A Hidden Truth

Miss Understanding

[Juniper]

    It was nearly six and the needlepoint club was waiting to set up. Most of the ladies in my club belonged to that one as well. They shared patterns they’d worked on making that week and any tips and tricks they thought of. I tried attending a meeting, but found it incredibly dull. They mostly just gossiped.

    “Sorry, ladies. It looks like that’s our time. For next week, I went a little easier. I know this one was difficult and a bit emotional for some of you. Next week we’ll review ‘Sense and Sensibility’. I know you all wanted ‘Pride and Prejudice’, but I think you’ll like this one just as much. It has a happier ending than this week’s book, and it was the first published book by Austen. If we read more by her, then you’ll see some recurring themes. We could even make it a game. And read the book, don’t watch the movie. Please.” I requested. “Oh! And don’t forget, the club will meet at four instead of five next week, since I have study groups scheduled for final exams.”

    “Juni, could you give Jaxon a ride home? He won’t wanna sit through this next club.” Bobbi asked.

    “Didn’t you say Beau would kill him if he was around him too long?” I asked with a smile.

    She blushed as Jaxon looked at her with wide eyes. It appeared he wasn’t aware of this. I was more than happy to take him off Beau’s hands.

    “You’re just a little annoyin’ to him, Jax. Juni, can he go to your house? You’re right down the road and I know he and Teddy would get on well.” She pled.

    It was my turn to look with wide eyes. I examined Jaxon carefully. When I’d made the comment to Bobbi last night, I hadn’t even thought it might be true. If he and Teddy hit it off, then I’d have a lot more time to be with him. In my mental relationship, he could be straight. I would respect his boundaries in real life, though.

    “Oh! You want him to meet Teddy?” I smiled. “Sure. I’m happy to introduce them. If Jaxon wouldn’t mind coming home with me. You can have supper with us.”

    He looked suspicious. A quick rap at the windowed door drew our attention to the more annoyed crafters awaiting our decision.

    “Don’t worry, Jaxon. No pressure, would you like to have supper at my house and away from your grumpy brother-in-law?” I asked.

    “Sure. I don’t particularly feel like getting killed tonight.” He muttered.

    “Great. Let’s go.” I led him out of the room and to my car in the parking lot.

    “Wait, your tire’s in Bobbi’s car. Let me go get the keys. It won’t take long.” Jaxon told me and ran back into the library.

    I leaned against my car with a sigh. Teddy loved giving hugs and cuddles. I wondered if Jaxon would be the same. If I could get him to hug me before he left, then I could memorize the feel of his arms. I know this sounds weird and stalkery, but my imaginary life saved me from the real one. The one that hurt and made me hate myself.

    He was taking some time, probably getting introduced to the ladies in the cross stitch club. Normally, I browsed or chatted with Miss Prudence, the librarian, after meetings. My mother wouldn’t be too upset about the time, but I needed to get home and prepare her for an unexpected guest at supper. I knew it could mean a lecture. My stepfather wouldn’t exactly be thrilled, either. I was mentally steeling myself as we drove toward my home.

    “I’m still not interested in dating you. Just so you know.” Jaxon murmured with a cheeky look. It seemed we had an inside joke now. 

    “I expected as much when your sister wanted me to introduce you to Teddy. Don’t worry. I’m not smallminded.” I chuckled. “I fully support my brother and everyone like him.”

    We drove along for a few more minutes. The gates to my stepfather’s house would be coming up soon. I hated the place, but mother and Teddy loved it. It was dramatic and that fed into both of their personalities.

    The drive was mostly quiet, then I heard a gasp.

    “You’re the one who told her I’m gay! I just remembered what you said at the mechanic. You told her she might be barking up the wrong tree. That’s why she thought I was gay when I went home!” He shouted.

    I pressed my lips together. “Mmm, are you sure you’re not? She seemed pretty certain. I can’t believe Miss Bobbi would go off one comment. What did you tell her when she mentioned it?”

    He sighed deeply and looked out the window for a minute.

    “I… I came out to her. I’m not gay, but it seemed like the best way to get her to stop introducing me to women! Oh, god… she’s trying to set me up with your brother, isn’t she?!”

    I laughed. “Poor Jaxon. Never lie to a matchmaking woman. When you tell her the truth you know she’s gonna be angry.”

    “I figured I would tell her I’m bisexual if I found someone.” He groaned. “Don’t tell your brother this is a set up. Actually, just drop me off at your driveway. I’ll walk for a while then head back home.”

    He was so smart and so dumb all at the same time. I wanted to pull over and kiss him. I didn’t realize stupid smart boys were my type. He ran his hand through his hair and I thought of what it might feel like to do the same.

    “Come have supper with us. The least we can do is feed you after I made your sister even consider you’d be gay. There won’t be a set up. Mama might get ideas, but, I promise, you won’t be drugged and wake up married to any of us… we learned our lesson from the last one…” I sighed.

