Over the Hedge: Part 2- The Finale (Lucky in Love) Read online

  “Well, now that everyone has been introduced, Sandra I would be honored if you said grace,” Daddy said, extending his hands out to either side of him.

  “Well, if you insist. It would be my pleasure,” Mrs. Colcord replied. Everyone at the table joined hands. Momma stared at Crystal hard until she took Brian’s hand.

  Mrs. Colcord cleared her throat before beginning.

  “Dear Heavenly Father, we so graciously thank you for the blessings you have bestowed upon each and every one of us this evening. We humbly thank you, Father, for the blessings that brought us all together. Lord, I ask you to continue to bless Ellie and Phil. Without their hard work this meal would not be possible. I also ask Father that you guide Crystal, Brian, Sean, Lashawnda, and Brent as they continue along these treacherous roads of life. For each of them, the choices they make should always be with you as their guide. For myself, Lord I ask for nothing. You have already granted the only wish any mother wants for her son. Yes, Lord, you have helped my Sean find love and happiness. Earlier today, I saw how this tall, voluptuous young woman had stolen my little boy’s heart. I mean the boy almost crashed the car getting over here. Also, if you don’t mind, please bless me with a whole baseball team of grandchildren.

  Mrs. Colcord paused and took a deep dramatic breath, before continuing. “Lastly, I pray, Lord you help my son along with his journey of love with this wonderful, young woman. He’s a bit slow in the head sometimes, Lord. Please help him not do something stupid or foolish to mess it up. I’ve been praying for this for a longtime. Whatever the source of their argument this morning, let Sean realize that he was wrong and Lashawnda was right. She is always right.”

  I opened my eyes when Sean squeezed my hand. He was looking at his mother disbelievingly. Without opening her eyes, she squeezed his hand tightly, making the skin on the back of his hand turn pale. Sean snapped his eyes shut. I followed suit, not wanting to get caught.

  “These and other blessings we ask in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen,” Mrs. Colcord finished.

  “Amen,” everyone said in unison.

  Sean leaned over and planted a loud smacking kiss on his mother’s cheek. “Lashawnda’s only right eighty-five percent of the time,” he said, then gave me a not so subtle wink.

  Dinner began with a good laugh.

  The conversation started slowly. Mrs. Colcord was the perfect dinner guest. Her vibrant personality did wonders to bring calm to the tense air between Crystal and Brian. Brian who was usually aloof seemed to be well at ease with her. I started to have a little more faith dinner would go off without a hitch.

  Brent did very little talking through the first fifteen minutes. One would assume he had nothing to say. After watching him drizzle honey on his fifth slice of cornbread, and demolish it in three bites, I didn’t bother trying to pull him into the conversation. It was clear the man came here for one purpose and one purpose only—to eat.

  When Sean said Brent had a big appetite, I thought I understood what that meant. He’d eaten at Sean’s with us on more than one occasion. But, as I watched him massacre the smoked salmon followed by two pieces of chicken breast, I realized I hadn’t seen the full extent of Brent’s appetite.

  The man was a literal empty pit. He grunted in my direction. I understood that meant pass him the dish beyond the reach of his long arms. My hand hovered over the corn soufflé, and he nodded with a slight groan in affirmation. As quickly as my hands handed him the porcelain serving dish, he had two large helpings on his plate and began tucking it away. Another grunt and I handed him the bacon wrapped asparagus. They were my favorite, so I grabbed two before handing the serving dish to him. How this man wasn’t morbidly obese was beyond comprehension.

  Freak of nature, I thought with a nod.

  I turned to Sean with a questioning gaze but opted to let him be. He was busy eating his fill of the huge spread of food too. Mrs. Colcord made loaded mashed potatoes, one of Sean’s favorite dishes. He was busy stuffing his face with a third helping. I was happy she told me how to add the special ingredients in just the way Sean liked it. I planned on picking her brain for the next few days for other little tidbits. I was in love but not crazy enough to think I didn’t have to work on keeping that love.

