House Divided (24 page)

The drive to church was a pretty quiet
affair. Brady held my hand and squeezed it frequently. That was pretty much our
only form of communication until we got to the church. It was probably a good
thing, too, because I felt like I was going to lose my breakfast that Doris
had so lovingly prepared.

As soon as he turned off his truck, I took
a deep breath. This was so wrong. No one should feel this way when they’re
going to church.

“Remind me of the names of your nieces and
nephews and who belongs to who,” I said.

“Bailey and Brinley are Beau’s twin
eighteen-year-old daughters, and his son is named after him and is sixteen …” Apparently
this family loved B names. “… Booker also has a sixteen-year-old son named
Joshua and a thirteen-year-old girl named Carden.”

“Ok. I think I got it.”

He rubbed my shoulders. “Ellie, it’s going
to be ok.”

“Don’t you dare leave my side for one
minute, not even a second.”

He grinned. “Darlin’, I don’t ever plan on
leaving your side.”

“Do I look ok?” I nervously asked.

He looked me over carefully. I was wearing
a charcoal gray fitted long sleeve dress with a tanned colored mid length
jacket, matching scarf and high heeled boots.

He kissed my cheek. “I can barely contain
myself.”

I playfully smacked him.

He laughed. “You’re gorgeous as always.”

“Thank you.”

“So are you ready?”

“No, but let’s go.”

He looked at me sweetly, with a knowing
look, and he helped me out. We weren’t as much of an attraction as we had been
the week before. Hopefully that meant the novelty was wearing off and we would
become old news soon. Brady kept his arm around me as we walked into the
chapel. We were the last of his family to arrive. Caroline immediately ran to
us and threw her arms around me as soon as we walked in the double doors.

I looked down into that sweet face. “Good
morning, sugar.”

“Miss Ellie, my cousins are here.”

I looked up, and everyone was staring at
me, or maybe glaring. Except Benjamin and Kendra, they were giving me, “I’m so
sorry” looks.

Brady picked Caroline up before I could
respond. “Where’s
my
hug, darlin’?” Brady asked her.

She squeezed his neck tight. He put her
back down and took my hand. I took Caroline’s hand as well and we walked over.
By now, the whole congregation was interested in what we were doing. All of a
sudden I felt very warm. I felt the pressure of Brady’s hand trying to be
reassuring, but it wasn’t working. It looked like Beau’s family was sitting in
front of his parents and Benjamin and Booker’s family were sharing a pew
behind. A feeling of dread came over me. It looked like we would be sitting by
his parents and sandwiched in between hostiles.

I had to keep looking at Brady and
reminding myself who I was doing this for. The scrutinizing glances were quite
apparent and unnerving, especially from the beauty queen wives, Rachelle and
Sherrie. Then there was his momma; she looked like she was planning to serve me
for lunch later. She sat on the end, and Brady’s daddy sat next to her, but not
close.

“Good morning, y’all.” Brady said as we made
it to the inner circle of hell.  Everyone kind of murmured a response, except
his momma. She was stone cold.

Caroline pulled on my arm. “Can I sit with
you, Miss Ellie?”

“Of course, sugar, as long as it’s ok with
your parents.” I looked at Kendra and she gave the go ahead and a supportive
smile. I smiled back, even though I kind of felt like crying or running.

Brady led me further into the fiery
furnace. I think if his momma could have tripped me, she would have. His daddy
at least gave us a small smile as we walked past. Caroline hugged her granddad
as we walked by and then sat next to him. He seemed to really enjoy her. I
ended up near Caroline, and Brady was at the end. I had wanted the end, but it
seemed too obvious to switch places with Brady. As soon as we sat down, Brady
properly introduced me. They showed manners and at least acknowledged my
presence. The twin girls surprised me and complimented my boots and asked where
I bought them. It was a small victory.

Thankfully, the service was about to
start, so everyone faced forward but me. I looked next to me. I was watching
Isaac with Caroline. He handed her a tootsie roll from his pocket and she
kissed his cheek. He looked at me, and I smiled. I don’t know why I kept doing
that around him. I think it was his eyes. I could see Brady in them. He handed
me a tootsie roll too.

