CHAPTER 18

gray: the kool-aid

“So is your sister in jail often?” Price asked as we stepped into his car.

“Used to be,” I said under my breath.

“What?”

“She used to get in trouble kind of a lot, and then she found this man who I swear is a cult leader, drank the Kool-Aid, and runs around tossing pamphlets in everyone’s faces.”

“Pamphlets, huh?”

I pulled the visor down and checked my lip gloss in the mirror, though I’m not sure why. Maybe in case I needed to sweet-talk someone to get my sister out of the slammer. It wouldn’t be the first time. “Yeah, you know, like on abstinence before marriage, even though she slept with everyone on the Eastern Seaboard before this transformation. Pamphlets about how I’m going to hell because I’m getting divorced. You know, light reading like that.”

I was trying to be cool and a little snarky, but inside I was reeling. What in the hell had my sister done? Was she okay? Was this Elijah-related? Did I need a lawyer for her? Yeah, she’d done me wrong, but Diana was right. It didn’t matter what she did. I was her big sister, and it was my job to pick up the pieces, whatever they might be.

I laughed in spite of my nerves, and Price joined me. “So, this is impressive, right? I mean, I’m sure you’re just dying to take me out now.”

“Actually,” he said, “this is the most fun I’ve had in a while.”

“That is sad,” I said, checking my phone again. “Let’s talk about something else. Let’s pretend that we are driving to, say, a movie, not to pick my sister up from jail.”

“Great,” he said. “So, do you prefer Charmin or Angel Soft?”

“What?”

He glanced over at me and grinned. “These are the important questions. I lived with a woman for fifteen years who liked Angel Soft. So every day for fifteen years I had to wipe my ass with a toilet paper I hated. It’s just toilet paper, but, damn. I’m not going back to that.”

I laughed. “Who the hell likes Angel Soft? Charmin all day, baby. But I do switch it up between ultra soft and ultra strong, you know, just to keep things interesting.”

Price stopped at a red light and looked at me, wide-eyed in amazement. “Me too. I mean, sometimes you need softness and sometimes you need strength.”

“Paper towels?” I asked.

“Ninety percent Bounty, ten percent Viva.”

“Oh my gosh,” I said. “Me too.”

“Christmas or Fourth of July?” he asked.

We looked at each other and simultaneously said, “Christmas.”

“Cats or dogs?” I asked.

“Neither,” he said definitively. “I’ve spent years cleaning up after kids; I don’t need one more thing in the mix.”

“Preach.”

He pulled into the parking lot of the Charleston Police Department. My stomach gripped as I noticed rows of police cars all in a straight line. Price put the car in park. “Let’s go get that sister of yours.”

“Is it bad that I can’t wait to rub this in her face?”

“Sounds to me like she has it coming.”

“Hello,” I said sunnily as soon as we entered, walking up to the desk. “I’m here to pick up my sister, Quinn Taylor.”

The woman nodded, nonplussed.

“What’s she in for anyway?”

The woman smirked. “Stabbing someone.”

“What?” Now my heart was racing. I hadn’t imagined she was in for something serious. I looked at Price. “I swear, it’s normally stuff like public drunkenness or skinny-dipping or possession or something. She’s not like a criminal criminal.”

“Oh yeah,” Price said. “Doesn’t sound like it.” He looked at me skeptically.

A few minutes later, Quinn appeared, looking contrite. I didn’t even know what to say to her, but she spoke first. “Thank you so much, Gray. Seriously, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

She looked at Price and then back at me, and I could tell she was about to say something, but she refrained. I squeezed the top of her arm and pulled her into the corner. “Stabbing, Quinn? Seriously? What in the hell is wrong with you? Where did Sister Mary Quinn go?”

“It was self-defense,” she said. “Turns out Elijah wasn’t exactly who I thought he was.”

“They never are, honey,” Price chimed in. “They never are.”

“Oh,” I said. “Price, this is my sister, Quinn. Quinn, Price. We met tonight, and he brought me here to bail you out of jail.”

“Yikes,” she said. “So, not the first impression you were hoping for.” Then she added under her breath, knowing full well he could hear her, “He’s kind of handsome.”

As we walked out the door, I said, “Oh, wait. No pamphlets? No lecture on how I should be at Greg’s singing him love songs? No indictments on what the devil is going to do with me, jailbait?”

She shook her head. “I said I’m sorry, okay? The past few weeks have been… eye-opening.”

It was crazy. It was as if my sister, the girl I had grown up with, was back. I was caught in this middle ground between horrified and relieved. Honestly, I would rather bail her out of jail than have her completely brainwashed. It was sad that this was an improvement. What had happened to my sister? And was she really back for good?

Price opened my door and said, behind his hand but so Quinn could hear him, “Sounds like the Kool-Aid wore off.”

“Is Elijah, like, okay?” I asked hesitantly.

“Oh, I hope not,” Quinn said.

I turned to look at her in awe as Price pulled out of the parking lot.

“I just stabbed his arm, Gray. Geez. And, like I said, it was in self-defense. He’s fine. He probably needs, like, three stitches.” I heard her add under her breath: “Little bitch.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. It did seem like the Kool-Aid had worn off. Six months ago, if I had said “bitch,” I would have gotten a pamphlet.

