Page 140 of Smoky Mountain Dreams
“Kids, I’m so sorry about Violet. She loved you both somuch. She was a very good woman.”
“Let me go,” Jackie gritted out.
“Oh, baby, I’m not squeezing too tight!”
Christopher shoved at his father and earned their release.His father looked the same as the last time Christopher had laid eyes on himtwo years prior: blond without any gray that Christopher could see, wrinklesheld at bay through fat injections, still solidly built and close to six feettall, though instead of “business casual,” today he was dressed in a dark navysuit. His father’s brown eyes twinkled happily as he took in Jackie andChristopher, his joy in seeing them bringing up a strong memory in Christopherof the first time he’d met his half-sibling, Memphis Jay. She’d been barely twoand his father had showed up at SMD with her in tow, along with the child’smother—young, African-American, and someone Christopher had never seen again.
His father’s eyes had twinkled just the same way when he’dgiven Memphis Jay a taste of ice cream and she’d crowed with joy. Christopherwondered how often his father saw Memphis Jay now. She was, after all, justanother problem when it was time to move on to the next woman. He hoped his dadat least paid child support.
Christopher was just getting his breath back, still feelingoverwhelmed and dizzy with grief and shock, only to have the young, blond womanhis father was dating throw her arms around him, too. Her bell-like voice rangnext to his ear.
“Christopher! Your father has told me all about you. I’mKristin. I’m going to be your new stepmother.”
“Excuseme?” Jackie almostshrieked.
Kristin pulled away enough to include Jackie in the address,but she didn’t let go. “Or a friend. At least a friend, right?”
She was small and stupidly young, but Christopher felthelpless as her arms squeezed him. He looked toward Jesse, who was standingwith his keys in hand, eyes wide, and an expression of confused horror on hisface. The small blonde girl—Kristin—was dressed in along-sleeved black dress, her bosom slight enough that the top didn’t fit verywell. She was pretty, though, no denying that with a pert nose, symmetricalface, and shining green eyes. She could do so much better than a man over twiceher age. Christopher wanted to tell her to run far and fast.
“Daddy, you did not bring your…your…” Christopher honestlythought Jackie was going to say whore, but she finished, “Your newthingto Gran’s funeral.”
“This is my fiancée, Kristin Massey, and Kristin, thesegobsmacked faces belong to my two oldest kids.” He turned to Joe and clappedhis shoulder. “Good to see you, Joe. Looking fine in that suit. And who isthis?”
“Jesse Birch.”
Christopher watched as Jesse introduced himself and put outhis hand. He wanted to tell Jesse to pack up the politeness because they wereleaving, but his father pulled Jesse into a hug, and said, “I’m James Ryder.Nice to meet you. I guess you’re Christopher’s lover, then?”
“Oh my God,” Jackie murmured. “Lover?Lover?”
His father released Jesse. “Isn’t that what young peoplecall it these days?”
“No, bunny,” Kristin laughed. “That’s verynineteen-seventies. I believe it would be whatever they prefer? Partner?Boyfriend?”
“Fiancé?” Joe said.
“No, not fiancé,” Christophersaid, reaching out to steady himself on the roof of Jesse’s car. The funeralhad been so relatively uneventful. He should have escaped when he had a chance.
“Bunny, maybe?” Joe asked. Jesse snorted, but Jackie whappedhis arm hard. “Ow, babydoll,” Joe muttered.
“You! Youwhore!” Sammie Mae’svoice rang out.
“Oh, Jesus,” Joe murmured. “Someone get…I don’t know.Someone.”
Christopher pushed past Jackie and grabbed hold of his mother’sarm. “Mama, settle down. Don’t make a scene.”
“He has no business here.” Sammie Mae jabbed her finger atJames. “Man-whore. Slut.Sinner. He’s the reason you’rea lost soul, Christopher. It’shisseed that damagedyour heart in the very making of it!”
Christopher didn’t let go of his mother’s arm, because if hedid, he was pretty sure she was going to fly at his dad, and her nails lookedpoised for scratching his face off.
“Bunny, is this Sammie Mae?” Kristin asked, breathlessly,like she wasn’t sure if she was going to laugh or scream.
But then Bob came around the edge of the car next to theirs,face red, and body heaving with effort. He pointed his stubby finger atChristopher’s dad. “James, you have no business attending the services of awoman whose daughter you betrayed time and time again.”
“Betrayed? She never put out! What was a man to do? I’m sureyou don’t need to get laid, all high like you are on the word of God, but Ineed a woman to give physical affection and—”
“I gave you affection! I gave you the best years of my life!But you! You couldn’t keep your dick in your pants!”
“Sammie Mae, baby, don’t let him lead you into the sin ofwrath,” Bob scolded. “He’ll pull you to his level and let you wallow in thefilth, and walk away holding the hand of Satan.”