I was so taken aback I just sat there with
it in my hand and looked at it, I even forgot to say thank you. Brady brought
me out of my stupor by sweetly kissing my temple. I looked over at him. He
looked at me like I was his whole world.

We were interrupted by Benjamin, who sat
forward and whispered between us, “Ok lovebirds, you can save your sappy looks
for after church.”

We both smiled and looked forward. I tried
to enjoy the sermon, but it was hard. The covert glances from in front of us
and the icy stares of his momma had me distracted. But oddly, it was the stares
of his daddy that I found the most interesting. He looked my way often, but he
wasn’t being unkind. On the contrary, they were gentle, sweet looks.

By the end of the service, I was quite glad
it was over. I had never wanted to go to Sunday School so much in my life, but
unfortunately no one in Brady’s family seemed keen to move right away. I just
looked at Brady for direction. Thankfully, he took the hint and stood up, and I
followed suit. Benjamin and Kendra did the same. At least they had a good
excuse to leave, they had to take Caroline to the children’s Sunday School
class. She kissed both her grandparents goodbye and waved to everyone else. She
was precious.

Brady looked between his brothers and
their wives. “Are y’all staying for Sunday School?”

They all replied they were going home with
his parents. Inwardly I breathed a sigh of relief. We said our goodbyes, and
then I lied in church when I said it was nice to meet them all. They all looked
like they didn’t know what to say to me. His momma stood up. She was ready for
me to leave. As I walked toward the Promised Land, as it were, Brady’s daddy
reached up and touched my arm to stop us from moving forward. I was
flabbergasted by the gesture, but not as much as by what came out of his mouth.

He looked up and toward his son. “Brady,
bring this young lady to Christmas Eve dinner.”

As we walked to Sunday School, the only
term that came to mind was, “Never in a million a years.” We were both too
dazed to speak. Neither of us expected that invitation, and by the stunned
reactions of the rest of the family, neither did they. But I’m glad he asked in
church, in fact I think he did it that way on purpose. He knew it would mute
the reaction of his family, especially that of his wife. Believe me, she was
more than livid, but she also had a reputation to maintain. Brady and I cleared
out of there quickly, though, just in case she decided to blow; she looked like
she might do just that. I could only imagine the car ride home with those two.

I just couldn’t believe that he asked me
to come. Christmas Eve dinner was like the holy grail of family gatherings for
the Jacksons. We walked into Sunday School and found Benjamin and Kendra. Brady
sat next to Benjamin as he quietly told him what had just gone down in the
chapel. I could see Benjamin’s mouth upturn as Brady recounted the story. He
looked quite pleased, and so did Kendra after Benjamin filled her in.

Dave came in and sat on my other side. I
noticed Brady’s arm tighten around me. Like Dave was real competition. Brady
never had any competition where I was concerned, but it still made me smile.

“Still together, huh?” Dave commented.

“We picked out bedroom furniture together
yesterday,” Brady said loudly and proudly. 

That sounded so bad. I couldn’t believe he
said that and in church of all places. I looked at him with my eyebrows raised.
He just smiled like it was no big deal, but in this town, it
was
a big
deal, and I could only imagine the phone calls my aunt was going to get. First,
I sat in enemy territory and now this. 

“So much for you protecting my reputation,
Brady Jackson,” I whispered. 

He looked a little repentant. “Sorry,
Ellie, I just wanted to make it clear you’re all mine.”

“I think you made your point.”

In response to my obvious annoyance, he
clarified to Dave it was for after we were married.

“You’re already engaged!” Dave exclaimed. 

Which of course made us yet again the
center of attention. I was so ready to go home. How do you explain to people
you’re not technically engaged, even though you’re planning on getting married?
It even sounded dumb in my head.

I just shook my head at Brady. He
whispered sorry in my ear, but he didn’t sound very sorry. He sounded amused.
As soon as Sunday School was over, I jumped up. I was more than ready to go
after the morning I’d just had. We quickly said goodbye to Kendra and Benjamin;
I told Kendra I would call her later. I knew she would want to dish on the
Christmas Eve dinner invite. I wished Dave a Merry Christmas and walked out as
fast as I could gracefully.

