“It is about time you and Ramon figured things out.”
A short while later Kenzie found herself cornered in the ladies’ room by Maggie. Kenzie ran the curve of her summer-strawberry-red lipstick over her bottom lip, which was becoming her favorite product from Ravens Cosmetics. Every time she wore it she ended out in some form of make-out session with Ramon. Her pulse raced with excitement. She needed to hurry and get back out there to him.
“What are you talking about?” Kenzie asked her sister.
“Don’t act like you’re reapplying your lipstick because you left it all on your wineglass,” Maggie teased. “We both know you and Ramon have been sneaking off kissing.”
“Well, he has been trying to help keep Auntie Bren off my back.” Even as she said the words, she didn’t believe them.
Judging from the scowl on Maggie’s face, neither did her sister. “Sure, say whatever you want to fool yourself. I’m not going to argue with you.”
“Thank you.”
“On another note, good job on getting Aunt Jody into town.”
Kenzie cleaned up any stray lipstick in the margins of her lips.
“I know, right? I am amazing,” Kenzie boasted playfully.
Maggie rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
“Seriously, though.” Kenzie sobered. “I was shocked she came. I pulled the great-niece card.”
“Bailey,” Maggie said with a thoughtful sigh.
“Who can resist?”
Kenzie turned and rested her hip against the white-and-gray marble countertop of the bathroom. “She certainly can’t resist seeing another Swayne win another crown.”
“Are you ready to give up your reign as the last Swayne to win?”
Kenzie shook her head from side to side. “It is going to be an honor to crown Bailey myself.”
Maggie turned too, folding her arms across her gingham period dress. With her hair tied in two pigtails, Maggie reminded Kenzie of a stand-in for Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.
“And soon Bailey will be crowning a new little baby Torres.” In an attempt to be funny, Maggie reached over to rub her sister’s stomach.
Kenzie slapped her hand away. “Cut that out.”
“Don’t want me to hurt the baby?” Maggie continued to tease.
Kenzie rolled her eyes.
“See, this is the point where you’d stop me and tell me nothing has happened between you and Ramon and that there’s no way you could even remotely be pregnant.”
“There is no way I can be pregnant, Maggie,” Kenzie said with a straight face. She didn’t want to discuss her intimate moments with Ramon with anyone else. Last summer Maggie knew too much. Plus, this way, if things didn’t work out between her and Ramon, she wouldn’t be embarrassed in front of anyone. Sure, last summer, Kenzie should have picked up on his noncommittal attitude. Things were different now. She felt in her heart things had changed.
“You keep kissing him.”
“There’s no harm in kissing.” Kenzie twisted the gold tube of lipstick in her hands.
Someone flushed one of the stalls and the door opened up. Kenzie and Maggie shared a look, their eyes wide at the sight of Auntie Bren waltzing out toward the sink between them. Auntie Bren was dressed in a period piece like those all the founding members of Southwood had worn. She wore a high-necked, off-white gown with black buttons, very First World War.
“If you two think a woman gets pregnant by kissing,” she began slowly in her haughty voice, “it’s no wonder you’re both still single.”
Maggie cackled. “Auntie Bren, aren’t you still single?”
Kenzie reached around her aunt and pinched Maggie’s elbow. “Hush.”
“I’m single by choice,” Auntie Bren answered coolly. “Meanwhile, if you put down all of your electronic devices, both internet-ready and battery-included, you might find a man.”
Maggie gaped. Kenzie tried not to laugh. No way had her eighty-five-year-old aunt just alluded to a vibrator.
“C’mon, Auntie,” Kenzie said, trying to lighten the mood. “We saw you with Oscar Blakemore last week.”
“That old guy?” Maggie reached in the breast lining of her bodice, took out her phone and flipped through it. “This guy?” She angled the phone for both of them to see a beautiful photo of Auntie Bren, in all her royal purple, and Oscar in an embrace.
The corners of Auntie Bren’s lips turned up in a smile but quickly turned down again. “That’s the man I chose not to be with.”
“I don’t understand,” said Maggie. “Is this the guy you wanted to make jealous with Ramon?”
“Mission accomplished,” Kenzie said with a low whistle. “I thought he was going to knock Ramon out.”
At the mention of the incident, Auntie Bren smiled softly. “I’m sorry to have placed him in jeopardy like that. He was such a good sport.”
