True for You(39)
“Yes.”
We start to leave, but Jackson’s mother stop us. “Where are you going?”
“Bliss is tired.”
“Then take her to your old room and put her to bed.”
“No.”
Kathy’s eyes flash, her lips thinning. “Don’t you dare disobey me.”
Everett shows up out of nowhere. “Don’t make a scene, darlin’. All these people are here to see you.”
“And I see you, showing off your latest floozy.” She grabs my arm and jerks me to her. “How long have you been sleeping with him?”
I’m so shocked that I blurt, “We waited until we got married.”
A few people, the ones standing the closest to us, snicker.
“Not my son,” Kathy says, her eyes as black as night. “My husband, you little slut.”
Jackson’s face turns livid and before I can defend myself, he growls, “Apologize, before I cause a scene, and let everyone know what you really do in Florida.”
“I’m sorry for assuming you were a slut, like the rest of the girls that come here,” she sniffs.
Everett links his arm through his wife’s, tugging her along. I have no choice but to follow since she won’t let go of me. He doesn’t stop until we’re in his office, and Jackson closes the door behind us.
“Unhand, Bliss,” Everett says, lighting a cigar. “She hasn’t done anything. It’s all him.”
Jackson steps in front of his dad. “Still waiting on a real apology, Kathy.”
Kathy lets go of me. “Don’t you dare call me that. I’m your mother.”
“Crystal Newton is my mother.”
Shrieking, Kathy slaps Jackson so hard that his head whips to one side.
Without thinking, I shove her, shouting, “Get away from him.” Her arms flail, and she falls right on her butt.
“Damn it, Jackson,” Everett roars, helping his wife up. She clings to him. “For one night, couldn’t you keep your mouth shut?”
I see red. I can’t help it. “Don’t you blame Jackson. You were supposed to keep him safe, and you didn’t.”
“Bliss.” Jackson takes me by the shoulders, turning me to face him. His mother’s handprint is a vivid red on the side of his face. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay,” I cry. “They’re supposed to protect you, not hurt you and make you hide outside because you’re scared.” I’m shaking I’m so mad for him.
“It wasn’t that bad, baby doll.”
“Yes, it was,” I insist.
How can he defend them? When the Coreys first started putting their hands on me, I told everyone and no one believed me, because the Coreys were such nice people. People who went to church on Sunday, worked for the government, and went to little league games and dance recitals, but no one knew the truth. No one but me and the kids living in that house.
“I remember how bad it was for you. I remember the bruises on your arm, and how you couldn’t sit down, because she’d hit you. You couldn’t even sing a happy song for me, and you were only eight. Who doesn’t know happy songs at eight years old?”
“How do you know all of that?” Jackson asks, and Everett starts laughing.
“Seems like Bliss has been keeping some secrets from you,” his dad says.
I keep my gaze on Jackson, hoping he understands. “We met when I was a little girl. I was only five and my parents called me June, not Bliss. Actually, I was their June Bliss, but when I got placed in foster care, the lady asked me what I wanted to be called and I picked Bliss.” I swallow, unable to vocalize how I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone calling me June or worse—Junie, like my mami had.
“You’re Junie.” His eyes widen. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was so long ago. I didn’t think you’d remember, and you never did, not once while we were on tour.”
“That’s not all she kept from you.”
“I don’t care.” He strokes the side of my face, astonishment shining in his dark blue eyes. “I remember you. We played together, and I sang to you.”
“You’ll care about this.” Everett takes Kathy to the nearest chair and helps her into it. “I hired her to keep an eye on you. She was my second choice if you and Violet didn’t work out. I made a promise to her daddy to look out for her, and I kept that promise by allowing her to go off with you. I figured you would do something really stupid, but marrying her…well, that shocked the hell out of me.”
“That’s not true,” I whisper, but Jackson’s looking at me, his jaw hard.