    Jaxon looked at me with surprise, then started laughing. It was nice to hear after he’d been so upset. Laughing made his face relax and it wasn’t nearly as intense anymore. I wanted to see more of that Jaxon

    “Sorry. I have no idea why she wants to marry me off.” He chuckled.

    “What did you do to Beau? If you pissed him off enough, she’s probably just trying to find a place to stash you so you’ll be too busy to bother him.” I suggested.

    “We got in an argument about something stupid that he believed, but is actually a hoax. I don’t want to get into it.” Jaxon groaned.

    I snorted. “Never get between a man and his conspiracy theories. Don’t they teach you that in college?”

    “No… they definitely do not. She tried to get us to meet on Tuesday, you know? As you suspected, it was a setup. I was all set to push you away like I had the other girls, but you did it first.” Jaxon admitted. “I really am sorry I accused you of being interested in me yesterday. I’m not really full of myself. I promise.”

    I pulled up to the gate and put in the code. The gate swung open and I drove onto the property. It would be another couple minutes before I finally made it to the garage.

    “Don’t worry. I’m used to them thrusting men in my path. It’s how they show they care. Bless their hearts.” I drawled.

    “It’s cute how you go back and forth like that.” He mumbled.

I felt myself turn red. Thank goodness he wasn’t looking at me. I just laughed and continued driving toward the house.

    The end of the drive finally appeared and I drove around to park behind the house. I left my car out of the garage. I left earliest to get to school in the morning, it just saved time.

    I smiled at him as I turned off the engine and grabbed my things from the back of the car. He wouldn’t be allowed back after tonight. No single, straight men were allowed on the property. Hank didn’t want me running off with someone. Like I would risk my family like that.

    Jaxon trailed behind me, looking around. The property was on five acres. There were several buildings and the area was like a huge park. Mother’s garden was beautiful and visible from the back porch and the living room windows. We went in the back door that led into the kitchen. Twyla was working on dinner. We had a cook, a gardener, and a housekeeper.

    My stepfather was Hank Merritt. He was one of the most successful car dealership owners in the county. And he was old money as well. Mother had been looking for a man who wanted her title and reputation for her second husband. She didn’t like the idea of having to work once the insurance money was gone.

    Eleven years ago, my father died in the same car accident as my grandfather. My maternal grandfather. They always went hunting together and it was just a really bad day to be an adult male in my mother’s life. Some sort of issue happened with the car, or my dad, we don’t know, but they went off a mountain side. There was nothing left to say what exactly caused it.

    When she started dating Hank ten years ago, I was put off because it was only a year after my father died. It took me longer than I would’ve liked to be able to see how much she loved him, like actually him and not just his money. The funny part was, Hank realized it roughly when I did.

    He’d doted on my mother. When she got pregnant with Remy, he told her she didn’t have to go through with the pregnancy, since it was high risk. She told him she wanted nothing more than to have his babies. She’d really been hoping for a girl, though. Remy ended up being the last baby she was able to have, after complications caused her to need a hysterectomy.

    I walked up behind Twyla, our cook, and gave her a hug. She was the sweetest woman in the world. Twyla was half Cajun and half African American. She’d been raised in Louisiana, but moved to Texas, with her husband, when she was eighteen. They lived a few miles away and her youngest was about ten years older than me. She was so proud of them all, even when they didn’t live up to her expectations.

    Twyla was beautiful and stately. She ruled the kitchen like I ruled my book club. I was her favorite until Remy came along, he was also my favorite so I wasn’t too upset. She’d taught me so much about cooking and food. Her meals were the best I’d ever tasted.

    The day I learned I didn’t have to endure my mother’s cooking anymore was the happiest of my life. My father had been the one who cooked our meals. Mama was just too easily distracted, unless she was baking.

    “Hey there, sugar. Glad you got home. Your mama is pitchin’ a hissy fit with a tail on. ‘Parently, the school says Remy was cheatin’ and, when he heard ‘bout it, Teddy says somethin’ bout how the boy wasn’t all that bright in the first place!” Twyla sighed.

    “He’s dyslexic and they aren’t accommodatin’ him properly. You keep on with your supper. This is Jaxon. He’s joinin’ us, but I gotta go soothe mama before she brings the roof down on us all. Can you keep an eye on him?” I asked.

    “Sho ‘nuff can, sugar. You go. Only you and your stepdaddy can cool her when she’s like this.” Twyla shook her head.

    “Pardon me for a few moments while I deal with a personal situation. This is Twyla, she’s our cook. If you stay here, she’ll keep you company.” I smiled.

    “Your accent slipped again.” Jaxon pointed out.

    “It does when I don’t focus. Please, stay here.” I sat him at the kitchen table.

    “Go on, then. If she’s like my sisters, letting her stay angry isn’t going to be a good thing.” He grimaced.

    I headed out the door and through the dining room. Kelsey was there, setting the table and listening to my mother screech. I motioned for her to follow me. Teddy had really put his foot in it. I said a little prayer as I pushed the door between the dining room and living room open.