The Beast in Him
Page 97
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Resigned to his fate, Smitty smiled. No, no, course not.
Then give your momma a hug.
He did, enjoying her warmth. No matter how tough she was on the rest of the world, she always took good care of her boys.
Sissy Mae, however, was another matter altogether.
Look at you, she said when she finally pulled back. So handsome.
Momma, come on.
She hugged Jessie Ann before raising an eyebrow at her. Dont you look well tended, my little wild dog.
Jessies cheeks reddened a bit and she shrugged.
Now yall come on. She took his hand and Jessies and led them to the elevator.
Whats going on, Momma?
Dont you trust me?
Smitty shook his head. Trick question. Im not answering that.
Smart boy.
A quick elevator ride to the top floor of the hotel and the five-star restaurant it held. When they walked in, the room erupted into applause and whoops. They were all therehis Pack, much of his Daddys whod come with them on their trip, and Jessie Anns. And all of them applauded and yelled out congratulations.
Took you long enough! one of his Daddys cousins yelled from the back of the room.
For the first time since hed met her again, Jessie looked like shed give anything to have some bleachers to hide under.
Momma, Smitty said, taking Jessies hand with his own, you didnt have to do all this.
Of course I did. Your daddys family did it for us. It was downright humiliating. Now its yalls turn. She slapped Smittys hand and he let Jessie loose. Now, Jessie Ann, you go on down to that end of the table and sit with me and Bubba.
Smitty reached for Jessie when he saw the panic in her eyes, but his daddy caught hold of her arm and pulled her away.
And youll sit down here with some of Jessies people. Jessies people? Sure enough, his momma led him over to sit beside Phil and Sabina, as well as Sissy Mae and, oddly enough, Mitch Shaw.
As they walked Smitty said under his breath, What about Wilson?
Oh, his momma waved her hand dismissively, dont yall worry about him no more.
Smitty didnt understand. Hes family.
She stopped at the end of the table and looked up at her son. She ran her hand down his cheek, her smile warm. Yes, and your Jessie Ann is the mother of my grandbabies. Who do you think really wins that pissing contest, darlin?
He kissed his mothers hand, knowing exactly what shed done for them. And what if we decided not tohave any kids?
Dont even play, Robert Ray Smith. Lord knows, if I have to wait for this oneshe shoved Sissy Maes chair with her knee, knocking his baby sisters chest into the tableIll be in my grave before I see my grandbabies.
One can only hope, Sissy muttered, getting herself a nice slap to the back of the head.
Fangs bared, his momma snarled, Watch your mouth, little girl. When she turned back to Smitty, her warm smile had returned. Now you sit right on down and enjoy your meal. And Ill go and get to know my babys mate.
Smitty sat down and Sissy glared at him from between Sabina and Dez. And Ill get to know my babys mate, she mimicked with a sneer.
Now, now, Sissy Mae. Dont be jealous cause youre barren and lonely.
Mitch laughed until that basket of hot dinner rolls hit him right in the head.
I guess my question is, why a pretty little thing like you would want anything to do with my big-headed boy?
Jess snorted as Miss Janie glared across the table at her mate. Look whos throwing stones from that glass house.
My head aint that big.
The older woman held her hands up at least two feet apart. Huge, she mouthed at her, making Jess laugh harder.
Smitty would probably never forgive her, but she found his parents thoroughly entertaining. At first, shed admit, she thought she was being set up Mafia style. Lull her into a false sense of security with a wonderful dinner and champagne until someone took a baseball bat to the back of her head. But the more she talked to them, the more she realized Walt Wilson was out of the picturepermanently. She looked around the room filled with her people and Smittys. They all enjoyed their meal while talking and laughing. Even the cats were invited and, seemingly, accepted. Only one full-human made the cut, but they all seemed to love Dez.
You havent answered my question, Bubba reminded her.
Oh. Um... I guess cause I love him.
Why?
Slamming her fork down, Miss Janie snarled, Bubba Ray Smith!
Its a simple question. Dont yell at me, woman.
In order to head off what could be an interesting fight, Jess answered quickly, Because Bobby Ray made me smilewhen I had nothing to smile about.
Miss Janie put her hand to her more-than-ample chest. That is the most darlin thing Ive ever heard. She smiled. Not one of her scary sorta-smiles either, but a real one. Nice and warm and caring. So... when can I expect some grandbabies?
