Page 16 of Secrets

“But they didn’t?”

“No. They didn’t, and they found him. It worked out, for Jay, I mean. He got their business, but he beat me with a belt. My father wasn’t happy about that. If there was any beating to do, he wanted to do it, but Jay convinced him that he’d taken care of the matter.”

“Did they beat you often?” asked Trevon carefully.

“Ironically, no. I was spanked a few times, beat with that belt, and then, the last time, beaten and thrown in the shed. But I know of kids who were beaten daily, all the time. Sometimes, my head feels as though it’s going to explode trying to think of all the reasons why they didn’t hurt me more or just kill me. I mean, why keep me around?”

“I don’t know, baby. But I can tell you this. If you’ll let me, I’d like to keep you around for a long, long time.”

She smiled up at him, leaning forward for another kiss, and suddenly, a flash of lightning and thunder broke open the skies. Millicent squealed as they ran toward the ATV. Trevon placed the last basket in the back and secured it, then squeezed his big body inside.

Grabbing a towel from the back seat, he dried off her face, then kissed her firmly, with intent.

“You’re a very good kisser,” she smiled.

“You’re a very good person to kiss,” he grinned. “Come on. Let’s get this back to the kitchens, and we’ll get dried off.”

Millicent was grateful that Trevon drove the ATV. Although she was a good driver, the rain was coming down so heavy and so fast she could barely see and wasn’t sure how he was seeing.

They pulled under the small awning behind the kitchens and unloaded their precious cargo, then headed to her cottage to get her dried off.

“Come in,” she said. “I have extra towels.”

“Alright,” he nodded.

Standing in her entryway, he realized he was dripping all over the floor, soaked to his skin. His t-shirt and shorts were clinging to his body, and there wasn’t anything he could do about it.

She walked toward him with two large towels in her hands, then laughed at him.

“You look like a drowning puppy,” she giggled. “I’m going to go change. Why don’t you go into the spare bedroom and take all that off? Just put it in the washing machine on spin, and then we can dry it off. There’s a blanket on the bed. Wrap that around you.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Positive.”

When he was securely wrapped in the blanket, he put his clothing in the washing machine and started the spin cycle. It only took a few moments, and they were ready for the dryer.

“I warmed up some gumbo,” she said, handing him the bowl. “I know it’s hot and sticky outside, but the rain gave me a chill.”

“No, this is perfect,” he smiled. “I love your gumbo.”

“Thank you,” she grinned.

“Tell me how you got your name. Millicent seems a very old-fashioned name. With your brothers being Jay and Tick, it doesn’t match.”

“No, it doesn’t, does it?” she smiled. “My father’s name was Mick. When Jay was born, he didn’t want a junior but changed his mind later. Jay couldn’t say Mick, so Tick is what he could say. It sort of stuck.”

“That makes sense. And your name?”

“My mother’s mother was named Millicent. She died long before I was born, but she insisted on naming me after her. Dad and the boys always called me Millie, sometimes Millicent if they were mad at me.”

“Is that why you don’t like being called Millie?”

“Sort of. I just always think if someone gave you a name because it meant so much to them, you should honor that. For instance, your name. I would never call you Trev unless that’s what you wanted.”

“I actually like being called Trev,” he grinned. “The guys typically call me Trev.”

“Why didn’t you correct me?”

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