Maggie rested her hip on the porcelain counter. “Are you going to tell us who that man was to you?”
“That was a boyfriend of mine when I was fifteen.”
“Fifteen?” Maggie and Kenzie chorused.
“What?” Auntie Bren asked innocently. “I wasn’t always the matriarch of this family. I used to have a wild side.”
“So what happened with you and Mr. Oscar?” Maggie asked.
Other women began trickling into the ladies’ room in twos. Auntie Bren took Kenzie’s lipstick and used it on herself. “Oscar went off to serve in World War II. When he returned three years later he was engaged to another woman.”
“And you were heartbroken?” asked Maggie.
“Of course I was. I thought we were going to get married. I doubted myself because of him. I never learned to trust anyone.”
Heartbroken, Kenzie shook her head and reached to hug her aunt. She hated the idea of her aunt being so devastated over one man that she closed her heart to future possibilities. It seemed so lonely. She had a brief taste of that loneliness last summer and compared to the closeness she felt with Ramon now, she never wanted to revisit that dark period in her life. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize that.”
“It’s okay. I’ve chosen to be alone so I can concentrate on my girls,” Auntie Bren said with a smile. “And can I say, dear,” she said to Kenzie, “it’s been a pleasure watching you and Ramon together these last few weeks. I can return to Miami knowing you’re in good hands.”
Ah, there was that, Kenzie thought. A shiver drove down her spine at the idea of Ramon’s hands all over her. She wondered how long it was going to be before she got to spend the night with him again. With his parents and family in town she didn’t expect him to leave them at the hotel, nor did she think he expected her to spend the night with him.
“Wait a minute.” Maggie interrupted Kenzie’s thoughts. “What is going to happen with you and Oscar? Is he going to move down to Miami, or will you move here?”
Kenzie shot her sister a glare. A month of Auntie Bren was enough.
“I mean, or will you guys move some place other than Southwood?” Maggie tried to recover but she sounded so awkward.
Auntie Bren handed Kenzie her lipstick back. “I am done with him.”
“What?” The girls gaped.
“At eighty-seven years old he’s still lying.”
“About what?” they asked again in unison.
Auntie Bren rolled her eyes. “Grown folks’ business,” she said as if they weren’t all adults here.
“What is it you kids say? Ain’t nobody got time for that?”
Maggie choked on air.
Kenzie stepped backward. “Lord, let me get out of here.”
“Well, wait,” Auntie Bren said, taking hold of Kenzie’s arm. “Have either of you seen Erin?”
Maggie shook her head from side to side. “Cousin Danielle told me Erin took off yesterday to meet a client, but wouldn’t say who.”
“You know she wants to open a clinic in town?” Auntie Bren asked Kenzie.
Kenzie shook her head and looked away, knowing what was coming next.
“What’s wrong with Erin moving here and starting her business? Are you still mad at her for your beauty queen thing?”
“Nothing, I guess,” Kenzie huffed and squared her shoulders. “Look, I tried to tell her I had another place in mind for her but she went off on me after the meeting the other night.”
Auntie Bren tipped Kenzie’s chin down. “She’s family. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to mingle with my friends.”
“By friends, do you mean Oscar?”
“By friends, do you mean your battery-operated ones?” Auntie Bren crassly responded as Maggie stood there with her mouth wide-open.
Kenzie linked her arm with her sister’s. “Serves you right.”
“Serves her right if I have a male stripper sent over to her nursing home in Miami.”
“It’s an assisted living facility,” Kenzie corrected.
“Whatever. So you wouldn’t care if she moved back here?”
“Not really.”
“Because you’re so preoccupied and in love with Ramon?” Maggie sung Ramon’s name in a low, husky voice.
“Girl, let’s go.” Kenzie headed out the interior door of the women’s bathroom. Maggie, still taunting her, mumbled and questioned if she needed to hurry up and leave so she could get back to Ramon. In truth, yes, Kenzie thought with a smile. Her heart fluttered against her rib cage. Of course she couldn’t wait to stand next to Ramon’s side.
These last few days with Ramon had been wonderful. After winning the bid for the post office, Ramon started working with his construction team. Top that off with his successful business at the Magnolia Palace, and Ramon was a busy man.
Eager, Kenzie pushed hard on the outer door and immediately hit someone.
