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

  Was I really doing this?

  Today I would meet my boyfriend’s mother for the first time. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, shaking my hands and bouncing on my toes. I quickly checked my makeup in the hall mirror. The neutral shades added just enough color to my face to make my dark skin glow. Putting on makeup was all Crystal’s idea. I personally didn’t want to do too much because I wanted Sean’s mother to meet me as me, not some made up version.

  The tension in our house had calmed down a lot since earlier this morning. Momma and Daddy avoided the subject of Brian’s attendance. It was for the best because Momma’s nerves were shot with anxiety. She threw out a perfectly good pan of cornbread because it wasn’t ‘moist enough’. Crystal and I tried to convince her otherwise, but she wouldn’t hear of it. After thirty minutes, we figured it was pointless because she ended up sending Crystal to the store for more cornmeal and buttermilk. Daddy had rolled his eyes and stomped off to his office, grumbling about, ‘wastefulness’ under his breath.

  I was choosing to stay out of the line of fire. Daddy was already complaining about the amount of money we spent at the grocery store on Friday night. When he caught sight of the almost six-hundred-dollar bill, he nearly burst a blood vessel. Crystal and I acted as if we were oblivious to what was going on; looking around the kitchen and trying to avoid his line of questioning.

  He actually went through each and every item on the bill and double checked the prices. He swore there was no way dinner for eight people should cost that much. He made sure to point out that they already had food in the house from shopping on Sunday; so, it wasn’t as if they were starting from scratch.

  Daddy brought each item into question and wanted to know which dish we planned on preparing with it. When he got to the snow crab legs, he stopped talking and looked at everyone in the kitchen. He made Momma explain why she needed snow crab legs to make crab cakes. Momma didn’t understand what the big deal was. Just because they happened to be fifteen dollars a pound wasn’t her problem. She wanted to make crab cakes, and the main ingredient was crab; hence, the reason she purchased it. Daddy argued that she should have bought the cheap stuff in the can or the imitation crab meat they used in the seafood salad at his job.

  Crystal and I laughed our asses off when Daddy pulled out the scale and weighed the crab and the crab shells separately. He packaged the shells in a plastic bag and told Momma to return them to the seafood market and ask for a refund. She ignored him and told Crystal to go throw them in the trash. But he wouldn’t let her and went on arguing for the better part of the night that he refused to pay fifteen dollars per pound for something he wasn’t going to eat. I swore I wet my pants a little when he told her she better create a new dish that included snow crab shells.

  We sat back and watched the play-by-play between my mother and father, enjoying every moment of it. I truly missed living at home—not that I would ever think about moving back in. Sean, and I had a life, now, and I hoped we would have nights just like this with our own children in the future.

  I let out an audible sigh and wiped the corner of my mouth to freshen up my lip gloss. Momma was in the kitchen fussing over the food again, triple checking everything to make sure we had it all squared away. I couldn’t understand why she was freaking out about the food. If it was me, I would be more worried about Daddy losing his cool and choking out Brian at the table if he showed up.

  “Momma, it’s not a big deal. I swear Sean’s mom will love everything you prepared. I’ve spoken to her numerous times; she’s a really nice lady,” I said kissing her on her forehead. Like Crystal, Momma was petite, and I had to bend just a little at the waist.

  “I know that. I just want everything to be perfect,” she replied brushing off my comment with a wave of her hand.

  “Okay, well, Sean just called and said, they were on their way,” I informed her.

  Momma nodded and walked out of the kitchen toward Daddy’s office. The plan was for the women to spend some time chatting and getting to know each other while the guys did the same out in the yard. It was all Daddy’s idea to have things set up like that. He had saved smoking the salmon until then so, he wouldn’t be forced to stay in the house making small talk with the women. Momma initially planned to have dinner ready at five o’clock, but Mrs. Colcord was dying to meet everyone. Yesterday morning, she called and pleaded to come over early. She had even offered to help with the cooking. So, here they were, coming a few hours earlier than expected.

