True for You(38)
The other ladies in the room, friends of my mother and mothers of the friends they allowed me to have growing up, rush over. Oohing and awing over Bliss.
Convinced that she’s safe, at least for now, I search for a familiar face, only to find my dad.
Flashing Everett a grateful look as he passes me a tumbler of bourbon, I say, “Thank you.”
“Welcome.” He takes a sip from his glass. “You owe me.”
“For what—doping up Kathy so she’ll act like a normal person?” I set the glass down.
“That, and leaving the tour with her.” He tips his glass in Bliss’ direction. “Not to mention getting married without a pre-nup, staying married without one, and making me lose a shit-ton of money.”
“That tour was collapsing on its own, because you decided to bring on one of your new girls,” I point out.
Everett grunts. “Callie needed motivation.”
“Callie needs therapy, because of you.” I need therapy because of him and my mother.
“Look, I know we don’t see eye-to-eye, but I’ve never stolen a dime from you, I’ve never negotiated a bad contract, and I’ve always had your best interests at heart,” he says, gazing over the rim of his glass. A familiar move meant to make him look more thoughtful than he sounds. “Give me some credit, Jackson.”
“I’m not giving you any more than your fifteen percent.”
I spot Bliss. She’s wringing her hands together and looking back at me. She needs me, and we need to leave. I don’t care about this party, or the pile of presents I just spotted in the corner.
“Don’t.” Everett grabs my arm and digs his fingers into my skin. “Let Kathy enjoy this.”
I jerk out of his grasp. “Don’t. Ever. Touch. Me. Again.”
A look of admiration enters my dad’s eyes, and I want to puke. “Good to know Bliss didn’t castrate you. Make sure you keep her in line.”
“Women aren’t my enemy, you sorry fucker. You are.” Forcing a smile onto my face, I plunge into the crowd to get my wife.
Chapter Eighteen
Bliss
The majority of the women are giving me these fake little smiles. They remind me of Callie, Jackson’s ex, right before she would say something cruel to me.
Then the questions I never thought about answering start.
“How did the two of you meet?”
“On the tour.” Better to keep things simple and not elaborate. Most people will stop asking questions.
“You’re a singer?”
If she only knew how bad I sound when I sing. “No.”
Her brow creases. “Then what did you do?”
Guess that approach won’t work here.
“What didn’t she do?” another one says. My face grows hot.
“Shut up, Courtney.” My “savior” smiles at me. “She’s just jealous. Ignore her.”
Kathy, Jackson’s mother, taps my nose. “She’s a college girl, attending my alma mater, Sweetland.”
“Spring Break’s over.”
“The storm shut everything down for a couple of days,” I say, relieved to be able to not have to resort to lying.
Kathy shoves a card in my face. “This came for you today, from the Governor. He’s a special friend of Everett’s.”
I take it from her. At first glance, I can only make out my name and Jackson’s.
“What does it say?”
“Read it, Bliss.”
“Oh yes, read it, sugar,” Kathy says, beaming at me like she’s a proud momma. But she’s not my momma, and I know what she used to do to Jackson. However, if he can tolerate her, then so can I. “Attention, everyone. My new daughter-in-law has something to share.”
The room goes quiet.
I look at the card again, but the entire thing is in cursive. The words blur in front of my eyes.
Jackson parts the crowd, like Moses parting the sea. Only the sea moves right back in place after him, and there are mermaids are trying to catch his attention.
Our gazes lock, and I want to cry in relief. He’s coming to save me.
“Let’s read this together, okay?” he says, wrapping me in his arms. “She’s very shy, unlike me,” he tells the crowd, and they laugh. Some of the older ladies sigh.
We read it together, me not really doing anything, but mumbling along. I have no idea what I’m reading, because the only thing I’m aware of is Jackson’s voice in my ear and his scent in my lungs.
“They are so cute together, Kathy. I love it.”
“You’ll have to take her under your wing, and show her the ropes.”
I don’t want to learn anything from Kathy. “Can we go home now?”