“Get out of my way, Addison Hall.” Lylah’s freckled face was scarlet with anger. “I’ve got something to say to those girls, and I intend to get it off my chest.”
“This is not the time or place,” Addy said low enough for Lylah’s ears only. “If you want to yell at them, accuse them, or anything else, do it somewhere other than the church. Matter of fact, you can come by Sunflower Ranch tomorrow afternoon and tell them off there.”
“But if you want this to be the time and place, I’d be glad to take the first swing,” Betsy told her.
Lylah looked down on them like they were something she had stepped on out in the pasture. “Get out of my way, or I’ll put you both on the floor.”
Pearl stepped between the two women and held out her hands. “We aren’t doing this here, Lylah.”
Lylah pointed at Mia and Justine. “Those two are spreading rumors about my boy, and your son fired Pete for refusing to work with Addison’s bastard kid.”
“Enough!” Pearl’s voice went all high and squeaky. “Either go man your table or get out of here, Lylah.”
“You would take up for her and that brat of a daughter she’s raised,” Lylah smarted off. “You’re not running me off. I’ve supported this church my whole life, but I will have my say one of these days. Those two over there have lied about my boy so much that he doesn’t feel like he can even come home.”
“What about the girl over in Bonham raising your other grandson?” Addy asked. “Is she lying about him, too, and what about the fact that he’s talked all three girls into getting the same tattoo on their backs, kind of like branding them as his property?”
“What are you talking about?” Lylah asked.
Addy motioned for her daughter to come over. “You should see something.”
Mia and Justine left their posts and came over to stand in front of Lylah.
“I would like for you girls to show Lylah the tattoos that her son convinced you to get,” Addy said.
They turned around backward and raised their shirts.
“And there’s another one in Bonham,” Justine said. “Ricky is your son, and he can’t do anything wrong in your eyes, but he’s a different guy around us girls, Miz O’Malley. All you would have to do is look at Matty, and you wouldn’t have a single doubt who his father is, but after what you’ve said and the rumors you’ve spread about me, and Mia, too, now, that ain’t likely to happen. I don’t want you anywhere near my son or for your influence to ever be a part of his life.”
“I’ll see him when you bring him to church.” Lylah’s voice had lost some of its cutting edge.
“But you’d have to prove yourself to ever hold him or acknowledge him as your grandson, and I don’t think you are capable of that.” Justine didn’t raise her voice and even smiled a couple of times. “Come on, Mia. I think the bake sale is going to start in about two minutes. We’ve got a job to do.”
“If I believed you, and if that baby is really Ricky’s, then I have grandparent’s rights,” Lylah said.
“Not if Ricky doesn’t pay me child support, and I’m sure he’s too busy getting some other girl a rose tat these days to do that.” Justine turned around and marched back to her post with Mia right behind her.
Lylah went back to her chair beside Vivien and slumped down into it. They were still whispering when Pearl unlocked the door into the fellowship hall and folks began to pour inside.
“Good job,” Mia said to Justine.
“I couldn’t have done it without you being right there beside me,” Justine said.
Betsy nudged Addy on the arm. “What Justine just said.”
“What Mia said.” Addy couldn’t wait to go to the bunkhouse that evening and tell Jesse exactly what had happened.
Chapter Eighteen
Addy set the last glass of sweet tea on the table and made sure everything was ready before she took her seat. When she did, her bare foot touched Jesse’s, and a whole new set of sparks danced around the kitchen.
Sonny said a quick grace and then grinned at Pearl. “Looked like your bake sale went well.”
“We had a sell-out except for one chocolate pie that Vivien brought,” Pearl said. “Bless her heart, she tries, so I bought it there at the end. That way we could say that we sold everything that was brought.”
“Why are you saying bless her heart?” Jesse asked.
“It’s a bought one from the frozen department at the grocery store. She takes it home, thaws it out, and adds a layer of whipped cream to the top,” Addy said.
“According to her, the whipped cream out of a squirt can makes it homemade,” Pearl explained. “It’s over there on the counter if anyone wants some for dessert.”
“Not when there’s an applesauce cake waiting for me,” Jesse said. “Did you make enough for the new washer and dryer?” He moved his foot over a few inches so that he could play footsies with Addy.
When she pulled her foot back, he just stretched out those long legs a bit more and massaged her foot with his toes.
“Yes, we did and more. We can restock the pantry with those canned hams that go so fast when folks need help,” Pearl answered. “Did you two buy a bull?”
“Thinkin’ about it.” Sonny helped himself to a second slice of the pizza they had picked up in Bonham. “It’s a fine bull, but Vernon wants a little too much. I’ll wait a few days and make him an offer. What’s this about you stepping into the middle of a big fight, Pearl?”
“Somebody”—she cut her eyes around at him—“stole my thunder.”
“Gossip travels fast, Mama,” Jesse chuckled, and tucked his feet back under his chair.
He was flirting big time, and Addy liked it, but she wasn’t one hundred percent sure their friendship was worth losing if things went south. “Lylah was just smarting off, but Pearl put her in her place real quick.”
“I’d say that Justine stepped up to the plate and did that far better than I could. When she and Mia both showed off the exact same tattoos on their backs, Lylah kind of settled down,” Pearl said. “If those things had been acceptable for girls back in my day, I would have had a sunflower put on my back, or maybe my hip. That way, it would be for Sonny and no one else.”
“Nana, if you want a tat, you can still get one.” Mia got a second slice of the pepperoni pizza and took a bite.
“Honey, gravity got my skin a long time ago. My sunflower would have so many wrinkles in it that it would look wilted,” Pearl chuckled. “I was glad to see you and Justine talking this afternoon.”
“We’re going for ice cream this evening. I’m picking her up at seven, and we’re taking Matty with us so I can meet him,” Mia said. “I guess y’all can survive without me, right?”
“We’ll do our best,” Addy assured her in a serious tone.
“I’ll be home by eight. Justine says an hour is enough of an outing for the baby,” Mia said.
“You do know that you can stay out as late as you want,” Jesse said. “You are a grown-up now.”