  “Phil, can you please light the grill? They are on the way,” Momma said standing at the entrance to his office. She was trying to make her voice sound more pleading and less demanding. After thirty-plus years of marriage, she was a pro at sweet talking my daddy.

  Daddy’s sigh of resignation made me shake my head. He was about to say something slick but held his tongue. He was a smart man. No one wanted to get on Momma’s bad side right now. Not with the way she was running around all morning like a chicken with its head cut off.

  “I’ll get to it now, dear.” He nodded and placed a kiss on her forehead before making his way out to the backyard.

  I was in the kitchen wiping down the counters when I got a text from Sean that they were pulling up.

  “Momma, they’re here!” I yelled, self-consciously patting and adjusting my clothes.

  “Okay, how do I look?” Momma asked taking off her apron and pushing up her roller-set with the palm of her hand.

  “Momma, you look fine. Why are you freaking out like this?” I asked with sincerity.

  “Because, I like Sean, and I want his mother to feel comfortable in our home.” She peeked out the side window and watched Sean’s truck pull up to the house. “Is that Brent?” she asked.

  I followed her line of vision and smiled as Brent got out of the car. The luxury sports car he was driving was the same one Sean took me out in on our first date. Brent’s pretty boy flare as he stepped out of the car spoke volumes. He was used to nice things and didn’t mind flaunting his wealth.

  “Yep, that’s him.” I was wrong for thinking it, but I couldn’t wait to watch how things would go down with Brent, Brian, and Crystal in the same room.

  “Let’s go. We don’t need to look like peeping Toms,” Momma fussed, yet she was the main one staring out the window.

  We walked out of the kitchen and down the hall toward the front door, with Momma leading the way. Daddy and Crystal came up behind me. I opened the door just in time to watch Sean helping his mother down from his truck. I smiled as I watched Brent run over to take her other hand.

  “Boys, why are you treating me like I’m crippled?” Mrs. Colcord said swatting both of their arms. “Move now so I can walk.”

  Sean’s mother was gorgeous. She had an infectious smile that shown even while she was scolding them. The pictures I’d seen of Sean’s father clearly revealed he was tall and ruggedly handsome just like him, but there was a hint of his mother in there as well. Watching the corners of Mrs. Colcord’s mouth lift into a smile, I knew exactly where it was.

  As Mrs. Colcord made her way up the walkway, she spotted me coming down from the porch. It was as if our spirits had met in a different lifetime. She wasn’t a stranger. She looked like she was trying her hardest not to rub her hands together in glee. I hurried up the path and met her halfway between the front door and the curb.

  “Hi, Mrs. Colcord. It’s nice to finally meet you in person,” I greeted, my voice cracking slightly at the sight of Sean’s mother.

  Yes, I had spoken to the older woman a few times on the phone, but those short conversations had nothing on actually seeing her in person. Now I was starting to feel as nervous as my mother.

  “Oh, look at how pretty you are—and tall.” Sandra Colcord grabbed my hands, squeezing my fingers with joyful enthusiasm. “Oh yes, my Sean has always liked them tall. Ooh Lord, you did good with this one. I hope he’s treating you right. I know he’s new to all this relationship stuff, but I always taught my boy how to b
e a gentleman. His father had a real sweet tongue with the ladies, but he always treated me like a queen. And, that’s what I showed my boy. We all know how men can get, so if he acts up don’t hesitate to call me. I’ll make sure to string ‘em up right. Yes, I will.”

  “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, ma’am,” I said trying to keep a straight face.

  Just like our phone conversations, Mrs. Colcord was quite a talker. I learned she wasn’t someone to talk just for the sound of hearing her own voice. She always had something good to say. She clutched my hands between her own. “Come now, we’re family. None of that, ‘ma’am’ stuff. Call me Sandra or Mama. Give me a big hug.”

  She pulled me down and wrapped me in a tight embrace. She placed little kisses on my cheeks and repeatedly thanked God for setting her son’s wayward privates straight. At that pronouncement I couldn’t hold back my laughter. Sean had loose dick syndrome and there was no denying it.