“Jesus, girl,” Aunt Jody snapped, shaking her hand. “Are you trying to kill me?”
Kenzie hugged her aunt. Even though it wasn’t kosher to say, her father’s sister was Kenzie’s favorite relative. To Kenzie, Aunt Jody was always glamorous. She kept her chestnut-brown hair straight and in a trendy style like a bob, a flip, or even shaggy. Tonight Aunt Jody was participating in dressing up with the other founding family members. She didn’t dress in the 1870s clothing. She chose the Roaring Twenties and was able to tuck her hair under and secure a white band around her head. She wore six strands of white pearls varying in size around her neck that hung down the front of her black flapper dress in a knot.
“Oh, dear child,” Aunt Jody cooed, patting Kenzie’s back. They were the same height. “I have missed you so much.”
“What about me, Auntie Jody?” Maggie asked.
Aunt Jody scoffed in Kenzie’s ear at the sound of Auntie. “Don’t call me that. That’s my aunt’s deal. And Maggie, darling, how am I supposed to miss you when you’re forever on the social media?”
“I get no love from this family,” Maggie said with a pout. “And to think, I have been off the grid since I’ve been here.”
Aunt Jody moved to hug her other niece. “Your poor followers must be worried sick wondering where you are.”
Kenzie hid her laugh by looking the other way. Aunt Jody grabbed her by the wrist and gave her a tug and held her back. “Where are you going?”
Kenzie shot Maggie a warning glare to keep quiet. It was one thing to have Auntie Bren or other people in her family think she was in a relationship until the month ended but she didn’t want to lie to Aunt Jody. But would it really be a lie? Kenzie knew she was falling hard for Ramon. She just prayed he felt the same way. “I wanted to check on the guests.”
“This isn’t just your event,” reminded Aunt Jody. “Let some of the other family members around town do some work. Where are the bastards? The Hairstons need to help.”
Maggie giggled.
Kenzie made an apologetic smile toward the ladies walking up to the bathrooms. “Aunt Jody,” she whispered close. After the overpowering scent of hairspray Kenzie got a whiff of gin. “Have you been drinking?”
Aunt Jody’s dark eyes were red around the rims. “No wonder you have a doctorate.”
Not everyone in the family spoke of Kenzie’s education. She beamed but tried to remember now was not the time to brag. “Let’s get you over to the table.”
“I’ll get some water,” said Maggie, taking off.
Kenzie slipped Aunt Jody’s arm over her shoulder and escorted her toward a private table away from the center of everything. They were close to the balcony door and Kenzie prayed the fresh air would do her aunt some good.
“You’re such a dear,” said Aunt Jody. “I was so afraid I messed things up for you.”
“Messed what up, Aunt Jody?” asked Kenzie. She picked up a Martin Luther King fan with a Sinkford Funeral Home advertisement on the other side and began cooling off her aunt’s face. Sweat beaded under the white band around her forehead but started to disappear with Kenzie’s use of the fan.
Aunt Jody grabbed Kenzie by the wrist. “I fear you were involved with the beauty pageants because of the pressure I placed on you.”
“Beauty pageants are in my blood, Aunt Jody,” Kenzie assured her. “What’s going on with you? Have you stayed away from Southwood all this time because of that?”
“Maybe.”
“I entered Miss Southwood when I was eighteen hoping that I could get you to come back to town.”
Aunt Jody scowled. “I told myself I’d never show my face around here after your father rigged my pageant so your mother could win.”
Ah, the family skeletons.
“I’m sorry you think my mom stole the crown from you,” said Kenzie, “but it’s been over twenty years. Can we let it go? I mean, look at the first big step you’ve taken in such a time. You finally came back to Southwood after vowing to never step foot here again.”
“Well, I’ve stepped foot.” Aunt Jody giggled.
Kenzie narrowed her eyes. “What?”
“Never mind, sweetie. Where is that hunk you were kissing earlier?”
“You saw that?” The breeze coming in from the open doors didn’t cool off the heat singeing Kenzie’s cheeks.
“If I didn’t want to avoid making my date think I was a crazy lady, I would have whistled at the two of you.”
Glad to see her aunt was returning to a normal, sober state, Kenzie sat back in her seat. “Maybe you’re the one who needs to start talking. Who is the man I saw you churning ice cream with at The Scoop?”