“So…” I was waiting for details.

“I just don’t want to talk about it, Gray,” she said. “Later. Not now.”

I was going to press her, but I heard the tears in her voice.

Price must have too, because he said, “So, Quinn. Charmin or Angel Soft?”

“Oh, Cottonelle, obviously.”

Price and I both said, “Boooooo.”

Then he looked at me, smiled, and said, “You know something, Gray, felon sister and all, I think you and I might be meant to be.”

“You know what, Price? I think you might be right.”

diana: a very nice man

I walked into Gray’s that morning feeling a little nervous. “Good morning, my love,” she practically sang.

I smiled. I was happy that she seemed so much happier today. She handed me a cup of coffee and sat down at the kitchen island. “Wow,” I said, sitting on the stool beside her. “Impressive. Looks like you’ve learned to make coffee in the real coffee pot like a big girl.”

She laughed like that was the funniest thing she’d ever heard. “Actually, my sister stayed over, and she got up this morning and made it before she went on her run.”

“Your sister?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Seems like the allure of Elijah wore off. I’ve never been happier to have to bail my sister out of jail. I think she’s back.”

She smiled again, and she was so glowing that I knew this was more than happiness over her sister. “Well, well, well,” I said. “Did somebody get a little action?”

She laughed lightly. “No action. But I met a very nice man.”

“A man?” I raised my eyebrows.

She laughed again. “Yes. A man. A forty-year-old, perfect-for-me man.”

“Well,” I said, “that sounds grand. I can’t wait to meet him.” I paused and added, “I may have a little news of my own.”

I put my hand casually on hers.

She squealed. “No way! Oh my gosh, Diana. You’re getting married!” She smiled and hugged me. “I’m so, so happy for you. This is amazing—and that ring. Oh my gosh. Is that a family heirloom?”

I nodded. “The best part is that Frank’s momma is going to have a stroke that he gave her momma’s ring to me.”

“When are you getting married? How did he propose?” She squealed again. “Tell me absolutely everything.”

“Well,” I said, tapping my fingers on the countertop. “That isn’t my only news.” I cleared my throat.

Gray’s face fell. “Oh no. You’re moving away. You’re moving far, far away, and we’re never going to see you again.”

“We love it down here. We’re staying put. It’s just that…” I bit my lip. “Remember that throw-up virus I had?”

A voice behind me said, “Oh my gosh. You’re pregnant.”

I turned to see Marcy, ponytail swinging.

Gray gasped. “Pregnant! You’re pregnant?”

“I know. Forty years old, supposedly sterile, and pregnant.”

Gray leaned over and hugged me as best she could without making the stool topple over. She was grinning. “I probably shouldn’t say this, but, well, it seems meant to be, doesn’t it?”

“And, Gray—” I said, swallowing hard.

“Don’t say you’re moving out for real. I know you already spend half your time at Frank’s, but I can’t hear you say it.”

I was moving out, of course. I had to. I was marrying him. I was having his baby. I still couldn’t believe it. I nodded and kissed her cheek. It was all real Southern and respectable.

That night, getting ready for a redo date with Frank’s mom, I asked, “So, do you think I’ll do better this time?” I slipped on the same pearl earrings I’d worn to our last lunch attempt, still feeling nauseated, but happy that at least now I knew why. Gray was right. These things were lucky.

“Well,” he said, grinning from ear to ear, “at least if you vomit on her this time, she’ll be kind of happy because she’s getting a grandchild.”

“Do you think she’ll be happy?”

Frank shrugged. “I don’t know if that woman’s ever been happy a day in her life.”

He kissed me. Then he leaned down and kissed my belly, a new habit he had, a new habit I kind of liked. He looked into my eyes and said, “Diana, I didn’t think I could love you any more. But, wow. This is the best surprise of my entire life. You, this baby. It’s like it’s all coming together, everything I’ve wished and prayed for, everything I ever thought possible.”

I kissed him again, despite my nausea. “Oh, Frank.”

My phone rang, and I wasn’t going to answer it, but I saw it was my brother. “Hi, Charles.”

“Hi, Di.”

“What’s going on?”

“I wanted to see if I could come visit next week. I need a beach fix.”

“Of course! The boys too?” I stood up and started pacing around, realizing that I couldn’t invite my family to come stay at Gray’s. But now I had Frank’s. It made me smile.

“No. Just me.”

“Come stay with Frank and me!”

He cleared his throat. “That’s part of the reason I’m coming.”

“Oh?”

“Frank called.”

I was surprised at first, but I guess it made sense. Charles was the one who’d introduced me to Frank, after all. Charles and Frank had worked together on a fishing boat one summer. Well, the summer. It had been only a few months, but I had so many memories from that time it could have been a decade.

“And, D, I was skeptical,” Charles continued, “but I think he’s serious. I just wanted to see you two with my own eyes, make sure he’s going to take care of you right this time.”

