I nodded.
She stood and I knew by her manner she was done, likely keen to get away before Gray came home so I stood with her.
“Best go,” she muttered.
“Right,” I muttered back.
She looked up at me. “Thanks for giving me time, Ivey.”
“Thanks for taking the time to come and talk to me, Norrie.”
She again studied me and the small smile back. The sad one.
Then she whispered, “Glad Gray found a good, strong one.”
Oh God.
She kept going.
“Hold on tight, Ivey.”
“I will,” I promised and I would, I knew that definitely.
She nodded and moved toward her car.
I called, “Norrie,” and she stopped and turned back. “I’ll tell Gray what you told me.”
She shook her head. “Not why I told you that, sweetheart.”
“I know, but I’ll still tell Gray.”
She held my eyes then she nodded again. “Okay, Ivey.”
“Be well,” I said softly.
“You too and stay safe.”
It was my turn to nod.
She moved to her SUV, got in, started it up and drove away.
I watched the lane.
Then I went inside to check on my cakes.
They were out and on the wire rack cooling when the backdoor opened. I turned to it to see Sonny had swung his upper body in, hand still on the knob.
“You good?” he asked, his eyes sharp on me.
“Yeah, Sonny. I’m good,” I answered quietly.
“Lived through Abel losin’ her,” Sonny announced and I blinked.
He wasn’t done.
“Lived through him bein’ stubborn and not taking her back.”
I drew in breath. Then I nodded.
“Man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do even if what he’s gotta do is a fool thing to do.”
“I guess that’s right,” I replied.
“Know it is,” Sonny returned but he wasn’t done. “When I thought history repeated, ticked me off. But it didn’t. So what you learn from this, girl, all ‘a this shit, and where you find it in you to lead Gray, is that this shit is life. You got it worse than others but everyone has their crosses to bear. You bear ‘em then you keep on keepin’ on and you do it together. ‘Cause shit always passes and you got enough sweet, it always sweeps away the bitter. You and Gray, this’ll be done and you’ll taste your sweet.”
“Sonny,” I smiled, “I’ve had enough bitter to last a lifetime. Now I’m baking cakes in a kitchen that, when I first walked into it, I knew I wanted to walk into it dozens of times every day for the rest of my life and it’s the kitchen of the man who I looked at once and I knew. I knew. And, honey, you know exactly what I knew. There’s nothing that can take away that kind of sweet.”
Sonny stared at me. Then he smiled.
Then he bitched, “I’m dyin’ out here in this heat. I’m gettin’ back to hittin’ it and you’re bringing me a glass of lemonade. Lotsa ice.”
Then he disappeared behind the closed door.
And before I started on the frosting, I took out a glass of lemonade with lots of ice to Sonny.
* * * * *
Five hours later…
“Should I not have told you?” I asked quietly.
I was lounging mostly on Gray but partly on the couch and I’d just told him all about his mother’s visit. The TV was on but I’d hit mute. I had Gray’s undivided attention and he had mine.
I just couldn’t catch hold of any of the expressions warring for prominence on his face.
Then he settled on one and that was mild annoyance.
“Why would you not tell me?” Gray asked back.
“Just that…” I paused, “you’re dealing with a lot. You don’t need more.”
“Firstly, dollface, don’t ever keep anything from me and especially not something important. Secondly, this is a small town, learn that, shit gets around. You keep something from me it’s likely I’ll find out about it. And lastly, yeah, we’re dealing with a lot. But I’m not about to have a nervous breakdown.”
“Right,” I whispered.
He rolled us, switching positions so I was on my back and he was pressed the length of me. I could internally debate the merits of both positions, probably for years, but suddenly being in this one, I liked it better.
Gray took my mind off his long, hard body pressed into mine when he spoke.
“We figured it out about Prisc, suspected Cecily and we knew about Buddy. Don’t care about that shit and I’ll say, right now, better late than never doesn’t wash with that shit Prisc let herself get sucked into. She wants to make amends, she can do it. But she’ll feel no forgiveness from me. Twenty years from now, we’ll see. Right now and for the future, I don’t give a shit about what stupid reasons led to stupid actions. Yeah?”