Chapter 30

Well, it was late May, but it felt like summer already, ninety-three degrees today, and no wind. Thank God for no wind. I hated the wind.

“Welcome, welcome,” said Rodney greeting us just as I was about to hit the buzzer.

“Thank you,” I said, as he waved my Willa and me inside.

“Yes, thank you, Mister Barnes,” said Willa.

“The names Rod, or Rodney to you Willa; you’re about to be family, hell you already are for all practical purposes,” he said. Willa sputtered her embarrassment.

“Okay, Rod, it is,” she said.

There were twenty people inside. And most of them were already imbibing. We would be too shortly.

“Adam, good to see you,” said Riley, coming up to us, “and you too Willa.”

“Thank you,” Willa and I chorused. And then we were talking to the woman of the house for some several minutes before she was dragged off by Briana and LeeAnn. And then we were out and around and amongst them, the whole clan and friends.

“Emma, so how’s it going,” I said. Willa was hanging on my arm. “And so you’ll officially know, Willa is now my intended.”

“Wonderful,” said Emma.

“Thank you ma’am. Adam has spoken of you a lot, and all good,” said Willa, laughing.

“Well, that is nice to hear. Looks like it might be a real good party tonight,” said Emma.

Just then James came up to me to drag me away for some private words.

“Dad, can we talk for a minute?” said James.

“It’s okay, honey, I’ll hang with Emma for a few if that’s all right,” said Willa.

“Yes,” said Emma. “We’ll do the girl thing.” The two women moseyed.

“James?” I said.

“Dad, I know you’re getting married, but when? I’m coming, and so are Briana and LeeAnn,” he said. “It’d be real useful to know when.”

“Not set the exact date yet, James, but in August. I’ll let you know when I do,” I said. I was lying to my son. August 15th was still slated to be the date. But I did not want that info out and wondered at until it had to be. Plus, there was the slight chance that the date might be changed—very slight chance.

James was commandeered by a couple of friends of his that had been invited to join the evening joy-club. Which was fine by me because Willa and Emma returned with refilled drinks and joined me. I needed a refill too, and my woman insisted on getting it for me when she noted my near empty glass. Ah, but I insisted that we make the journey to the bar together. She acquiesced. The drinks gotten we took a short walk out under the trees of the miniature forest and sipped our refreshment.

“I like Emma a lot,” said Willa. “And she’s apparently tight with your ex too.”

“She’s very likeable. She saved me a few times in the joint. She had my back, and now I have hers,” I said.

We were situated behind a large avocado tree. What was interesting was the truth that so was my ex and her husband, just not the same avocado tree. And they were talking, about Willa. Oh, and we were hearing.

“She’s too old for him. It may be true that she’s only five years older but she looks ten years older,” said Riley.

“He’s into her. We’re not making any waves, not now not ever, Riley. He needs that woman, and I don’t give a rat’s ass how old she is,” said Rodney.

“I’m not going to make any waves either, but he could do a lot better,” she said.

“Yeah, he could if he would sign the papers at 2nd State Bank. A hundred million dollars trumps a six-inch dick any day of the week. But he will never sign the papers, and unless he changes his mind or asks for something else that we can provide; we let him live his own life, end of story,” he said.

“No, no, you’re right. We stay the hell out of his business,” she said. “Anyway, we need to get back. We have two dozen guests to entertain.”

They’d been farther into the forest than had we. They would see us when they passed us and know we’d heard everything. The next two minutes would be seriously interesting.

The two of us stayed frozen in place until they came up to us. The looks on their respective faces were precious.

“Yes, well, we’ll be going now, Riley, Rodney,” I said, “we’re both a little bushed. I mean I’m sure you can understand.” We turned away from them and walked off. They just stood where they were and stared. I sure as hell would have loved to hear their bedroom conversation this night.

We were home in thirty.

“Well, now you know what kind of people they really are. They think they can buy anything or anyone. But, I think that they’re losing hope in my case,” I said.

“They think I’m trash,” said Willa.

“The good news is that you are better and higher class than she is or him either,” I said.

“Hmm,” she said.

“Don’t feel bad, honey girl, they’ve said a lot worse about me. I heard ‘em just like tonight. It was a long time ago, but I still remember every word,” I said. She nodded, but I could see that she was beginning to cry. I think I actually hated the two of them, especially her.

“Let’s go to bed. I actually do feel kind of tired out,” I said. She nodded and we headed off to our very comfortable king sized playground.

“Well, that was a disaster,” she said.

“Do yuh think?” he said.

“I don’t know why I said the things I said. They really, my words, didn’t actually mean anything,” she said.

“I do. I know why you said what you said. It’s because we care about him so much that nothing is good enough for him in our eyes; and we need to stop thinking like that, and allow him to make his own choices,” said Rodney.

“Of course you’re right in everything you say, it’s just so hard. I live with my guilt on so many levels every day and need to do for him even if he doesn’t want me to,” she said.

“Yes, well the problem is that he doesn’t want you too, or again, me either,” he said. “The truth is that we aren’t even entitled to an opinion. I hate it, but that’s the bottom line.” She was nodding.

“You’re right of course,” she said, and she began to cry. “She’s actually not that bad a person, older than him or not.”