Page 14 of Saved By A Small Town Country Boy
Exiting the barn, I stepped to my truck and hopped inside. Dallas was supposed to be going over to our parents’ house for dinner with me. She may have gotten away with not going to church, but if she didn’t show up for dinner, Ma was gon’ personally hunt her down and drag her ass there herself.
As I sat there in my truck, I thought ’bout when I ran into Remedi earlier and how beautiful she looked.
It was a bit hard to resist her. A good-looking woman like herself, she’s smart as fuck…
has to be to be a veterinarian. I know it’s not hard for her to find a man.
I ain’t saying that there’s anything wrong with me, but I don’t think we have common interests to even think ’bout pursuing anything.
We were from two totally different sides of the tracks.
I’on even think that she’d be able to keep up with my lifestyle.
“I’m ready,” Dallas said when she pulled the truck door open and removed me from my thoughts. Hopping inside, she shut the door behind her, and I pulled out of the driveway.
Our parents’ house wasn’t too far from our home.
We made certain that we didn’t stay too far away.
It was important that we were close enough ’cause I wanted Khali to have access to her grandparents whenever she needed ’em.
When I was growing up, both of my grandparents were dead.
They’d died years apart, both from cancer.
I never knew what it felt like to have grandparents.
That’s something I didn’t want for Khali.
Turning into my parents’ driveway, I drove down toward the house and noticed Remedi’s truck parked. “What’s she doing here?” I asked out loud. It was supposed to be a thought that remained in my mind.
“I don’t know. Let’s find out.” Dallas beamed a smile at me before gripping the door handle and getting out.
I followed closely behind her up to the front door.
We entered the house, not even having to use a key ’cause our parents knew we were on our way and didn’t bother to lock the door as always.
I’m not certain why they did that. I’ve said numerous times that anyone can just walk up into their house at any given time.
Ma still lives in a fantasy that people weren’t crazy enough to do that.
Of course, they weren’t in Magnolia Falls, but that doesn’t mean that someone wouldn’t try it.
Everyone from Magnolia Falls knew who my family was and wouldn’t dare fuck with anyone in my bloodline. They knew I didn’t play ’bout my family, and that’s the quickest way for me to crash the fuck out.
Coming back to reality, I saw Remedi and Khali sitting at the kitchen table exchanging snickers.
I’m not sure how they pulled it off for Remedi to be sitting in my parents’ house right now.
Ma didn’t fuck with strangers too often—she has a trust thing.
Khali had to have begged her to allow Remedi to come over for dinner.
“There’s my baby boy,” Ma spoke, gaining my attention. She stood over by the stainless-steel stove with a pan in her hand. “Y’all can wash up. Dinner is already done.”
Remedi glanced up at me, and her face turned red as tomato paste. I’m not even sure why. She knew this was my parents’ house, so of course I was bound to show up here.
I went over to the sink and washed my hands.
“You missed a good service today, son,” Pops said when he entered the kitchen.
I was the spitting image of my pops. We stood ’bout the same height, almost the same complexion—I was just a couple shades darker.
The only difference between us was the fact that I had a beard and he didn’t.
“You sure did, Daddy,” of course, Khali had to add to it.
“Can you remove that hat before sitting at my table?” Ma questioned me when I reached for a paper towel to dry my hands. She of all people knew that I didn’t sit down at no dinner table with a hat on my head.
Taking off the hat, I slid it onto the counter closest to the door and went over to the table to sit down.
“I saved you a seat,” Ma acknowledged, pointing at the empty chair alongside Remedi. Now she knows that every Sunday, I always sat next to Khali. She thought she was slick, but the shit wasn’t ’bout to work. Pulling out the chair next to Remedi, I sat down.
“Hi,” she said in a low tone and fiddled with her fingers in her lap.
“Hey,” was the only response she got out of me.
Ma placed the rest of the food on the table and took a seat next to Pops. Dallas reached for a roll, and Ma whacked her hand.
Frowning, Dallas snatched her hand back and rubbed it. “You know we have to say grace first,” Ma told her. “Now lower your heads.”
They all bowed their heads. While no one was looking, Dallas snatched one of the rolls and stuffed it into her mouth as if she hadn’t eaten anything in days.
Obviously, that’s far from the truth. Her kitchen stayed fully stocked.
Honestly, I think she has more food than me and I’m the one who actually runs the got damn farm.
“Heavenly Father, we thank You for this meal, for the hands that prepared it, and for the blessing of being together. Please bless this food to nourish our bodies and keep us in good health. In Jesus’s name, Amen,” Ma said and lifted her head.
Everyone dug into the food. “This is probably the best meatloaf I’ve ever tasted,” Remedi made known before stuffing another piece into her mouth.
“Ma makes the best food in town,” Dallas assured her.
“I believe it,” Remedi replied.
“Remedi, I have show and tell coming up at school. Can you come? The other kids wouldn’t believe me if I told them I knew a veterinarian.” A smile coursed Khali’s lips.
Remedi looked down at Khali and stroked her hair before replying, “I’d love to come.”
Once we finished eating, Khali went outside to play with Dallas.
Remedi stayed behind in the kitchen helping Ma wash the dishes while I sat in the living room with Pops.
I eyed her from the couch as she moved around the kitchen.
She tucked the right side of her hair back behind her ear.
Her smile was soft and unguarded, the kind that lit up her eyes and made the world feel gentle again.
“You like her?” Pops questioned me, bringing me from my thoughts.
“I’on know what you’re talking ’bout,” I told him and got up.
“I bet you don’t.”
I trudged out the front door and saw Khali and Dallas playing jump rope in the driveway. The door opened up behind me, and Remedi exited with her purse.
“I wanted to thank you for taking care of Beauty for us,” I spoke before she stepped off the porch.
“It was really no problem.” Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at me, and the sunlight softened her face, giving her a natural, glowing warmth. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.” She stepped off the porch and met Khali in the driveway. They hugged, and then she strutted to her truck.