whole thing again, also on high alert.
But his momma only swallowed her sweet potatoes and asked, “So a girlfriend then?”
My body sagged in relief and I looked over at Parker, a smile creeping over her face as she looked at Bev.
“No, G-ma. No girlfriend,” she said, looking like she was trying to hold in a laugh.
“Well, I think Mable’s granddaughter is around your age and I believe she’s gay, too. Maybe we can all get together and have din—”
“Mom!” Weston interjected at the same time Alan yelled, “Bev, that’s enough!”
And me and Parker? We just fell out laughing. And soon everyone was laughing, too. All of us hysterically laughing until tears streamed from our eyes.
It was wonderful and like a balm to my battered soul.
And then we cleared the table and had dessert and coffee in the living room where Alan and Bev must have asked Parker a million questions about what she liked and what she wanted to be one day and what she did in her spare time.
It looked like Bev’s claim of G-ma wasn’t just for show. She wanted to know it all.
When the evening grew late and we were all tired, Bev and Alan kissed us all goodbye and Bev made sure to tell me what a wonderful mother I must be to have such an amazing daughter.
It was high compliments coming from the woman who’d also raised an amazing kiddo. So I felt like I was flying high when they left. It had been such a good day with an actual family that loved each other and they’d accepted us right in tenfold.
It had been a wonderful day. One like I’d never experienced. I vowed that I’d always remember it. Our first time with the Reeveses.
“I can still go tonight, right, Mom?” Parker asked as soon as the house was empty save for me, her, and Weston.
I bit my lip, regretting my earlier decision. It was dark. I was nervous.
“Go where?” Weston asked.
“Mom said I could take the truck out and meet some friends at the movies tonight,” she answered.
He smiled at her, not a worry in the world. “That sounds fun.”
It did not sound fun. It sounded dangerous.
“I didn’t say you could. I said I would think about it,” I interjected.
Weston looked at me. “I think this is a good trial run. The movie isn’t far away and if Parker makes good decisions and does the mature thing and drives there and right back, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Ugh. He was right. But damn it. This was my baby.
“Fine,” I said, letting out a nervous breath. “But you need to be back by ten.”
“Thank you so much,” she said, looking more at Weston than at me, then darted to her room where I was sure she was changing clothes.
I took the opportunity to dart to my room, too. I pulled my dress over my head and snatched one of Weston’s T-shirts he left here out of my drawers and pulled it over my head, hoping it would comfort me like Andy’s cap did.
