“I imagine the gossip will be in full force by tonight, but there will be questions, I’m sure,” Pearl chuckled.
“Phone already been ringing?” Addy asked as the skillet heated up.
“First thing this morning,” Sonny piped up from his place at the table. “Rumors spread faster than the speed of light in a small town. What happened to cause all this?”
Addy told them about Lylah and Vivien eavesdropping in the Walmart store. “We said just enough that they know Jesse is Mia’s father.” She went on to tell Pearl that she had taken full responsibility for Jesse not knowing. “That should take the heat off him so folks don’t think he’s been a horrible person.”
“You done good, girl.” Pearl smiled.
“Yes, you did.” Sonny laid his paper aside.
“I hope so, but I bet there’ll be some whispers at the baby shower tonight,” Addy said.
“I’m sure there will be, and I bet since y’all were buying baby clothes that those two gossipin’ women think one or both of you are expecting a baby. Lylah and Vivien are going to look a little foolish when they find out that neither of my girls are pregnant,” Sonny commented and went back to his newspaper.
“Good mornin’.” Jesse pushed his way into the kitchen.
“You’re mighty chipper, son.” Sonny looked up over the top of his paper this time.
Jesse filled a mug with coffee and then carried the pot to the table to top off his dad’s cup. “Yes, I am. I had a job offer from my old Air Force teammate yesterday. He offered me a six-figure salary and a big benefit package to work with him and my team in private security. I turned him down because this place right here is where my heart is, so I am happy and chipper this morning. I’ve figured out where I want to be for the rest of my life, and I’m at peace with the decision.”
“Good for you,” Sonny said.
Pearl stopped what she was doing and hugged Jesse. “I’m so glad to hear that. I would never want any of my boys to be here unless their heart was in ranching.”
“Well, mine is,” Jesse said.
“Yours is what?” Mia asked as she entered the room by the back door and went straight for the coffeepot.
“My heart is right here on this ranch, and I’m not leaving,” he answered.
Mia poured a mugful of coffee, added sugar and cream, and took a sip. “That’s good to know after that phone call you got yesterday. Did you and Mama discuss Frankie’s offer over your snow cones last night? And did Mama get a coconut cream like she always does? She never changes her flavor.”
“We did and she did, and I got the same kind.” Jesse smiled.
“Y’all are getting old.” Mia yawned. “I got up early and did the alpaca feeding and got their troughs cleaned and refilled. It’s amazing how dirty that water can get in only a day.”
“Ranchin’ is never done,” Sonny said. “It’s kind of like a relationship. You’ve got to work at it constantly.”
“You got that right,” Addy said.
* * *
Just as she had thought, the minute that Addy and Pearl walked into the fellowship hall that evening after a short Wednesday night Bible study, the buzz of conversation ceased.
“Hello, everyone,” Pearl said. “This party is not about Addison or Mia or even me and Sonny tonight. This is Gloria Sue’s party to celebrate the birth of her new baby daughter, who will be here in about a month. So let’s get the rumors settled and let it be her night. To begin with, Mia is indeed Jesse’s daughter. He didn’t know until he retired from the service. Addy probably deserves a crown for having the best-kept secret for the past twenty years. To end with, neither Addy nor Mia are pregnant. They were buying presents for this shower last night when Lylah and Vivien overheard them talking. Now that’s settled, let’s let Gloria Sue open her presents and enjoy this event.”
“I don’t believe you,” Lylah whispered when Addy sat down right beside her.
“What’s that old saying?” Addy pretended to be thinking. “Oh, I remember: Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see.”
“If Mia is having my grandchild, I will get grandparent’s rights. I’ve already talked to a lawyer about Justine’s kid and asked for a DNA test,” Lylah continued to whisper.
“Be careful,” Addy told her in a low voice. “You could wind up supporting that little guy for eighteen years or else visiting your son in jail if he doesn’t pay support. She told you that she didn’t want anything from you or your son.”
“He’s not Ricky’s kid. I’m just proving it,” Lylah said.
“If he is, you could be out thousands and thousands of dollars in child support, plus lawyer fees, so be sure this is what you want, and not revenge,” Addy said and raised her voice. “Oh, look at that cute little romper. It will be perfect for the new baby girl.”
“Maybe Jesse should ask for a DNA test since you were so secretive about things,” Lylah hissed through clenched teeth.
“Now, you are getting into none-of-your-business territory, and honey, you don’t want to go there.” Addy smiled sweetly.
Lylah got up and moved to the other side of the room. Vivien followed right behind her like a little puppy dog.
The gifts had all been opened and displayed on a table, and the hostesses were serving refreshments when Addy’s phone vibrated. She fished it out of the pocket of her flowing gauze skirt, expecting it to be Mia, but it was Jesse.
“Hello, I thought you might be Mia.” She stepped out into the hallway, where it was quieter.
“I’m in the ambulance with Dad. He collapsed. He’s awake, but he can’t say a word,” Jesse whispered. “Bring Mama straight to the hospital in Bonham, please, Addy.”
“We’re on our way. Hang in there. We’ll be right behind you,” Addy said. “Jesse, this is a side effect of that trial drug. Grady will know what to do. Ask for him when you get there.”
“How do you know that?” Jesse asked.
“I studied every aspect of those drugs before Sonny started taking them. See you in a few minutes.” She ended the call and crossed the room to where Pearl was talking to a couple of the hostesses. “We’ve got to go right now,” she whispered in Pearl’s ear.
“Is it Sonny?” Pearl asked.
“Yes, but let’s just leave quietly so there’s not a lot of drama,” Addy said.
Pearl picked up her purse. Addy did the same and they slipped out the side door.
“What’s happened?” Pearl asked, breathless and paler than Addy had ever seen her. “Is Sonny okay?”
“Jesse’s on the way with him to the hospital. Sounds like he’s got stroke symptoms, probably from that trial drug he’s been taking.” Addy worked hard to stay calm and matter-of-fact as she got behind the wheel of her car.
Pearl clasped her hands in her lap. “Will he be okay?”
“If it’s just a side effect of the drug, he should be okay once it’s out of his system. We’ll know more as soon as Grady has had a chance to check him out.” Addy hated not to have better news, but she also didn’t want to make any false promises.