Misfit(134)

“No, Fee, wait.” Stretch had come this far, so he wouldn’t turn away now. “I flew in, expecting things to be different between us, Mom.”

She lifted her chin. “I expected the same, then you bring your boyfriend. It was like a slap in my face. Harry, Dillon, everyone warned me that you were still practicing your filthy ways. I thought our refusal to see you when you were beat up would straighten you up. It seems as if I was wrong.”

“Ophelia and I are lovers,” he said, not lying. He just neglected to tell his mother that Cash was also part of the equation. “I’ve accepted that there are parts of me you’ll never understand.”

“What is there to understand?” she flung back bitterly, tears watering her eyes. “Your choices are shameful.”

“Why are we staying?” Fee demanded as he guided her to a pew near the back of the church. He wouldn’t even view his father’s body. That meant walking down the aisle and drawing attention. “I know she’s your mom, but she’s being so mean to you. You deserve better than that.”

“It wasn’t as if I chose her to be my mother. She wanted me here.”

“Obviously, that’s no longer the case.”

Stretch had always believed his father had a lot to do with his mother’s treatment of him. Now that he was gone, he’d hoped he and his mom would become close again. Later, today, he’d give it one last shot.

At the gravesite, Stretch managed to finagle him and Fee a spot on the front row.

“Brother King can rest in peace,” the minister said, his gaze narrowing on Stretch. “In my estimation, his son has seen the light.” He smiled gently at Lena. “You may yet become a grandma before being called to glory.”

Dillon snickered. “Not unless you can drop a seed in a fag’s ass.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Fee snarled, jumping to her feet, dodging Stretch’s attempt to catch her.

“The jig is up, honey,” Dillon went on, ignoring the fact that Fee was storming down the row of chairs toward him. “We all know you not really his woman. Once a wall facer, always a wall facer.”

Fee reached Dillon just as he finished his vicious words. “Once an asshole, always an asshole.” Balling her fist, she planted it against his left eye, catching him off guard and knocking him off the chair.

Stunned, Stretch hurried to her and grabbed her waist. “Fee!” Her Zoann-like justice was completely out of character.

She struggled against Stretch’s hold, but he managed to keep his grip.

“Aunt Lena,” another of Stretch’s cousins called, “you know we been here for you all these years. None of us gonna desert you. It’s not right to be in the same room with your son. Or daughter. Whatever he is.”

“Now, now,” the preacher said, attempting to bring calm as Dillon picked his ass up. “Let’s finish this burial, folks. Then we can retire to Lena’s house for the repast. It’s not like Louise, er Louis, has a contagious disease. Nobody can catch whatever he thinks he is.”

Fee stilled at the minister’s pretended error. “Who are you people?”

“We were his family,” Dillon sneered, holding his eye.

“Son,” Lena began tearfully. “You know I love you, but it’s best if you leave.”

“Right, Mom,” Stretch said, his mother’s words cutting through him. “Thanks for your loyalty.”

“Louis, I’m amongst family. They’re all I have.”

From this moment on, his mother was as dead to him as his father.

“She knows where her bread and butter is,” Dillon called out, smirking at him. “It’s not with her ladyboy.”

“You’re a stupid jerk, Dillon,” Fee yelled. “Stop saying those things about him. Whether you or anyone else believes it, I am Stretch’s girlfriend.”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Dillon said sarcastically. “You’re a girl and you’re his friend. Put that together and you get girlfriend.”

Fee growled and lunged, unbalancing Stretch and knocking Dillon off his feet, pounding against his face. “You fucking bigot. Die!”

Grunting, Stretch pulled himself up, using his cane to stabilize himself. Uncle Harry pried Fee from Dillon. As livid as she was, she elbowed the man hard enough to make him stumble back. Right into the casket. It slid to the edge of the carriage. One more push would tip it over.

“Get this crazy woman out of here!” Harry demanded, then rounded on Stretch. “Leave it to you to bring an ignorant floozy to such a solemn ceremony. I should’ve shoved that pole up your ass instead of beating you with it.”