Aunt Jody waved her hand and shook her head. “I see the way you’re trying to change the subject. Let’s just call it even. I won’t ask you anything, and you don’t ask me.”
“Sounds like a deal to me.”
The cryptic conversation stayed with Kenzie as she walked around the ballroom looking for Ramon. Something Auntie Bren had said stuck with her, too. A month ago she’d made plans with Rafael to attend the gala. She chose Rafael because he was safe. She didn’t want anything other than to have someone to attend important functions with. Like Ramon reminded her the other night, although she never agreed to his proposal, he still came through for her.
Kenzie spotted Ramon by the bar talking to the mayor and Alexander, along with what could only be Ramon’s brother. Judging from the wrinkles in Ramon’s forehead and the scowl across his face, he was not pleased. She wouldn’t be, either, if she had to talk to those two. He needed rescuing. She gathered her heavy skirts in her hands and set off.
“Kenzie, dear?”
The accented voice belonged to Ana Torres. When Kenzie looked in the direction of where her name was called, she saw Mrs. Torres, who wore a shimmering floor-length silver gown. Her dark hair was pulled up in a fancy bun with baby’s breath sprinkled throughout her locks. Like Ramon and everyone in his family she was tall and lean in stature. When they’d talked in the bookstore Kenzie had figured who she was but didn’t want to let on. Now, since Ramon had given her a giant kiss in front of everyone, she feared his mother might have some words for her. Would she approve?
“Mrs. Torres.” Kenzie gulped, her eyes averted toward Ramon. The bewildered smile on his face made her smile.
“Ana, please,” Ramon’s mother corrected. “I was just going over there to bring the boys back to the table when I saw you over here. Julio is the mayor back home and he can talk shop all night long to people.”
“I can imagine,” Kenzie said with a nod. Though they’d both been heading in the same direction the two ladies stood there for a moment. “Are you enjoying Southwood?”
“I am.” Ana beamed. “I plan on going back to the bookstore to get some more of that lovely tea we had today.”
Kenzie patted Ana’s arm. “I already arranged a box to be sent to your room.”
“So sweet!” Ana leaned over and hugged Kenzie. “No wonder my son is in love with you.”
The word love weakened Kenzie’s knees.
Ana tugged her silver shawl around her arms. “Don’t look so surprised.”
“Ramon and I are just figuring things out,” Kenzie responded nervously.
“I don’t think Ramon needs any figuring,” said Ana, “or he wouldn’t have kissed you like that in front of his whole family.”
Of course she’d seen it. Who hadn’t? Kenzie searched for the words to say. Luckily a set of arms wrapped around her waist. Ramon pressed his lips against Kenzie’s neck. “Sorry to interrupt, Ma, but I need to steal my lady for a moment.”
“Of course,” said Ana. “But Kenzie, you have to promise to come over to the hotel tomorrow for brunch. My daughter-in-law, Grace, is going to teach Ramon’s chef how to cook.”
“Jessilyn is a fine chef,” said Ramon, squeezing Kenzie’s body against his.
“You’re thin,” Ana countered and turned to Kenzie. “He must have lost at least twenty pounds since you brought Philly home. Kenzie, will you come tomorrow?”
“I would be honored, Ana.”
“And please bring your family, too. Oh look.” She sighed. “Julio will talk that poor mayor’s ear off. Let me go get him.”
Finally alone together, at least as much as two people could be at a gala event, Kenzie turned in Ramon’s arms. First and foremost he kissed her lips, giving a little suck to her bottom lip where she’d placed her lipstick a few moments ago.
“How long before we can leave?” Ramon asked.
“We,” Kenzie said, wagging her finger between his chest and her breast, “can’t leave together. Not tonight.”
“What? Why?”
“Because your folks are in town and you need to spend time with them, and I think my aunt Jody might stay at my place this evening.”
Ramon bent down and pressed his forehead against hers. “This isn’t how I envisioned the evening going for us.”
“Let me guess, it had something to do with stripping out of our clothes?” Kenzie asked. They swayed to the melody played by the DJ.
“Lady, with that dress you have on, nothing needs to come off.” He jokingly pushed his hips forward. “Since we can’t spend the night with each other, how about we go find ourselves an elevator?”
Confused, Kenzie narrowed her eyes. “But every time we get on one...” When she glanced up he wiggled his brows. What a shame they were on the ground floor. “You’re crazy, you know that? No wonder I am falling in love with you.” The words just fell out. Kenzie held her breath, shocked.
