Page 18 of Devil's Queen
I close the door behind me and quietly head into the kitchen, where I find Miss Blanche sitting at the dining table reading my morning paper. Over the years, Miss Blanche has been a saving grace when it comes to Birdie. I’d never intended to be a father, but a fucking drunken one-night stand changed my outcome on that. Her sad excuse for a mother ran the second she was born, leaving me to take care of her. Overnight, I’d gone from an unwilling father to a single father without anyone to help me figure shit out. Then, in came Miss Blanche like a fucking wrecking ball. All it took was hearing Birdie cry for hours from her house, and she came to my rescue. Five years later, she’s here whenever I need her to watch Birdie. She’s become like a surrogate mother and grandmother to both of us.
“That didn’t take you long, sugar,” she drawls, not looking away from the paper.
“No, it didn’t,” I admit.
“She’s mad you snuck up on her, ain’t she?”
“Yes, ma’am, she was,” I offer while walking over to the coffee maker and pouring me a freshly brewed cup before joining Miss Blanche at the table. I’d talked about Rem a few times over the years with her, never giving too much away for her own protection. It hadn’t taken her long this morning to put two and two together that I’d finally decided to talk to her. They say southern grandmothers have parental intuition to know what their children and grandchildren are up to, and with her, I don’t doubt that she has it.
She lowers the paper, her brown eyes settling on me. “I tried to tell you, sugar, but you didn’t want to listen to me. You’re just like my Leroy. You mess up and wait too long to get to the apology and groveling. It’s a wonder he’s managed to find himself a fourth wife. You’d think the good Lord would have hung a warning sign around his neck to warn off good women by now.”
I chuckle, appreciating her bluntness but also feeling a pang of guilt. “I have my reasons, Miss Blanche. I just…” I shake my head, not knowing how to articulate the confusion and frustration I’ve been feeling.
“Just what?” she prompts, her eyes still fixed on me. “Thought she’d welcome you with open arms back into her life. Sugar, you know us southern ladies wrote the book on holding a grudge.”
“I don’t know. I feel like I’m stuck between two worlds… the club and a life I used to want.”
“It’s not too late,” she answers. “You’re still young enough to try a different path.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“That’s the funny thing about life. It can be as simple or as complicated as you make it.”
I sigh, wishing this weren’t as complicated as it is. “I just want to make things right. I’m not sure how to do that without causing her more pain.”
“Which is why you couldn’t have picked a better time to make amends,” she says, her voice firm as she turns a page of the paper.
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued by her unexpected response. “What do you mean by that?”
She arches an eyebrow, giving me a look that tells me she’s been holding something back. “You’re the club president now, sugar. You’re in charge.”
“I may sit at the head of the table, Miss Blanche, but there’s still plenty of opposition against change.”
“Then show them how change can benefit them.”
I consider her words carefully. Even in her sixties, she is wise beyond her years. If I had half her tenacity, I could conquer the world without a second thought.
“I thought you’d appreciate some advice while I’ve got your attention.” She clears her throat, her voice taking on a more serious tone. “You need to be honest with her. If I know you as well as I think I do, you didn’t put all your cards on the table. Tell her everything… all the good and the bad. It’s the only way you can expect to move forward for the both of you.”
I stare at Miss Blanche, her words sinking in as I take another sip of my coffee. She’s right. I hadn’t been completely honest with Rem during our conversation at the shop. There were things I left out, secrets I’ve held onto for far too long. If I had any chance of getting Rem to see my side of things, complete honesty is the only way. The only obstacle would be the club.
“I’ll consider it.”
She nods in approval, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. “That’s what I like to hear, Rex. You’ve always been a good man, deep down. It’s time you start showing it.”
Something settles within me. All that uncertainty about my visit with Rem begins to melt away. Today was just the first skirmish. The real battle to mend things between us is just beginning.
“Why is it that I always feel better after a good chat with you?”
“Because I have enough gumption to tell you when you’re acting like a damn fool.” She chuckles. “I’m too damn old to be going around sugarcoating everything I have to say.”
“I’m sure Pastor Mike would agree with you.”
“Bah,” she spits. “That old man wouldn’t know the difference between his butt and a hole in the ground. Do you know that he had the audacity to suggest that the ladies of our congregation only wear church hats for the special services?”
“How dare he.” I feign shock. “Doesn’t he know that the entire reason you have hats like that is to go to church and show them off?”
“You can tell he wasn’t raised in a Southern Baptist church.”