Page 71 of Free to Run
I smile back at her, encouraging her to keep going. Alison picks up her plate and starts spooning out her own food.
“I was so immature emotionally when she died. I barely had my nose out of a book. Mama encouraged me to learn everything, read everything, absorb everything. She didn’t want me skipping too many grades because of my maturity. It was the right decision then. I was a late bloomer, and I worried about it. Mama kept telling me not to, though, that God had his reasons for it, and in the meantime, it just meant she got to keep me at home longer. I was always more connected with Mama because I looked just like her.” Alison pauses, and I let her words sink in.
I reach over and pick up her hand, lifting it to my lips. “She must have been beautiful, then.”
“Keene.” Alison’s voice trembles.
How is it possible I surprised her so much with such a simple truth? “What do you think she would say if she could see you now?”
She bursts out laughing. “Oh, are you sure you want to know?” Alison’s expression is pure wickedness.
“Bring it on, baby.” I lift a forkful of collard greens to my mouth.
“After she asked me about twenty million times if I planned on marrying you? I guarantee you, Mama would have called me, scolding me something fierce over my five-date rule.” Alison wipes her eyes as tears of laughter stream out. Just as suddenly, they turn to tears of pain.
I can’t handle it anymore.
I grab her hand and move her onto my lap to hold her. She rests her head in the notch of my neck and continues to weep quietly. “Let it out, baby. Let it all out.” I’m beginning to understand more about Alison’s pain. Her mother wasn’t just her mother; she was full of life and sass. She was her best friend. And not only was her death a tragedy, she wasn’t even able to be mourned by her daughter since her father bulldozed their family apart.
I let her cry for a little longer before I ask, “Would she want you crying this much?”
Sitting up and wiping her eyes, she says, “Oh, hell no. You are so, so, so right, Keene. She’s probably watching us, going, ‘Let’s get past the tears to something good before I change the channel on the two of you.’” Alison’s smile could illuminate the sky.
“Well, we wouldn’t want her to do that, baby.” I curl my hand under her jaw and kiss her soundly. Alison tastes of barbecue, mac and cheese, and summer nights.
In other words, perfect.
* * *
Alison stumblesa bit and falls into me as I’m folding our blanket. “You okay?” I ask, concerned.
“Yeah, just lost my balance.”
“Do you have everything? Do we need anything on the way home?” I ask.
She shakes her head in the negative, and then she looks at her texts. “Better check your phone. Looks like there was an impromptu family dinner.”
I mutter, “Like I give a shit.”
That sends her into a giggling fit. “Why, Keene, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you don’t enjoy our family get-togethers.” I reach out and take her hand as we make our way back to the Audi.
“Truth?” I ask.
“Of course.”
“They scare the hell out of me.”
Alison bursts out laughing.
“There she is,” I murmur, stepping closer to her as I drop the bag into the trunk. Leaning against the side, I pull her between my legs. “How are you feeling, baby?”
Alison’s honesty floors me. “It’s never going to change. It’s never going to have a closure that leaves me happy, but today you helped, so thank you.”
I rub my nose against hers before kissing her languidly. My heart rate picks up. “Then I’m glad we came.”
She rubs her lower body against mine and sasses, “Well, not quite yet.”
I groan. “I still have three more dates, Alison. No teasing.”
