Page 69 of Home Body
“Oh yeah. Mom, without the poofy helmet hair and chintzy crown and glimmery blue eye shadow and stuff, you and Dalia do look alike.”
With that bit of lightness, Llayne smiled. “We do, don’t we. But now we need to think of what this means to our families. What about Mamie? How will she feel? Good god, how does Dalia feel? How about you, dear?”
Kenyon decided it was time for nothing but the truth. “I am aware of the fact that I’ve lived the very privileged life that Dalia should have had. On the other hand, she loves Mamie with all her heart, of that I’m certain.”
“You know you won’t ever need to feel displaced,” her dad said. “No one will ever take your place in this family.”
“I know.” Kenyon hoped that was true but as she heard the words come out of her own mouth, she wasn’t sure. “It’s just that I don’t know where this all leads.”
“I suggest that, for now, we let it lead us to bed. Sweetheart,” Mack addressed his wife, “are you still planning on going to work tomorrow?”
“No. No, I don’t think I will.”
“Hallelujah. You never call in sick. You more than deserve a day off.”
They stood up and lingered over a long group hug and multiple “I love you”s. Then, like the three bears, they plodded upstairs, Bitsy and Sally in tow.
But Kenyon lay in her bed with eyes wide open, having no idea how she felt about this. She liked Dalia immensely. Dalia had become a new best friend. But a sister? She’d never wanted a sister, enjoying the princess-daughter-sister spotlight all to herself in the family.
It struck again, that awareness that her princess days were over. Grown-up behavior was required here. She snuggled into her blankie, cuddled up to her kitty, and shut that troubling thought out of her mind as she went nighty-night.
CHAPTER 40
As the dim light of sunrise filtered in through the windows, Brody awakened to find Rose staring at him. “Hi,” he whispered so he wouldn’t wake up Dalia, who still slept on the couch.
“Hi.” The little girl spoke softly, too, glancing over at her mom. “She’s sleeping. Wanna come feed the chickens with me?”
“Ah, sure. I’ve never fed chickens. You’ll have to show me how.”
“’kay.”
And that was how city-boy Brody McIntyre ended up feeding chickens at sunrise on a farm, with the tutelage of a five-year-old girl. This, he decided, was the life he’d always wanted but simply hadn’t known it.
Dalia awoke to the smell of bacon. Alarmed that she’d slept in – and that she had on yesterday’s rumpled clothes – she jumped up off the couch and took in the room. An afghan had been used on the rocking chair and a familiar male voice could be heard in the kitchen. Following the irresistible scents and sounds, she padded into the kitchen. There she found Mama at the stove, Rose at the table, and Brody sitting next to her daughter. They ate scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and cut-up strawberries. Eachhad a generous glass of orange juice. They turned to her as if an unexpected anomaly had appeared in their midst.
“Mommy! Mr. Mac-Tyre and I did the chickens, and we did the sheep, too.” Rose beamed with pride.
Dalia glanced out the window. Sure enough, her sheep rambled around their pasture.
“I confess,” Brody said, “Rover helped a lot with the sheep.” At the mention of his name, the dog went to his side for a pat on the head.
Dalia ran a hand through her messy hair. “Yeah. He’s a good herding dog who doesn’t need anybody to show him how to do that job. He was born to it.”
“Sit down, sweetie,” Mama insisted, putting down a plate for her. “Eat your eggs while they’re hot. There’s nothing worse than cold eggs. Besides, you need your energy. This afternoon we meet the contractor at the bakery.”
Dalia sat down, still in a daze from sleeping so hard. But the sight of food made her tummy growl as she realized she was hungry.
Brody ate his final bite, wiped his mouth with his napkin, and said, “Mamie, I hate to eat and run, but I have to get to work. Good luck with the contractor today. Thank you so much for indulging your surprise guest here.”
“My pleasure, sweetie. Any time.” Mamie carried over her own plate and sat down.
Brody stood up, leaving Dalia with a conundrum. How should she say good-bye to her lover early in the morning in front of her daughter and mother, in the kitchen no less? She started to get up but he stopped her.
“No, no. Eat while it’s hot, like your mom said. Rose, great job this morning with those chickens and sheep. You’re an excellent teacher. Mamie, thanks again. I’ll see you all later.”
He walked out of the room leaving Dalia stricken with a stab of acute loneliness the second she heard the front door click shut. She jumped up and followed him. The joy that lit up his face when he saw her emboldened her to throw her body into his and clutch the sides of his head for long, lingering kiss. He grinned down at her, his arms around her as he rocked her back and forth.
“I didn’t know what to do,” he explained. “I don’t know the proper etiquette for a situation like ours. Thanks for showing me.”