  I had to bite the inside of my cheeks listening to Mrs. Colcord. I glanced up at her son to study his reaction. He’d been warning me all week not to pay his mother any mind when I met her. I could see now where those warnings came from. Poor Sean’s face had turned as red as his favorite cherry pie.

  “Okay, Ma. That’s enough. Give Lashawnda some air to breathe,” Sean said trying to get his mother to stop talking. At the rate she was going, she was bound to let something horrible slip out about him.

  “Oh, don’t shush me, Sean. I can talk as much as I want. Besides, Lashawnda doesn’t mind. I’m as happy as a gator in a meat market,” she said finally pulling away from our hug.

  “I’m happy too,” I reassured her and slipped my arm around the older woman’s shoulder. “Come, I want you to meet my parents.”

  I was in such jubilant spirit; I didn’t even notice Sean standing with his arms stretched toward me waiting for a hug. But Brent sure did. I turned in time to witness him patting Sean on the shoulder remorsefully.

  “That’s how it is my friend. Mama’s in, and you’re out,” he teased Sean.

  “Shut up,” Sean answered as he playfully brushed off Brent’s hand.

  “Boys, come on, now, don’t keep the Prices waiting,” Mrs. Colcord said from her place by my side.

  “Coming, Ma,” Brent and Sean said in unison.

  My parents stood out on the porch and watched as Sean’s mother gushed over me. From where I stood, I could practically see Momma breathe a sigh of relief. Last night she told me she prayed his mother would accept me as her son’s love. Growing up in the south, Momma had seen a thing or two when it came to dealing with some white folks; especially older ones. Some were real. What you saw was what you got. But some would be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, waiting for the right opportunity to show you exactly how sharp their teeth were. Interracial relationships could be a sticky subject for some. I knew this was the reason she was uneasy all morning.

  We made it to the porch and walked up the three short steps. Momma stood with her hands held tight at her waist with Daddy at her side. The concern wasn’t evident on her face, but I knew she was nervous. We came to a stop in front of them.

  “Mrs. Colcord, these are my parents, Phil and Elizabeth Price. Momma, Daddy, this is Sean’s mother, Sandra Colcord,” I said making the introductions.

  “Hi, how y’all doing,” Mrs. Colcord said, beaming at the couple. She reached in and pulled Momma in for a big hug, like the one she gave me. She did the same with Daddy, catching them both off-guard.

  “Y’all raised a fine, young lady. I’m so happy my Sean got the nerve to ask her out. He sure needed a good girl in his life after all that whoring around he was doing—”

  “Ma,” Sean warned.

  “What? Boy, we are all family, now. And, we know, ain’t no secrets between family.” She turned back to Momma. “Ain’t that right, Elizabeth? Can I call you Elizabeth?”

  “You right about that. And, you may not call me Elizabeth—call me Ellie, all of my friends do.” Momma gave her a genuine smiled.

  Brent took that opportunity to make his presence known by clearing his throat noisily.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I almost forgot. Momma this is Sean’s best friend, Brent Thomas. They went to high school and college together,” I said, pulling Brent into the conversation.

  Brent shook Daddy’s hand and placed a kiss on Momma’s cheek. Like classic Brent, he couldn’t go without making her blush when he complimented her beauty.

  “I see where Crystal gets her beautiful smile.” His flattery made Momma giggle like a schoolgirl.

  Sean folded his arms across his chest and placed his hand over his mouth to cover his laughter. When I raised my brows in a question of what was so funny, he angled his head toward my father. I turned in time to see the unfriendly looks Brent was getting from Daddy.

  “Oh, you’ve met my Crystal?” Daddy asked.

  Speaking of Crystal, I looked around the front porch and didn’t see any signs of her. When I peeked over Momma’s shoulder, I caught sight of her whispering heatedly into her phone. I could only imagine one person she would be arguing with, and that’s Brian.

  “Sure have,” Brent boasted, but quickly changed his tone to sound a little less flirtatious when he caught Sean’s glare. “Just once…she’s a very nice girl.”

  Everyone noticed the silent message passed between Sean and Brent. My father smirked, and I could tell Sean had gained extra brownie points with him. I made a mental note to find out what that was all about when Sean and I got some time alone.