“That’s definitely going to get me through the night.” Ramon kissed her, deeply. “I love you too, Kenzie.”
* * *
“Ramon,” Ana cooed the following morning. “I am in love with Kenzie Swayne.”
You and me both, Ramon thought to himself. He offered a simple smile to his mother and a gentle squeeze of her hand.
They stood on one side of the brunch table as Kenzie and her family came down the walkway of Magnolia Palace. Silver cloches covered the dishes but not the delicious rich and sweet smells. Ramon’s stomach ached for food while his heart ached for Kenzie. Two whole nights without her were too many.
“You aren’t the slightest bit uncomfortable with the Swaynes coming over here for breakfast?” His brother Julio asked, watching the family come closer. “Wasn’t this their family home? And now you’re bringing them here because you’re sleeping with their daughter?”
“Awkward.” Raul laughed under his breath but loud enough for the family to hear.
“Both of you, shut up,” ordered their father.
Ramon gave a silent thanks for one of the few times his father stood up for him. It never occurred to Ramon this morning might be awkward for Kenzie’s whole family until Julio had opened his mouth.
If the Swaynes were upset, they didn’t show it. Maggie held her phone out, recording herself and occasionally spinning around in panoramic fashion. Everyone wore something in the white or beige family. The men wore light-colored beachcomber linen pants and button-down linen shirts. The ladies all wore one form of sundress or another. Kenzie covered the top of her head with a wide-brimmed hat. He would kill to hide behind the hat and kiss her right now.
Ramon had met Kenzie’s niece, Bailey, earlier this week. Bailey’s father looked very much like Kenzie’s dad. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. The main difference between father and son was that in the summer light, Richard’s hair had a red tint. Another woman, not Kenzie’s mother, linked her arm with Kenzie’s. Ramon wondered if Paula Hairston-Swayne had decided to skip brunch. Was it because she thought Kenzie had sided with him instead of Erin on the building? Surely not.
“Mr. Swayne.” Ramon came around his side of the table with his hand stretched out for a shake.
“Ramon, we discussed this—call me Mitch.”
Ramon cast a glance over his shoulder at his parents. “I needed them to know that it was okay with you.”
“Though his hair may look it, he wasn’t raised in a barn,” said Ramon’s father.
Mitch chuckled and shook hands with everyone from the Torres and Reyes families. “Mitch Swayne,” he said to Julio Senior.
“Julio Senior, and this is my wife, Ana. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thanks. Thanks for having us today, Ramon.”
The dark-haired woman beside Mitch cleared her throat. “Oh, where are my manners? These are my daughters. Kenzie, you all know, and my oldest daughter, Magnolia. We call her Maggie.”
Maggie paused to stop live-streaming herself. “Really, Dad? That’s how you want to introduce me?”
“I could introduce you as my narcissistic daughter?” Mitch suggested.
“Uh, I am working.” Maggie rolled her eyes and went back to her camera.
Mitch shook his head and continued his introductions Family Feud style. “My daughter considers being popular a job. But anyway, this is my lovely granddaughter Bailey and her father, my son, Richard.”
Richard shook hands with everyone.
“And beside me is my sister, Jody Lynn.”
“Jody’s just fine,” Jody said, stepping forward.
Ramon always thought Kenzie favored her mother but even with the dark hair on Jody, Ramon saw the family resemblance through and through with the heart-shaped face and high cheekbones.
“I love what you’ve done with the place.” Jody gaped.
“Thank you,” said Ramon. Kenzie came and stood by his side. He straightened to his full height with pride. “I’ll have to give you the tour.”
“Don’t you think they already know what the place looks like?” Julio asked with a scowl.
“We never lived here,” said Richard, putting everyone at ease. “This place once belonged to a distant relative.”
“This sounds fascinating,” Ana said, waving her hands over the magnolia table-scape. “Please sit. We have a variety of things, some fresh baked Mallorca bread, pastelón, and of course grits and eggs. We’ll eat while you tell us more about your Magnolia Palace.”
Ramon and Kenzie sat together. As Richard told the story of Magnolia Palace, Kenzie held Ramon’s hand under the table. The simple touch of her thumb sliding over the top of his hand was such a turn-on. He was pretty sure no one would appreciate it if he pushed everything off the table and made love to her until the sun set.
