Calumet, page 26
“You think that’s what happened? It could be Jaxon
dropped her, and she was stuck. That’d be hard to talk
about, and on top of that she was in love with a woman in
high school a million years ago.”
She had to laugh at that. “I didn’t get the vibe that Jaxon
was to blame. It’s not like she could have gotten my mom
pregnant, and that’s the part I still don’t totally get. You
know my mother and my grandmother. Grandma probably
hog-tied her in a closet until she worked all the gay out of
her.” She made a face. “Grandma isn’t my biggest fan.”
“Your grandmother isn’t fond of anyone that I can see.”
“I’m thinking now that she must see my mom’s old friend
when she looks at me. Whatever the hell it is, I just wish my
mom would spill it already.”
“It’s a messed-up situation, but they’re still willing to help
you when we leave after graduation right?” Adeline’s
parents were pushing her to stay close to home, but they
thought Baton Rouge would be enough space to get them
used to the idea. What they hadn’t told their parents was
they really wanted to move out of state. “Living in a dorm
for the whole four years isn’t what I want.”
“We’ll be okay. I doubt my mom will cut me off. No
matter where we’re going. If they do get pissed that we’re
not going to LSU, I’ll talk to Miss Landry and see what other
scholarships I can get that would take us out of state.” She
went under Adeline’s shirt and flattened her hand against
her back. The first time she’d touched Adeline intimately,
her life had finally made sense. Where she’d never had that
sense of place, with Adeline she had that as well as
someone who loved her for her.
“Baby, I’ll follow you wherever, and if we need to get
jobs, we will. All we have to do is promise right now that
we’ll make it. I can’t lose you.”
“I love you, and I’ll dig ditches for a living if I have to if
that’s what it takes to keep you.” She lifted her head and
kissed Adeline. “How about your parents?”
“They said they’ll support me no matter where we go.
There’ll be no ditch-digging in your future. Trust me—we’re
going, but I think there’s another option,” Adeline said,
kissing her again.
“What?” She moved her hands up higher and unfastened
her bra.
“I think you need to talk to Jaxon. My mom won’t tell me
the whole story because of your mom, but my dad told me a
little while you were talking to her. She worked her way
through school because her parents cut her off because
she’s gay. The history is already there, babe, and all we
need to do is learn from her mistakes.”
“I’ve met her mother. The woman’s totally bitchy.”
“If you fucking throw your kid away like they’re a cat you
don’t want, you’d have to be.” Adeline lifted up and stripped
her shirt off. “Right now, I don’t want to talk about that. I
want you to show me all the things I know you can do right.”
The tease made her laugh but her laughter stopped
when Adeline threw her bra aside. They were young, and
people didn’t understand what they meant to each other,
but she’d found the one person she’d be with for the rest of
her life. If her mom had been in the same position and gave
it up, she’d understand the misery she’d been in for a long
time.
“I love you.” That she was planning to do until her last
day.
* * *
Jaxon called Margot, and it went to voice mail yet again.
The urge to talk to her was high, but she had to get ready
for the night. She was about to take her pants off when
someone knocked on her door. If it was another old
classmate wanting to unburden themselves or show her
another love child she didn’t know about, she’d either have
to start drinking heavily or take a nap.
“Hey,” she said to the young woman who was at the
front desk most afternoons. “Did I forget something?”
“No, but you’ve been checked out.”
“Not until tomorrow, so I hope you didn’t give my room
away. If I have to sleep in my car, you’re getting a horrible
TripAdvisor review. I love writing them.” She opened the
door wider when the woman made a motion to come in.
“No, nothing like that. Birdie Lavigne called and took care
of your bill, and she said you were staying with her tonight
after the reunion.”
“I guess if my grandmother says that’s what’s going to
happen, I shouldn’t argue.”
“No, you shouldn’t, since I’m not taking a chance to get
on her bad side.” The woman placed a drink on the desk
and pointed to it. “She also said to drink that before you go.
I wouldn’t argue about that either, since I also graduated in
this town.”
“Thanks.” She saw the woman out and locked the door. A
hot shower relaxed her, and she stayed in longer than she’d
planned. All she had to do now was get dressed, pick Bert
up, and pray she didn’t punch anyone in the face before
they left. With Daniel on the force, she’d probably be driven
to a swamp and strung up.
“You ready for this?” Bert asked an hour later as he
stared at her bags in the back seat. “Or is your plan to make
a run for it?”
