Page 55 of Home Body
Rose sighed hopelessly. “It’s straight up.”
“What does that mean?”
“Ah, bedtime?”
“Say good night to our guest.”
“Good night, Mr. Mac-Tyre. Thank you for the roses.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” Brody stooped down to her. “Oh. May I call you that?”
She shrugged. “Sure. Hey! You wanna see my bedroom? It’s pink like my roses. We can bring my roses, too.”
Brody glanced from mother to grandmother for permission. Each nodded okay.
“You can carry my roses, please.” Rose pointed and Brody did as instructed. The two of them trotted out of the room and up the stairs.
Mamie called out, “I’ll be up in a minute.”
Mother and daughter stared each other down as they stood in the middle of the kitchen.
“Mama, that was a bald-faced set-up.”
“I know.”
“You told Rose to ask him to dinner, didn’t you?”
“Maybe I did and maybe I didn’t.” Mamie’s sing-song tone said she enjoyed this.
“Do you think I need that much help getting a date?”
“Seems like it to me.”
“You’re hopeless, do you know that?”
“Not hopeless, boo. A believer in hope. A believer in true love.”
Dalia dried the last pot as she thought about that. “Mama, you know I want to believe, too. But I’ve been terribly hurt in the past. I couldn’t take that again.”
Her mama put an arm around her shoulders. “I know. Boo dear, that’s all the more reason you deserve true love this time.”
“Well, I’m not saying I’m in love. But I will tell you that Brody and I are closer than you think. At least, so far. We still have a long way to go to truly know one another.”
“I know. That’s why spending some time with your family is important. It was time for him to get to know this side of your life, don’t you think?”
“It’s only been days since he and I have had an interest in each other. I’m not sure what it’s time for but thank you for this. It’s been a fun evening.”
“You’re welcome. And remember, I fell in love with your father the moment I laid eyes on him when I was eighteen years old. Sometimes it doesn’t take long. Besides, the hormones bouncing around between you two are almost visible.” Mamie chuckled and shook her head, then became serious. “Boo, you two are so attuned to each other, it’s as if the mists of your souls mingle to become one.”
Dumbfounded, Dalia gawked at her mama. She had to swallow before responding. “Okay, okay. Go read to your granddaughter before she tells my new boyfriend it’s okay to kiss me without red lipstick.”
“I’m on my way. Why don’t you go put on some red lipstick, eh?” Mamie went upstairs, leaving Dalia alone in the kitchen.
She looked around. It’d been an enchanting evening. But would it last if they were all together every evening? For the first time, a tough reality clicked in her brain. If she did ever marry again, would her husband want to live here on the farm with his mother-in-law? She couldn’t imagine leaving her mama out here alone and she couldn’t imagine her mother ever leaving here. That was far too complicated to contemplate, so she shoved it from her mind. At least for the time being.
Mickey Gilley started singingYou Don’t Know Meon the radio. She loved that song and turned it up. Humming as she put dishes away in the cupboards, strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind. Their hips swayed together in time to the music. She turned around to land in Brody’s arms and they danced, slowly, seductively, lost in one another. He kissed her hair as she rested her head on his shoulder. When she lifted her face to his, their kiss with its taste of sweet wine lasted until Mickey faded away and Sam Cooke croonedYou Send Me.The rhythmic mellow beat, Sam’s smooth voice, and the message itself enwrapped them in sexual desire so intense it was Brody who put a few inches between them and said, “Dalia. Oh Dalia. I can’t… I mean, we’re in your house with your mom and your daughter and I need to back away.”
He did just that, letting go of her. But she didn’t let go, moving back into him for a quick kiss. She took his hand. “Come,” she said, pulling him toward the back door.