  The conversation flowed nicely—with everyone talking about their jobs or things they’d seen on the news. Halfway through the meal, Daddy started talking about the decline in the housing market.

  “Lashawnda you remember that girl who used to live across the street?” he asked.

  “Yes, Daddy. Her name was Megan,” I answered, already knowing who he was referring to. Every conversation about Megan started with that same phrase for the last fifteen years of my life. You’d think by now he’d stop asking if I knew her.

  “Yep, that one. Well, I ran into her father at the golf course the other day. He informed me she moved back home,” Daddy said, with a shake of his head.

  “I thought she had married that boy she met in college.” Momma looked at him with surprise.

  “She did,” Crystal chimed in.

  I turned my head to the side feeling like I was seeing things. Was it my imagination or did her and Brent seem to be sitting closer together than they were five minutes ago? Sean reached over and plucked the two bunches of bacon wrapped asparagus from my plate, demolishing them in three bites. I slid my plate away from him, taking that as a sign to focus on eating rather than whatever was budding between Brent and Crystal.

  Brent bumped her with his shoulder and told her to hand him the dish with the crab cakes. That caught Daddy’s attention because that dish hadn’t made its way down to his end of the table yet. At the rate Brent was going, Daddy might never get to taste them. I was trying to play it cool, but if my dad didn’t get any of those fifteen dollars per pound, fresh crab cakes, there might be trouble at this dinner table.

  I started mentally calculating what might be worse. Brian and Crystal having it out and embarrassing me in front of Sean’s mother. Or, Daddy choking the life out of Brent for eating up the one dish he spent over an hour arguing about before it was even prepared. Sadly, my money was on Daddy losing his mind.

  “Well, that’s part of it.” Daddy began again. He cleared his throat in that all too familiar way, which meant he was about to tell us some long drawn out story. “It appears they weren’t doing too well financially, Megan and her husband that is. He lost his job at the real-estate firm he worked for. I think Jon told me he tried being an independent realtor for a while, but he was having a tough time finding clients. Megan had been supporting them while he was out of work for over a year.”

  “So, did he find a job?” Crystal asked impatiently. My dad was an eloquent man, but he was also long-winded.

  “Let me finish first,” Daddy fussed, throwing her a look of irritation. His thick, bushy brows bunched together as he let his gaze linger on Crystal for a few more seconds. He was getting annoyed with all the constant interruptions.

  “Well, he couldn’t find a job. Megan suggested he go back to school to get another degree. He didn’t agree with the suggestion, and the arguing started. One fight led to another, and she came knocking at her parents’ door with a string of suitcases behind her,” Daddy explained with a sad shake of his head.

  “Wow, so did the break up happen because he couldn’t find a job?” I asked. “That seems so ridiculous. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I understand it may have been difficult for them financially, but they vowed for richer or poorer.”

  “See, Lashawnda that’s where you got it all wrong,” Mrs. Colcord said. Her and Momma looked at each other and laughed at some inside joke.

  “What do you mean?” Crystal asked as she side-eyed Brian. “Lashawnda is right. They should try to stick together through this tough time. Isn’t that what you older folks are always preaching? I see so much meme’s online about how young people nowadays don’t know how to fight for their marriage.”

  “I’ll let your father explain it,” Mrs. Colcord s
aid, with a wave of her fork.

  Daddy sat down his knife and fork and looked at each of us before he spoke. I was more than interested in hearing what he had to say. My parents have been married for over twenty-five years. Obviously, he knew something about making it work and I was ready for the free lesson.

  “You see, a man is bred by society to wear the pants in the relationship. I know, I know…what y’all are thinking. But, even as advanced as we are in modern society, men are still held to that standard. Maybe not by some women, but by other men. So, when he’s forced to take off those pants and let his woman take care of him, it emasculates him,” Daddy explained.

  “Daddy, that’s not true,” I said disbelievingly. Sure, Momma stayed at home while he worked. I had always assumed that’s just the way they agreed on things, not some antiquated set of rules. Had my mom given up her dreams just to appease my father’s masculinity?

