Page 64 of Quiet as Kept

“I’m being good,” Dakota said.

“I be good,” Destin lied.

I had to laugh.

Xarielle blew them kisses, told them good night, that she loved them, and that she couldn’t wait to see them in the morning. What I couldn’t wait for was to get her in that hotel room.

We ate the light finger food I’d ordered in advance and drank the signature cocktails that Yahirah insisted we have the bartender create—the “Something Old Fashioned” based on myaffinity for Old Fashioneds and the “Marry Me Margarita” for Xarielle. We laughed and joked around until we all really were exhausted.

As we said our goodbyes for the night, I called out to my father. “Pops, let’s do breakfast in the morning. You, Vivienne, Xarielle, and me. Nine o’clock sound good?”

Vivienne looked completely shocked.

Gannon nodded easily. “Yeah, June. Text me the name and the address of the restaurant. We’ll be there.”

We chose to have breakfast at a little restaurant across the street from the hotel that my father and Vivienne were staying at.

After all the niceties were out of the way and we’d ordered our food, my dad spoke.

“June, I’m glad you asked to talk to us, because we have a few things we wanted to share with you and Xarielle.”

I appreciated him including Xarielle since she was a big part of my future.

“Vivienne and I have been talking and going back and forth about relocating. Londynville has been our home for all of these years, but we’re looking for something different. We considered several places. The first of which was, of course, New Orleans. We considered Central Florida and even Texas. But at the end of the day, life is about family. I have four children, and you’re the only one who has given me grandchildren.” He eyed me sneakily. “And I feel pretty confident that you’re gonna give me at least a few more.”

I was definitely with him on that tip. I couldn’t wait to see Xarielle’s pretty ass all filled up with a life that I put there.

“We want to be close to our grands and see them grow up. We’ve decided to move to Jackson Island,” he continued.

“Wow,” I said.

At the exact same time, Xarielle said, “Yay!” and clapped her hands.

“Wow,” I repeated.

“Kept, I know how you feel about me—” Vivienne began.

I cut her off. “That’s what I wanted to talk about. Vivienne, because neither you or my dad ever talked to me about what the real situation was or what the circumstances of my birth and young life were, I heard bits and pieces from other people. I’m sure you know this, but a couple of months ago, I was finally able to sit down with my dad and hear firsthand what actually went on. I’ve been making inferences and having judgments about you based on things that turned out to be bullshit and lies.”

Gannon chuckled. “He thought you were myfavoritegroupie. The one I couldn’t get enough of.”

Vivienne’s jaw dropped before a scowl covered her otherwise pretty face.

“Groupie? I don’t have to imagine who said that. If anybody was a groupie, it was Miss Pass-Around Susie, Priscilla Ragland.” Vivienne huffed. “Gannon and I were a couple. We were in a relationship. She was the one laying it low and spreading it wide for anybody in a uniform and cleats. The nerve of that heifer to tell my son that I was the groupie. Me? Vivienne Russell. Your father was my first, Kept?—”

I held up my hands. “Hey. Whoa. Hey. You’re taking it too far, Vivienne. I don’t need to know all of that.”

Everybody at the table fell into laughter, and just like that, the tension eased.

“Look.” I gave my mother direct eye contact. “I would like to create a space for us to get to know each other. But I gotta be honest, I have a lot of resentment and just…”

“Hurt,” she whispered with what I knew without a doubt was love in her eyes. “You have hurt, Kept. I know men don’t like to admit to being hurt, but I understand what a mother’s absence does. I grew up without my mother’s love or even like. I understand the kind of void it leaves.”

“Yeah, so I feel like it would be best if we tried to figure out how to navigate a relationship under the guidance of a trained therapist. I’m seeing somebody. If you’d be willing, I’d like for you and my dad to come to a group session with me.”

“Oh, Kept.” Vivienne clasped her hands together as tears formed in her eyes.

“I’m definitely open to that, June.” My dad nodded his head. “Just tell me when and where.”