“The house was really just a frame when it was constructed. My sister loves to paint Southwood as some Norman Rockwell city but even after the Civil War, most Black people lived in the city limits. There were still former Confederates who terrorized the town. To live outside the city limits was rare. Many homes were set on fire, including this one. Each time, the frame stood.” Richard went on. “Ramon’s done a fantastic job remodeling.”
“Speaking of remodeling,” his brother Julio said, “congratulations on your new spot downtown. Are you going to turn that into a bed-and-breakfast?”
“Not now, Julio,” Jose said over his mimosa. His wife, Grace, pulled his hand under the table.
Julio looked between his brothers. “What? I can’t ask my little brother a question?”
“If he wanted to talk about it,” said Jose, “he would have brought it up to you. There was a reason that mayor’s assistant came to you to tell you about the place.”
As a US Marshal, Jose was suspicious of everyone. Usually he wasn’t wrong and considering Ramon figured the mayor’s assistant in question was probably Alexander, Jose was certainly right about this.
“I haven’t decided,” Ramon answered honestly.
“We were talking about making it a tutoring place or hangout for kids.” Kenzie looked over at him with adoration. Ramon winced, recalling the ideas Anson breezed by him last night.
“Yeah, instead of having them trespassing on the property for thrills.” Ramon chuckled nervously.
“That sounds like a great idea.” Jody beamed.
“It sounds like you won’t be making a profit,” Julio sneered. A bang from under the table shook the pitchers of tea and magnolia vases. “Ouch.”
“Sorry,” Lexi said, sitting back from her seat and rubbing her protruding belly. “I never know when this one is going to up and decide to kick me.”
“Well, maybe it’s a sign we put an end to the subject of Ramon’s potential business,” said Raul. “Because I am going to work on him for a nightclub.”
“Fat chance,” Julio said, then scooted out of the way before Lexi had a chance to kick him again. “All right, I’m dropping the subject.”
“Bailey, thank you so much for being able to make it to brunch with us.” Ana leaned over. “I understand you’ll be sequestered at Brutti Hotel for the week because of a beauty pageant thing?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Bailey answered shyly. “I check in this afternoon.”
Kimber started to speak at the same time as Lexi. Lexi nodded for Kimber to explain. “They do that so the girls can work on a group dance and practice walking on the stage. Tía Amelia.” She paused for approval from the family. Once everyone nodded and smiled, she continued. “She has contacts from her old job at MET who are going to get some footage.”
Multi-Ethnic Television was a staple channel in every household, especially in Villa San Juan. Ramon and his family religiously watched Azúcar, a popular reality show featuring the Ruiz family from Puerto Rico. The Torres-Reyes family had a former producer in their family now. Seated by her husband, Amelia nodded to confirm. “That’s right. The world loves beauty pageants. Are you nervous, Bailey?”
“Oh yes, ma’am,” Bailey answered with a soft giggle as she tucked her light red hair behind her ear.
The teenager reminded Ramon of Kenzie. He wondered—if they had a child, would she look like Bailey or at least have the Hairston red hair? Ramon glanced over at Kenzie and smiled.
“Cool,” said Kimber. “I would love to come hang out with you backstage. I know it can become crazy over there. It’s nice having a friendly face with you, and since we’re practically family... Ouch.”
“Sorry,” Lexi blurted out. She flipped her blond ponytail over her shoulder. “The baby just keeps kicking me today.”
Judging from the red blush on Kenzie’s face, she got the gist of the reason for Lexi’s outburst. Marriage. Kenzie had made it perfectly clear she wasn’t interested in that. She also said she didn’t want him to escort her to any events, yet they were together all the time. Being with Kenzie felt natural. The problems from last year were gone. He always looked forward to seeing her and couldn’t wait to be with her, even if they were apart for an hour. Damn, was he really ready for this step? Hell yes. Was she? Ramon wondered if a true proposal would get her to say yes.
The conversation switched to beauty pageants. Ramon squeezed Kenzie’s hand. Alexander’s discovery haunted him. Jody had bragged about Kenzie’s win, and how the family tradition would be carried on in the beauty queen world. If it ever got out Kenzie wasn’t the true queen, he didn’t know what she’d do. The pride in her eyes killed him. The last thing he wanted to do was take this away from her.