Page 33 of The Marriage Sham
We drive out to a little hole in the wall breakfast place and catch each other up on what we’ve been doing while we dig into our food. The conversation strays all over the place, each of us totally comfortable with the other and wanting to share everything.
When we get up to leave, I finally have to ask, “So, what are we doing today?”
He gives me a sly smile but doesn’t respond, merely tucking me into the car and whisking me away again. His hand slides off the steering wheel as we drive back toward downtown Love and finds its way to my thigh. A thrill runs through me as I realize I really am with Fen. There’s nothing fake about the zap of electricity from his touch or the heat behind his glances.
We finally pull up to the main park in town, and I see signs for the annual Colonel Davis festival, an all-day fair to celebrate the local war hero from the Revolutionary War and also our city’s founder. People are milling about everywhere, and I kiss my dreams goodbye of having Fen all to myself today. When he pulls me out of the car and wraps his arm around me and nuzzles my neck, I concede that his plan might work out okay, too.
We’re not even done with our first attempt at corn hole when I hear a cackle behind me that raises the hair on the back of my neck.
“Well, if it isn’t Fen and Frances again.” Helena is in the tightest jeans and shortest crop top one could even attempt to call decent at a family event. I used to think she was so beautiful, but now that her nastiness is on display, I only see the ugly.
“Helena. How are you doing today?” A newfound confidence slips over me, whether from my realization about Fen, or my realization that being courageous is the best legacy to leave Granddaddy. Either way, I intend to stand up for myself today.
She smirks at me. “Fabulous, of course.” Then she turns to Fen, dismissing me from the conversation. “When you get bored with her, come find me, huh?” She gives him a wink and I see red. Lord help my blood pressure, because I’m about to test its limits.
“Oh, bless your heart. You think Fen still wants you.” I chuckle, but even to my own ears it sounds scary.
She whirls around and, just for a moment, her jaw drops. Then she pulls herself up straight and digs in harder. “Of course he wants me over you. Always has, or have you forgotten?”
“Careful, Francie. If her lips are moving, she’s lyin’.” Fen comes to stand by me, wrapping his arm around my waist and making his point clear. He and I are solid. A team.
“You’re about as confused as a fart in a fan factory, Helena.” I don’t know why, but when I get mad, I come out with every Southern phrase I ever heard growing up. “Fen and I are happily married. So find some other poor, unsuspecting soul to latch onto.”
Her eyes narrow, and she looks ready to hurt someone. “Just you wait. He’ll tire of you, and you can bet I won’t take your sloppy seconds.”
I step closer, leaving Fen behind me. This is between my ex-best friend and me. “I don’t know what I ever did to make you hate me, but you better give your heart to Jesus in a hurry, ‘cause your butt is mine!”
Before I can make good on my words, Fen grabs me from behind to pull me back at the same time Helena twirls around and stomps off without even a backward glance.
“Well, that was interesting.” I can tell Fen’s about to burst out laughing, and only my possible wrath is keeping his mirth under wraps. I’m still staring after her, hoping my gaze is like a laser beam to the back of her head.
Fen clears his throat. “She’s meaner than a wet panther.”
I harrumph. “Yeah. And her pants were so tight I could see her religion.”
He finally doubles over howling, his laughter pulling me out of my haze of anger. The edges of my lips tip up into a smile, and I’m in danger of joining him. He lifts his glasses off his face and wipes the tears from his eyes before pulling me into a hug.
“Oh Francie, you are a handful, and I love it. How many Southern expressions were you prepared to throw down?”
“If she hadn’t whirled around and left, I had at least ten more.”
His body starts shaking again, and I join in, our laughter carrying to everyone around us. I don’t care. I’m happy, and it feels good.
He kisses me, the only thing that could have cut off my laughter.
“You know what else?” He whispers, my face in his hands, his lips just a breath away from mine.
I shake my head, and he smiles indulgently at me. “I love you, Francie.”
My heart splits wide open and rejoices. And though my legs start to shake, I know I’m on steady ground now. “I love you too, Fen.”
He kisses me again, this time with a force that nearly knocks me off my feet. I hold on tight and lose my head up in the clouds. All the tension from confronting Helena leaves, being no match for the sensations Fen is causing.
He pulls back, and I gulp in air, blinking and remembering where we are.
“My grand gesture,” he says, frozen.
I wrinkle my nose. “What?”
