Page 42 of Stirring Up Trouble
I raised my hands to let her know I didn’t take offense at her words.
“I've seen it myself. A lot of times, there's judgement against other people who are different and don't fit their beliefs. I’m all for correcting people who look like me when they’re wrong. It shouldn’t matter what you look like or who you sleep with.”
She nodded. “That's pretty much it for me too. Anyone not in the predetermined bubble of perfect is pushed to the side or forced out. But Blaze isn't one to sit down. Not when he believes in something. And the way he looked at you yesterday told me everything I needed to know. So the whole reason I'm saying all this, the whole reason I'm pulling you aside instead of letting you take that man breakfast, is to tell you that I love you, and I'm welcoming you to this family. But if you hurt that man up there, if you break his heart, well, I know a couple of people who could break yours. Know what I mean?”
My jaw dropped. “Ms. Connie, are you threatening me?”
She shook her head, then turned around and swished her hips extra wide as if trying to distract me.
“No, of course not. I would never. But you should still be careful,” she said looking over her shoulder.
Shocked at her words, I missed hearing Blaze until he was in the kitchen with us. “What are you two doing down here?”
“Just great! You aren’t supposed to be down here.”
“Why not? I woke up because you weren't beside me. Of course I came looking.”
I threw my hands up. “Well, I came down here to get you breakfast and it turned into a talk. Now that you're here, we might as well eat.”
Ms. Connie giggled, then finished making our plates and handed them over. “You two go sit at the table. I'll be right over. Leslie will pop in any minute now.”
She brought her plate and Leslie's plate over and sat them down.
“What about Elton and Bobby Allen?” I asked when I noticed there wasn’t anything for them.
She waved her hand. “I took them up some sandwiches this morning and set them outside the door. Figured the two of them might want some more alone time. I imagine being away from home, even when they're together, is a bit stressful. I get the sense that Elton's had a hard go of it.”
I gave her a nod. “That's true. It's not my story to tell though.”
She patted my hand. “I know, sweetheart. People have to tell their truth in their own way.”
Her eyes moved over to Blaze before a noise at the front door distracted us all.
“Please tell me what I'm smelling is Ms. Connie's cooking because I am about two seconds away from passing out,” Leslie drawled as she made her way into the kitchen.
When she saw us all sitting there, she squealed and rushed over into her seat. She shoveled food in like she was on the edge of starvation. When she realized the rest of us weren't moving, she squinted at us.
“Why are you eating like a wild animal in my kitchen?” Ms. Connie asked her.
Leslie finished chewing what she had in her mouth, swallowed it down, then replied, "Because I’ve been missing a few meals between the rodeo and a certain someone."
Blaze snorted. “You’re sleeping around with one of the barrel racers this time.”
“How do you know who it is?” Leslie asked him defensively.
"I've got eyes and ears everywhere woman. You think I don't know who you're shacking up with? You're going to break that girl's heart, you know?"
Leslie puffed up her chest. "I will do no such thing. She knows the score. Besides, she lives hours and hours away. It's not like we could make it work."
As soon as she said the words, the room went silent. I think she realized what she'd done a second later because she went and looked around at us.
“That's not to say that other people can't make it work. It's just not for me. I am fickle and reckless and all these other negative emotional things that you should not take into account when you think about your own life. Please don’t kill me for rambling."
Blaze shook his head as he ate.
"There's no reason to go killing anyone today." I said as I tilted my head towards the woman across from me. "Right, Ms. Connie?"
"Of course, sweetheart. I already told you that. Nobody is dying. We're just all going to be happy, right?"