“Birdie checked me out, so I can stay with her tonight,
and one snarky comment too many tonight, and you’d
better pray one of these guys drives for Uber. Besides, I was
able to put a ghost or two to rest today.” The drive to the
high school brought back a slew of memories that revolved
around getting there every morning and seeing Iris. They
didn’t have every class together, but it was nice to share all
that time with her. If she could go back and talk to her
younger self, she’d have to warn her about first loves and
how painful they could be. She still wouldn’t have skipped it,
but having a glimpse of where she’d end up would’ve
helped.
“Don’t worry. I’ve been to only one of these, and no one
talked to me. After thirty minutes of that, I headed home
and sat with my mom and ate ice cream. The thing to
understand is all those cliques that we knew in high school
still exist. There’s no changing them, but I’m glad I’m
walking in there with you this time. I’m going to take your
example. We’ll tell them who we are and what we do, and
then they can suck it.” Bert straightened his bow tie, and
she had to admit he looked nice. He cleaned up well when
he decided to leave the pocket protector at home.
“I doubt anyone in there is as cool as you, buddy. Do they
at least have alcohol?” The parking lot was surprisingly full,
and she had to park on the street.
“Your question should be if they have good alcohol, and
the answer is no. Whoever buys for this must think we’re all
still in high school and can’t afford anything better than Mad
Dog 20 / 20. That and keg beer are about as good as it
gets.” Bert laughed and followed her as she weaved through
the cars to the door. “Also, the gym still smells the same,
and that’s not a good thing.”
“That all sounds so enticing. I can’t wait.” The music was
blaring when she opened the door, and it might have been a
good thing that it would make it hard to talk to anyone.
Whatever conversations were going on stopped when they
walked in. “Wow, they seem so happy to see us.”
A woman walked up and held her hand out. “Jaxon, it’s
good to see you again.”
She took it but had no recollection of who this was.
“Thank you.”
The woman hadn’t let go of her hand. “Nancy Lyons, I
married Pete from the café. He told me he talked to you.”
“Sorry, it’s been a while. He did, and it’s nice seeing
you.”
That was the first of many people who came up and
introduced themselves. She took the opportunity to talk
about Bert and what he was doing on campus. It was funny
to see them glance to wherever Bert was and nod their
heads. From what she could tell, their class had produced
some attorneys, two medical doctors, and plenty of people
involved in the oil field. The majority of their classmates
didn’t live very far away and really did hang out with the
same friends they had in high school.
Once she got them engaged with Bert, she sat with a
warm beer that must’ve been brewed in the colonial days. It
was humorous to see their class bullies standing around
Bert, listening to whatever he was saying. The way they
were shaking Bert’s hand and slapping him on the back
made her think everyone had the ability to evolve.
She was happy to let Bert have his moment. At least
they’d turned the music down to a dull roar to make talking
easier. There was no one she was looking for but was
surprised not to see Iris and Daniel in the group. She hoped
they weren’t staying away because of her. She allowed
herself to contemplate the last few days.
Sean was now sixteen and had lived here for all that
time. If she was a secret, she was the biggest open secret in
the town’s history. The only thing missing was a neon sign
hovering over her head with an arrow pointing down.
“Hey.” The greeting was gruff, and she had to turn
around to see who it was. Daniel was alone and had his
hands jammed in his pockets.
“Daniel.” It was the safest thing she could think to say. “I
promise I didn’t speed getting here.” The comeback fell flat,
and she expected it to. She waited for Daniel to make his
move.
“Iris said you talked to our daughter.” The way he said it
was a blatant act of possession. If there was a tree nearby
he’d pee on it to mark his territory.
My kid, my wife, my life—stay back or I’ll make you sorry.
That was the message she got. “I did. She came to me and
asked to talk about some things. I didn’t go looking for her,
if you’re accusing me of something.”
“I’m not, but I’m sure you’ll want a relationship with her
now. She’s a good kid, but I don’t want you putting things in
her head that’ll give us a hard time.” He sat across from her
and kept his hands in his pockets. It appeared
uncomfortable and hopefully meant he wouldn’t stay long.
“I didn’t know you even had children until she walked up
and introduced herself. Hell, I had no idea you and Iris had
gotten married, and getting involved in your life is the last
thing I’m thinking about.” She’d give someone a thousand
dollars for a decent drink, but she wasn’t desperate enough
to take another sip of this swill they’d served her. “If she
calls me, I did promise I’d talk to her, but to give advice,
nothing more.”