  “Come on in, I got a meddlesome next-door neighbor who is probably breaking her neck right now to see who’s visiting.” Momma said as she ushered everyone inside.

  The two older women walked into the house first. Daddy led Brent out through the kitchen toward the backyard. I heard Mrs. Colcord gushing over the curtains in the front sitting room. I could just imagine Momma beaming with pride and Daddy shaking his head. She forced him to put up those curtains at almost midnight last night because she didn’t want the old ones up anymore.

  I was about to follow the women into the sitting room when a throat cleared behind me. I turned to see Sean standing in the foyer with his hands crossed over his chest.

  “Come here,” he commanded.

  I peeked over my shoulder to see if we had company, then stepped closer to him. Sean reached down and pulled me by my belt buckle until I was flush against him.

  “What?” I asked as I looked up at his stern expression.

  “What? You’re joking, right?”

  “No, seriously, what.” I scrunched up my face in confusion.

  Sean shook his head. “Oh, I see how it is. It’s been almost four days since I’ve seen you, and now that I bring my mom over, you act like I don’t exist. No hey, howdy, or hello.”

  “Poor, momma’s baby. Are you upset?” I smiled and wrapped my arms around his waist. Sean was right. I hadn’t greeted him properly upon meeting his mother. My lack of consideration should mortify me, but it wasn’t every day my man’s mother came to dinner.

  “Most definitely,” Sean answered while looking down at me. His green eyes were hooded and low, warming me from inside out.

  “Want me to kiss it and make it all better?” I looked up at him and batted my eyelashes, speaking as if I was talking to an infant. “Come, show me where it hurts.”

  Sean smiled and tapped the place above his heart.

  I kissed him there while staring straight into his stormy, green eyes.

  He tapped his forehead.

  I palmed his face and pulled him down, giving him an open-mouthed kiss on the spot.

  He tapped his cheeks.

  I placed a peck first on his left, then on his right.

  He tapped his nose.

  I smiled deeply and used my teeth to nip the tip of his long nose.

  He tapped his lips.

  I placed my hand on Sean’s firm chest for balance, eased up on my toes, wetted my lips, and…

  “Lashawnda? Come on,
now. Leave that boy alone. You got plenty of time after I’ve gone back home to play kissy-face. This here is my time to spend with you.” Sandra Colcord’s voice stopped my lips dead in their tracks.

  They were no more than a whisper away from Sean’s mouth, but I wouldn’t dream of going any farther with his mother standing there. Dropping back down flat on my feet, I pouted playfully and whispered, ‘sorry’ before shuffling off into the kitchen behind his mother.

  If I had turned around, I would have seen the looks between mother and son. Later that night, Sean told me how his mother purposely interrupted us to get back at him for not telling her what happened between us that morning. Mrs. Colcord confirmed his assumptions when she stuck her tongue out at him before sashaying into the kitchen.

  CHAPTER 7

  SEAN

  Monday couldn’t come quick enough. I was dying to have Lashawnda all to myself again.

  Ma was acting out because I didn’t tell her the details of the little dispute Lashawnda and I had this morning. I chuckled, shaking my head at her antics and how she interrupted us before I could taste my lady’s full lips. The lip gloss Lashawnda wore had been tempting me to kiss it off since I showed up at her parent’s house. Something about seeing her glimmering mouth shiny was a turn on. I adjusted my pants and coughed uncomfortably. There was no need getting myself all riled up.

  I was sitting outside on the back patio with a glass of the best lemonade I’d ever tasted at my fingertips. The sweet and tart flavors were balanced to perfection. The sun was beaming high in the sky, a perfect day to be outside grilling. It was made even more perfect because my girl’s father seemed to have taken a liking to me—exposed ass incident and all.

  I was admiring Mr. Price’s skills on the grill. There were a few pieces of chicken, steaks, and sausages being cooked. The sausages came after Brent’s stomach made the loudest commotion known to man from being empty. Mr. Price laughed when it happened five times in a row, and he joked that it said, ‘feed me, Seymour.’