Love's Paradox

Chapter 29: Some Hanky-Panky

We pull up to a gate, and the driver enters a code; the gate opens to reveal a house the size of a hotel. It's the perfect mixture of old ranch style with twisting vines curling up its front and new age charm of blue- and grey-colored rocks forming a wide, circular driveway. A woman wearing a perfectly tailored skirt, blouse, and blazer steps onto the front porch with as much poise as the First Lady or Miss America. I expect her to greet us by waving a cupped hand.

Parker steps from the car first, not waiting for the driver to open the door. "Mother," he says, leaning in to kiss her cheek when she approaches the car. He reaches for me, and I try to look invisible under Mrs. Livingston's scrutinizing stare.

"And this must be Rae," she says in a proper yet thick Texas twang.

"That's me," I say cheerily. "It's so nice to finally meet you."

Is it just me, or did her nose rise even higher in the air than it already was? I'm actually thankful for the Valium now, or else I might've felt the need to defend myself.

"Yes," she says. "Well, come in."

We step into the house, which is even larger on the inside than it appears on the out. I do my best not to gape at the pristine interior with its sweeping staircase, glittering chandelier, marble floors, and vaulted ceiling.

Mrs. Livingston gestures us to follow her out to the back of the house where there's a swimming pool full of guys wrestling. An older man with thinning hair notices us and climbs from the pool; he's quite physically fit, and his hair is only lightly salted with grey.

"Parker," he says cheerfully. "As soon as Cindy arrives, I'll throw some steaks on the grill. I hope you're hungry."

"Not really, Father," Parker says in a monotone.

Mr. Livingston shrugs off his son's uninflected response and gives me a winning smile. "Well," he says to Parker, though his eyes remain on me, "are you going to introduce us?"

"This is Rae Zachery," Parker says. His posture is still relatively stiff, but I can see him relaxing little by little.

"Boys!" Mrs. Livingston shouts at the splashing water. "Come meet Parker's, um, girlfriend."

They act like they can't hear and continue to horse around, laughing hysterically.

"Get out of the pool right this instant," she says so shrilly I expect glass to break. "Now."

The serenity cloud I've been floating on shatters at her voice. Crap. This is so not the time for the Valium to wear off. I'm not sure if I can deal with Mrs. Stepford Wife while sober, and it'd probably be improper to ask Parker for another happy pill so I can cope with his family.

Mumbling, the boys exit the pool one at a time, dripping water and frowning at their mom. The youngest of the bunch makes a rude hand gesture.

"I saw that, Ethan," Mr. Livingston chides.

"Sorry," Ethan mumbles, not sounding sorry at all.

The boys circle me, and for a moment I feel like a chick being born in the middle of a dozen meat-eating dinosaurs.

"This is Ethan, Micah, Dash, and Archer," Mr. Livingston introduces while each one gives me a tiny wave. They resemble each other: dark hair, eyes, and skin. Not one of them under six feet. "Boys, this is Rae."

"That's a boy's name," Ethan says, eyes rolling.

Archer slaps Ethan's chest. "Don't be rude," he scolds. "Apologize."

"Sorry," Ethan says automatically, almost as if he apologizes hundreds of times a day on command. "Can we go back to swimming now?"

Mr. Livingston sighs. "Yes. Go."