“She probably told you I hate her,” he said, and his body
relaxed a bit. “I don’t. It was a surprise when she was born,
but I gave her my name and tried my best. Your shadow has
been large, though.”
“That’s not the impression I got. It’s been a long time,
but I doubt the Iris I knew would’ve married you unless she
loved you. That you have two kids means she hasn’t given
me much thought since I left.” She pushed the plastic cup
aside and tapped her foot. “I’m not here to take anything
away from you that belongs fully to you. Understand?”
He finally pulled his hands free and produced a flask,
then stood to get two new cups. “I’m not sure why they
can’t get anything decent.” He poured two equal shares of
amber liquor. “And thanks. You could’ve given me shit as
payback.”
“I’d like to think we’ve both matured a little. And for what
it’s worth, she is a good kid. You did a good job, and I think
all teenagers are hardwired to hate their parents at some
time or other. It’s why I don’t teach high school.” She lifted
her cup and tapped it against his. “And if you’re dead set
against me talking to her, I’ll let her know that.”
“And have her find some other reason to blame me for
something? No, thank you. Just do me a favor.”
She wondered if the guy from The Twilight Zone was
going to appear and start to narrate what was happening
because she didn’t understand. “Sure, if I can.”
“If she calls and is having a hard time, will you call me? I
don’t ever want her to think she’s alone if things are tough.”
“That’s something I can do.” She smiled when Iris walked
up and put her arms around Daniel’s neck and kissed the
top of his head. “Why don’t you dance with your wife? I
think these other guys need an example of how it’s done.”
He seemed to think about it before he walked away, but
he did stick out his hand. “Thanks, Jaxon.”
“No problem.” She waved them off and laughed as she
saw some of the women run to the middle of the gym and
start a line dance when the music cranked up again.
She couldn’t be sure, but the moves looked like some
they’d all mastered in high school. The way their male
counterparts shook their heads and just stood around
watching when the dancers invited them to join in hadn’t
changed at all in sixteen years. At least she hoped acne
cream wasn’t a big step in their daily hygiene routine now.
The song ended, and the DJ started a slow song. It was one
Margot loved, and it made her wish time would go faster, so
she could get home.
Jax laughed a little harder when the men still couldn’t be
enticed to the floor. Then she saw what they were watching
instead and couldn’t blame them. If there was something
she could do all day, every day, for the rest of her life, it was
watch Margot Drake walk across a room. She hadn’t
expected her to be walking across this one, so she waited to
see what Margot had in mind. At least now she knew why
she wasn’t answering her phone.
“It’s not a prom dress, but I hope it’ll do,” Margot said.
She laughed when Jax just smiled and nodded. “I see you
wore a nice suit, Professor. Did you polish the boots?”
Another nod and Margot put her hands on her hips as if
waiting for her to make the next move.
“Margot?”
“Yes, Jaxon?”
“Would you dance with me?”
Daniel was the first one in his circle of friends to let his
mouth hang open in shock when Margot took Jax’s hand and
followed her to the dance floor. Maybe there was a small
part of herself that relished the reaction Margot usually got
in a crowd of alpha males, who never seemed to understand
why she wasn’t interested in any of them. That Margot was
going home with her made her want to puff her chest out a
little, and she let herself laugh at the feeling.
“Can I admit that I missed you more than I can ever
explain? I love that you’re here.” She put her arms around
Margot, who felt wonderful when they started swaying to
the music.
“I owe Judith a ton of favors for letting me come, but I
missed you too. I can’t spend another night alone, and it’s
good to hear you can’t live without me.” Margot ran her
hands up her lapels and put them behind her neck.
“I’m glad you’re here.” She held Margot closer and was
ready to leave when Margot kissed her neck right over her
pulse point.
“You all right, baby?” Margot laughed and it gave her
goose bumps.
“You do have ways of unraveling me, but I will be fine
eventually. Your fifteen-year reunion, you said. Think how
much you can put to rest, you said.” She laughed when
Margot rolled her eyes at her. “We live in California, and
that’s where we should’ve stayed. I keep trying to tell you
that small towns in Louisiana are full of people who think the
West Coast is one big cult full of wackos led by Barbra
Streisand.”
“Baby, you need to practice that deep breathing I keep
trying to teach you.” Margot pinched her lips closed and
blew her a kiss. “I was talking more about Sean than your
family or anything else.”
“I’m kidding, and after I had some time to think about it,
I’m okay, for the most part.” She pulled back a little so she
