Page 19 of Tame Me

I was relieved when ten o’clock rolled around. I promised Mom I’d be back in three hours, walked out the front door, and headed toward my favorite relative’s home.

Aunty Ann hadn’t changed one bit. Her welcome hug was homey, her giant boobs were still the majority of her body, and her smile was quick and genuine. She led me out to her back porch, where she’d set up the table like an English garden tea party. A lace tablecloth crossed over a highly patterned floral one, and she’d set out her fine China with the gold trimmings.

While I pulled out a chair and sat, she poured tea and placed the cup in front of me. My mouth salivated just looking at the delicious cake positioned between us. It was decorated with perfectly spaced caramelized pineapple slices on top and looked as good as any award-winning treat.

She picked up a long knife. “Would you like some cake?”

“Of course, with extra cream, please.”

She chuckled. “You always did like your sweets.”

“Still do.”

She cut a huge piece of cake and dolloped two spoons of cream. “Tell me about the Gold Coast,” she said as she held the cake forward.

As we ate the delicious treat, our conversation flowed freely, and for the umpteenth time, I wished Aunty Ann had been my mother.

“So . . .” She winked. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“I already told you; I have a few men chasing me.”

“Excellent.” She rubbed her hands together. “Tell me all about them.”

“You’d love Henry; he’s a bit older than me. He’s suave, gentle, and fun.”

“Oh, he sounds lovely.”

“Then there’s Corben. He was a Mr. Universe finalist. His arms are like this.” I imitated Corben’s bulging biceps.

“Oh, yummy.”

I chuckled as I forked tea cake into my mouth. It was light and fluffy, with just the right amount of sweetness. “This’s yummy.”

“I’m glad you like it; it’s a new recipe. Now tell me, do these men look after you?”

The concern in her eyes was touching, and I reached over to hold her hand. “They do, Aunty Ann. All of them are really sweet.”

“All? There are more men?” Her eyes lit up.

“Yes, there’s Billy—he’s a cowboy and a true gentleman. And Hunter—he’s a chocolatier, and he’s really handsome. You’d love every one of them.”

“How do you keep up with them all?”

I chuckled. “They have trouble keeping up with me.”

She burst out laughing and followed it up with her usual cough. It sounded even more confronting in person and had me wondering just how healthy Aunty Ann was. When she finished, she wiped tears from her eyes with an embroidered handkerchief.

“Are you okay?”

She fanned her hand at me. “Oh, yes, just this silly cough. Can’t seem to shake it.”

She’d had the cough for as long as I could remember.

Over the next couple of hours on the porch, I told my favorite relative all about my life on the Gold Coast. My job. My best friend and her family. My karate. We spent more time talking about the men in my life, and when I told her all about last night’s encounter with Chelsea-Lea, she laughed until she crumbled into another bout of coughing.

When she regained her breath, we sipped our tea for a bit, and then I asked her a question that I’d wanted to ask her for most of my life.

“Aunty Ann, have you ever been in love?”

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