Then give your momma a hug.
He did, enjoying her warmth. No matter how tough she was on the rest of the world, she always took good care of her boys.
Sissy Mae, however, was another matter altogether.
Look at you, she said when she finally pulled back. So handsome.
Momma, come on.
She hugged Jessie Ann before raising an eyebrow at her. Dont you look well tended, my little wild dog.
Jessies cheeks reddened a bit and she shrugged.
Now yall come on. She took his hand and Jessies and led them to the elevator.
Whats going on, Momma?
Dont you trust me?
Smitty shook his head. Trick question. Im not answering that.
Smart boy.
A quick elevator ride to the top floor of the hotel and the five-star restaurant it held. When they walked in, the room erupted into applause and whoops. They were all therehis Pack, much of his Daddys whod come with them on their trip, and Jessie Anns. And all of them applauded and yelled out congratulations.
Took you long enough! one of his Daddys cousins yelled from the back of the room.
For the first time since hed met her again, Jessie looked like shed give anything to have some bleachers to hide under.
Momma, Smitty said, taking Jessies hand with his own, you didnt have to do all this.
Of course I did. Your daddys family did it for us. It was downright humiliating. Now its yalls turn. She slapped Smittys hand and he let Jessie loose. Now, Jessie Ann, you go on down to that end of the table and sit with me and Bubba.
Smitty reached for Jessie when he saw the panic in her eyes, but his daddy caught hold of her arm and pulled her away.
And youll sit down here with some of Jessies people. Jessies people? Sure enough, his momma led him over to sit beside Phil and Sabina, as well as Sissy Mae and, oddly enough, Mitch Shaw.
As they walked Smitty said under his breath, What about Wilson?
Oh, his momma waved her hand dismissively, dont yall worry about him no more.
Smitty didnt understand. Hes family.
She stopped at the end of the table and looked up at her son. She ran her hand down his cheek, her smile warm. Yes, and your Jessie Ann is the mother of my grandbabies. Who do you think really wins that pissing contest, darlin?
He kissed his mothers hand, knowing exactly what shed done for them. And what if we decided not tohave any kids?
Dont even play, Robert Ray Smith. Lord knows, if I have to wait for this oneshe shoved Sissy Maes chair with her knee, knocking his baby sisters chest into the tableIll be in my grave before I see my grandbabies.
One can only hope, Sissy muttered, getting herself a nice slap to the back of the head.
Fangs bared, his momma snarled, Watch your mouth, little girl. When she turned back to Smitty, her warm smile had returned. Now you sit right on down and enjoy your meal. And Ill go and get to know my babys mate.
Smitty sat down and Sissy glared at him from between Sabina and Dez. And Ill get to know my babys mate, she mimicked with a sneer.
Now, now, Sissy Mae. Dont be jealous cause youre barren and lonely.
Mitch laughed until that basket of hot dinner rolls hit him right in the head.
I guess my question is, why a pretty little thing like you would want anything to do with my big-headed boy?
Jess snorted as Miss Janie glared across the table at her mate. Look whos throwing stones from that glass house.
My head aint that big.
The older woman held her hands up at least two feet apart. Huge, she mouthed at her, making Jess laugh harder.
Smitty would probably never forgive her, but she found his parents thoroughly entertaining. At first, shed admit, she thought she was being set up Mafia style. Lull her into a false sense of security with a wonderful dinner and champagne until someone took a baseball bat to the back of her head. But the more she talked to them, the more she realized Walt Wilson was out of the picturepermanently. She looked around the room filled with her people and Smittys. They all enjoyed their meal while talking and laughing. Even the cats were invited and, seemingly, accepted. Only one full-human made the cut, but they all seemed to love Dez.
You havent answered my question, Bubba reminded her.
Oh. Um... I guess cause I love him.
Why?
Slamming her fork down, Miss Janie snarled, Bubba Ray Smith!
Its a simple question. Dont yell at me, woman.
In order to head off what could be an interesting fight, Jess answered quickly, Because Bobby Ray made me smilewhen I had nothing to smile about.
Miss Janie put her hand to her more-than-ample chest. That is the most darlin thing Ive ever heard. She smiled. Not one of her scary sorta-smiles either, but a real one. Nice and warm and caring. So... when can I expect some grandbabies?