“I think he is.” I debated whether I should wait to tell him in person or just say it now. But I didn’t have all that many people to tell, and I couldn’t contain myself, so I said, “Charles, we’re getting married.”

He hooted. “Well, hot damn!”

I laughed. “I know.”

“I knew he was going to do it, but I didn’t know it was going to be so soon. Now I really can’t wait to see you.” He paused. “And, Di, I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“You know, Charles, I might have a surprise of my own.”

What a happy, happy time.

An hour later, almost to Frank’s momma’s house, I wondered if love was enough. The mere idea of having to spend the next however many years with his momma was about enough to do any woman in.

As we pulled up to the imposing cedar-shake house, of a size and scope that seemed more like New England than North Carolina, it was like Frank could feel my nerves. “It’s going to be fine, you know,” he said. “We’ve talked about it. She knows we’re together, and she knows there’s nothing she can do about it.”

I nodded. “But the wedding and the baby might be more than she bargained for.”

Frank walked through the front door calling, “Mom! You here?”

“Yes, darling, I’m here.” She strolled into the entryway, the white of her suit popping against the wood of the walls and floors.

“Hi, Mrs. Harrington,” I said, in what I hoped was a sophisticated way. One look from that woman took me from a confident and independent forty-year-old back to that scared eighteen-year-old I’d been.

I could feel anticipation welling in me as she leaned over to give me the smallest hug you can even imagine. How would we tell her? And when?

Then Frank just blurted out, “You’re not going to be the only Mrs. Harrington soon, Mom. Diana and I are getting married.”

He smiled and put his arm around me and looked as happy as could be. I felt myself go whiter than that suit or those giant pearls around her neck. Just decided to dive right in, I guess.

Mrs. Harrington turned and led us to the living room. Oh, that view. Water and sand in all directions. I wouldn’t hate living here when she kicked the—

Mrs. Harrington interrupted my thoughts. “That’s fine. I’ve made peace with this whole thing.”

I raised my eyebrows at Frank. That’s when my nerves finally began to subside.

“Mom, we’ve loved each other for twenty-two years. We don’t want to wait.”

“I’m too old to run,” I agreed. I winked at Frank. “Pretty soon I’ll be too fat too.”

She gasped in shock. “You aren’t saying…?”

Frank filled in: “Diana is carrying your grandchild.”

“Good Lord.” She put her hand on her forehead like she was going to keel over right there from the mere thought of it. She smirked at me. “So this is how you roped him into it? You got pregnant.”

Looking around her pretty living room with all her things, I kind of quit being scared of Mrs. Harrington. Instead, I felt right sorry for her. So I smiled and said, “Yup. That’s exactly right. I just knew that at forty I’d get pregnant, no sweat, and trap your son right into marriage. And it worked too. Lucky me!”

Frank squeezed my shoulder and looked at his mom. “Diana didn’t rope me into anything. I tracked her down, and I wasn’t letting her run away from me again. I’ve loved her for more than twenty years, and I’m too old not to live my life and be happy.”

She shook her head. “It keeps getting worse. Well, you need to go get married right now before people start talking.”

Frank and I both laughed.

“Mom,” he said, “with all due respect, I’m not sure that us being unwed is the most shocking part of this.” He added, “Just think, Mom. You can buy bootees and tiny pajamas.”

It softened her a touch, and I about fell plumb out of my chair when she said, “Well, I have always wanted a grandchild.” She looked at Frank. “Darling, could you please go in the kitchen and get us all some iced tea?”

Frank looked at me questioningly, and I nodded my approval. Frank had my back now. That was all I needed to know.

When he was gone, she said, “Diana, I’m going to be honest with you. You weren’t what I wanted for my son—”

“But—” I protested.

She put her hand up. “Let me finish.” She started again: “You weren’t what I wanted for my son back then. But you have been between us for all this time. I saw you in every one of Frank’s far-off glances, in every quiet moment.” Tears were forming in her eyes. “I thought he was better off without you, but the only thing pushing him away from you did was keep him from ever marrying, from ever having children, from ever having all the things I thought I was giving him by breaking you two up.”

I could feel the tears in my eyes now too. “Can I be honest with you?”

She nodded.

“I have spent twenty-two years feeling unworthy of your son, unworthy of his love. But, Mrs. Harrington, Frank and I have both realized that we aren’t whole without each other.”

A tear rolled down her cheek now, and she whispered. “After Frank Senior died, I realized that life is short. You two both deserve to be happy. I might not be perfect, Diana, but I will never stand in the way of my son’s joy again.”

I swear, she looked something right near happy. But it was only for a second. As Frank walked back in with a tray of iced teas, she sat up straight, composed herself, and said, “Have you two set a date? We need to start thinking about flowers—”

“We don’t need all that,” I interrupted. “I think we’re going to get married somewhere simple by ourselves.”

“Yeah,” Frank said. He turned to me. “We need to figure out where.”

I smiled, so surprised and happy at how this day had gone, so relieved that, after all of it, I might just get another momma out of Mrs. Harrington. Family was all that mattered now. Family was everything. And I realized that when it came to our wedding, I wasn’t clueless about where it should be after all. In fact, I knew just the place.