The Boy She Illegally Brought To The Lavender Field (bwwm)

Page 20

Annie made it home and Daniel went on his way to his house after walking her back.

She took off her new tulip earrings and rested them neatly on her nightstand before collapsing onto her bed. She grabbed her pillow and squealed inside of it with a wide smile painted across her face.

Daniel walked back home just as happy. He'd skip a few times before telling himself he was a grown man and to stop it.

He'd gotten a good distance before he was distracted.

"HEY!" someone called.
Daniel turned around. It was Scotty and a few of his friends.
"Need a ride?!"

Daniel jogged over and got in the car.

"Where ya comin' from?" Scotty asked as he drove off.
Daniel hadn't thought that through.

"Just went on a walk to clear my head."
"Oh."
"What about you guys?" Daniel asked.
"Soda shop."
"Oh."

"Hey I heard there's a clan meetin' tonight." Sam stated. "In the back of the sheriff's office."
"What time?"
"Midnight."
"I say we go." Derek shrugged.
"You guys wanna go?" Scotty asked.
Sam, Derek, and Will cheered while they beat on the car seats.

Daniel sat there awkwardly in the back right seat.

"Dan, you in?" Scotty asked and looked at him.
"I'm real tired, man. I don't think so."
The car boo-ed.
"Come on, pussy. It'll be fun." Derek claimed.
"They'll have refreshments." Will joked and the car laughed.
Daniel did a faint snicker to not seem estranged.
"I told my mom I'd be back soon to help her with somethin'." Daniel lied. "My dad's not gonna do it while I'm gone so..."
"Alright, then just come when you're done." Scotty stated.
"I'm tired, man." Daniel said a second time.
The men groaned.
"Fine, man. Whatever." Scotty sassed.

Daniel sat back and stared out of his window.

•~~~•

Annie was woken up by her door's slam open.

"Johnny's awake!" Marshall yelled and ran back out.
Annie got up quickly and went to the family room.

"Get ya self dressed." Diana told Annie.
"Is it true? Is Johnny awake?"
"It's true, go get ready na! Come on so we can see him."
Annie hurried back to brush her teeth and get dressed.

The family piled into the car and Sirius drove off to the hospital.

"When did he wake up?" Annie asked.
"Robert came into the neighborhood to let us know about an hour ago."
"Do you think he remembers?"
"Well if he don't, we ain't gonna remind him."
"Why not?"
"You think he needs to live with that? No. We'll tell 'im somethin' different." Marshall insisted.
"I don't think we should lie to him..."
"Well I'm not tellin' him no time soon. My best friend won't hear from me what those white boys did to him. I don't have the courage."
Annie didn't argue.

They arrived at the hospital and headed to his room.

Ms. Katherine sat in the chair next to her son as the family walked in.

They all caught a glimpse of Johnny.

He and Marshall shook hands like men. "I'm glad you're alright, man." Marshall stated.
"Thank you."

Annie approached him as well.
"Hey there, Annie." Johnny greeted.
"Hi..." Annie replied.

She looked at how tired he looked. Her eyes scanned down the hand he had bandaged still.
"Are you okay?" she wondered.
"I'm alright. When I'm all better I plan on bringin' you on a better date to make up for the last. This time I'll be careful."
Annie took a deep breath and nodded.

She moved out of the way so that Marshall and Johnny could keep talking. But she stared at him thinking about his words.

A date?
She thought about Daniel.
The poor timing of it all.
She couldn't go on a date with Daniel anyway but it would feel wrong to go on a date with Johnny while she kind of liked Daniel and she hoped he liked her.
But she also needed to get married soon.
How would she explain to her parents why she doesn't want to go on a date with Johnny?
How would she tell him no? Especially after he's been through what he has.

"You alright?" Diana asked and rubbed Annie's arm.
"I'm okay. I'm just happy he's alright."
"I told you he would be. Johnny's a fighter. Now you two can go on as many dates as you want." Diana smiled and gave her daughter a squeeze.
"Yea..." Annie agreed.

She looked back at Johnny and Marshall laughing in conversation.

What was she supposed to do now?

She didn't want to turn out like her mama's love story.

~•~

"Where is Diana?!" Nancy asked as she walked down the stairs.
"I don't know." Stephen replied, sipping a cup of coffee while he read the newspaper.
"You don't know? You don't keep track of your workers?"
"I'll find out when she gets here. As of right now, I have no idea." He flipped his page.
"Stop lettin' that woman do whatever the hell she wants and come to work whenever the hell she wants!" Nancy commanded. "She has a job to do! I expect her to do it and I expect you to hold her accountable if she doesn't! I told you they were fucking lazy and you thought I was the bad guy."
"What do you need done?" Stephen sighed.
"I need cookies baked for the picnic tomorrow."

"All of this commotion over a batch of cookies." Stephen sighed.
"What was that?" asked Nancy.
"What picnic?"
"The book club is having a picnic."
"And what exactly is stopping you from making the cookies yourself? It's just a cookie."

Nancy didn't answer.

"My apologies, dear. I didn't mean to remind you of your shortcomings when it comes to the kitchen." Stephen flipped his page.
"You tell that woman to show up on time from here on out." she commanded through grit teeth.
"Whatever you say, my darling Nancy. You know how much I live to please you."
Nancy stormed out of the kitchen and back upstairs to their master bedroom.

Stephen sighed loudly as he sipped his coffee with eyes reading his newspaper.