  “Sean, would you let your wife take care of you?” Daddy sat back in his chair. Those deep brown eyes, just like my own, held an intent glower. My attention shifted to Sean.

  “No, I wouldn’t. I know it seems old school, but if it boiled down to me losing my job and being unable to support my family, I wouldn’t be able to live with my wife being the sole bearer of our financial responsibilities, especially for over a year,” Sean stated with conviction.

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  “So, you would have a problem with a woman if she made more money than you?” I asked.

  “I’m not saying that. But if she made more money than me whatever excess she had needs to be put in a trust for our children’s education or something. But, our day to day living, that is my responsibility,” Sean answered.

  “Lashawnda, y’all women don’t see the problem because you think with your hearts all the time. Can you imagine going out with your boys knowing you had to get a weekly allowance from your wife just to buy beer? That’s not a good feeling. Sorry, but dude was wrong for staying unemployed for so long,” Brent said joining the conversation.

  “I know we all have our pride, but I’m sure he could have found something to do during that year to make a living,” Daddy pointed out.

  Sean and Brent nodded in agreement.

  “Some of us at this table need to be a little less judgmental. At least I can say I did things the right way. I made an honest woman out of my wife before knocking her up.” Brian heaped an enormous helping of mashed potatoes onto his fork and stuffed it into his mouth. “Isn’t that right, Lashawnda?”

  “Excuse me?” I asked, slowly processing the sudden switch in conversation.

  “You know what I’m talking about. Acting all high and mighty, yet you got knocked up by some man you’ve only known for a hot second,” Brian scoffed, eying me with a disdainful sneer. “Some men may need a little help. But, some of y’all women need even more.”

  I sat stunned by Brian’s outburst and even more shocked at the dirty smirk and the wink he threw in my direction.

  Once the initial shock wore off, I realized why he hadn’t joined in to bolster the men’s argument regarding gender roles. When he first started dating Crystal, he was finishing school. For the first three months of their marriage, he didn’t have a job, so Crystal was left supporting him. I hadn’t even thought about it while the conversation was going on. I understood why Brian would feel uncomfortable. But that was no reason for him to toss me under the bus.

  The heat rose to my cheeks, and a burning sensation began to build behind my eyes. I didn’t have to look toward the head of the table to know my father was shooting daggers at Sean and me. My heart had stopped momentarily when Brian said the words ‘knocked up’. Suddenly, it began racing so fast I felt as though it would jump right out of my throat if I opened my mouth.

  Dang it! I think I’m having a panic attack. I thought, placing a shaking hand on my chest.

  “What the hell did you just say?” Daddy asked in a frighteningly calm voice.

  The food I had eaten turned sour in my stomach. Not waiting to hear Brian’s response, I quickly pushed away from the table and raced out of the dining room. Unfortunately, I left behind my other half with balled-up fists, ready to knock that smirk right off Brian’s face.

  CHAPTER 9

  SEAN

  I felt my spirit leave my body. I knew exactly when it occurred; at that precise moment, my vision blurred, shadowing the room in a fiery, red haze.

  Brian had trespassed into forbidden territory by taking a shot at Lashawnda. It was rude, tasteless, and blatantly unnecessary. She was the last person in the world who had any ill feelings toward him. A fierce growl sounded deep in my chest, and my lips hardened into a thin line. He had crossed the line, and I was fucking pissed.

  Seeing Lashawnda’s face morph into hurt like that, set me off. I slowly stood up and placed my fisted hands flat on the surface of the cherry wood dining table. Brent stood up as well. Since we were teenagers, he’d witnessed a few instances where I had to lay hands on some asshole who took my amiable demeanor for weakness. At my height and build, Brian didn’t have shit on me, especially with the anger coursing through my veins.

  “What. The. Fuck. Is. Your. Problem?” I asked in a clipped voice, finally bringing Brian’s face into focus.

  The dam was threatening to break by the force of my rage, and I was trying with all my might to rein it in. The strain from my efforts warmed my face. When Brian failed to answer quickly, I stepped back from the table. The chair scraped heavily against the wood floor.