When we made it to his truck, I went to
the passenger side, not the driver’s side, per my usual. He laughed at my
obvious attempt to put a little distance between us. I tried to open the door,
but he placed his hand against it. I turned and scowled at him.

He smiled. “Ellie, I’m sorry I got carried
away, ok. It’s just, I know Dave has always had a thing for you, and it gets
under my skin.”

“So you thought the best way to go was
letting him and everyone around us think we’re living together and engaged? My
aunt is probably going into cardiac arrest now between that and me sitting with
your family.”

He touched my cheek softly. “Ellie …”

“Brady, I know I shouldn’t care what other
people think, but you have no idea how hard today was for me, but I did it
because I love you. I’m not used to all of this. It’s why I moved away in the
first place.”

He took me in his arms. “Ellie, I love you
and I’m sorry. You’re right, I should have guarded your reputation. I’ll talk
to your aunt.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Maybe not, but I need to.”

He walked me around to his side and helped
me in. We were pretty quiet once again. We had a lot to take in. When he pulled
through my drive and parked in the back, he turned to me. “Ellie, I know today
wasn’t easy for you, and I’m sorry I made it more difficult.” He kissed me
once. “I’ll try to keep my covetous feelings for you under control from now
on.”

I smiled and rolled my eyes.

“Ellie, I love you. And thank you for
today.”

“Speaking of today, why do think your
daddy invited me over?”

“I think it’s his way of trying to make up
for the past. You will come won’t you?”

“Yes. I mean, how could it be worse than
the last time, right?”

He lightly laughed and kissed me.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay like that all day. We had to go in and face the
music. 

My aunt was all propped up on the couch
with her phone in hand when we walked back. I was wondering how many calls
she’d had. By the look on her face, I was guessing quite a few. I left Brady’s
side and sat next to my aunt on the couch. I kissed her cheek and said hello.
She didn’t say anything.

“So … how many people have me pregnant?” I
asked.

Brady laughed and my aunt looked up at him
and gave him the eye before turning back to me.

“Would it make you feel any better if I
said we planned to name it after you if it’s a girl?”

“Do not sass me, Ella Lu.”

Brady braved approaching us on the couch.
The look my aunt gave him should have warned him to proceed with great caution,
but he ignored it. He sat on her other side and took her hands in his. She
turned toward him. I wish I could see her face, but Brady’s showed
determination.

“Luanne, I think it’s time we had it out
once and for all. So here it is. I love Ellie and I want to marry her. In fact,
I’ve wanted to marry her since I was sixteen years old. I know I’ve made a lot
of mistakes, and you have good reasons not to like me or my family. You don’t
know how sorry I am for those mistakes, but I’ve already lost ten years and I
don’t intend to lose any more. We don’t need anyone’s permission or blessing,
but it’s important to Ellie that she have yours, so I’ve been doing what I can
to secure that. I want to be part of your family, Luanne, and more than
anything I want to make Ellie happy, so what do you say we let the past be just
that, the past?”

Whoa. When Brady said he needed to talk to
my Aunt, I had no idea this was what he meant. My eyes were locked on the two
of them. Brady looked at her kindly, but he wasn’t flinching. He meant
business. I was holding my breath, waiting for my aunt to answer him or maybe
smack him, but she just sat there for a moment with her hands in his.

Before she spoke, she sat up taller and
poised herself. “Well, Brady Jackson, that was quite the speech.”

I couldn’t believe it, she said his name!
Brady and I both smiled at each other for a brief moment, but he immediately
turned back to my aunt.

“I hope my trust will not be misplaced in
you. You know the kind of money I have, and believe me when I say, I’m not
afraid to use it,” she warned.

He kissed her cheek. “I would expect
nothing less of you. Thank you, Luanne. Or should I just call you mom now?”

“Don’t push your luck.” She turned to look
at my now tear-stained face.

“I love you, Aunt Lu.”

“I love you more than air, Ella Lu.”