  “Sean Tyler Colcord,” my mother warned.

  She reached over and placed a calming hand on my forearm. She knew I wasn’t easily provoked, but when it happened, there would be hell to pay. Brian obviously didn’t know who the fuck he was messing with. The Colcord temper my mother claimed I inherited from my father could be deadly if unleashed. There were times it got the better of me, not always but it had happened. When I didn’t immediately respond to Ma, she squeezed my arm again, harder.

  I broke my gaze with Brian and looked at her. She shook her head reproachfully. If I fucked him up right now, not only would I create problems, but it wouldn’t look right in the eyes of Lashawnda’s parents. As much as I wanted to, this wasn’t the right time. I took a deep breath and nodded at Ma that I was okay. Besides, Brian wasn’t who I needed to devote my attention to now.

  “I fucking hope you’re not still sitting there when I get back.” I warned, pointing my finger at his face.

  “Brian, my office now!” Mr. Price slammed his fist forcefully on the table. The knife balancing at the side of his plate rattled loudly then clattered to the floor. Brian placed his napkin on the table next to his plate and then followed behind Mr. Price.

  “Shit,” Crystal murmured underneath her breath as she covered her face.

  Brent took his seat then reached over and pulled Crystal’s chair closer to his. She looked like she was about to explode at any moment. Brent wrapped an arm around her shoulder trying to calm her down.

  “Crystal…” Mrs. Price began tenderly.

  Crystal jerked her body away from Brent.

  “Crystal,” Mrs. Price said again.

  “Not now, Momma.” She pushed away from the table. “I know this is my fault for him being rude to Lashawnda.”

  Brent attempted to grab her wrist and make her take a seat. But she was highly agitated and shot him an angry glare, pulling her arm out of his reach.

  “I hope you see some of this is your fault too. I’m sorry I don’t mean to be rude, but I told you to stay out of it. But instead of listening to my wishes you butted in,” Crystal said to her mother.

  “Crystal Ann Marie,” Mrs. Price scolded.

  “I’m sorry, Momma. I know you’re trying to help. I can take care of myself,” she said before walking out of the dining room and through the door leading out to the backyard.

  “Ma, Mrs. Price, please excuse my language,” I quickly added before storming out of the room.

 
; I wanted to hit something as I stomped out of the dining room. Putting a hole through Lashawnda’s parents’ hallway wall wouldn’t do anything to make this situation better. But, it damn sure would help in releasing some of this pent-up rage. Brian had no idea how much my mother just saved his life. It took the grace of God for me to leave the room without first delivering some bodily harm. The distinct sound of the bathroom door slamming made me quicken my pace.

  If that asshole Brian was back at the table when I got returned, I would break his fucking nose. Who the hell gloats about turning a peaceful family dinner into a shit show by being an asshole? I balled my hands into a tight fist. It’s been far too long since I had to get physical with someone. I thought I was over shit like this when I left college.

  Of all people, no one could ever insinuate Lashawnda was somehow less than an honorable woman if she were to get pregnant out of wedlock. The woman was a fucking saint. Damn sure too good for the likes of me. And, far too good to even be in the presence of trash like Brian. He was fortunate Lashawnda was such a nice girl. Some other woman would have cursed him out for his crass remark.

  Suddenly, the tiny part of my brain that was still functioning correctly processed what exactly had just taken place at the table. My legs ceased cooperating, and I stopped dead in my tracks.

  “Lashawnda’s pregnant?” I murmured out loud.

  I ran my open palm over my face and scratched the hair on the back of my head. Thoughts of all that had happened in the last few weeks came back to me. I remembered the last time Lashawnda and I had had any unprotected sex was the night I accidentally met her parents. In truth, we had spent the entire weekend making love without any barriers protecting against the possibilities of a pregnancy. And, since that time I couldn’t think of an instance when we had slipped up.

  Again, my thoughts went back to that night; I remembered Lashawnda saying her period would start in a few weeks. Mentally, I counted backward. It was just over four weeks since that time. Since we spent every night together, she hadn’t refused to have sex because of her monthly.