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

Chapter 14: A Meeting With The Parents

"Mama, can I talk to you?" Annie asked after slowly opening her parents' door once they gave the go ahead.
"Yea, baby, what's wrong?"
Annie gestured for her mama to follow.

Diana got up and walked behind Annie.

Annie had a smile on her face as she stood in her bedroom and Diana entered then shut the door.

"Everything alright?" Diana asked.
"Everything's great, mama."
"Well what happened?"
"We went." Annie said cheerfully.
"Who went where?"
"Me and Daniel." Annie whispered. "We went to the protest. He held up a sign and everything. We went and he shouted for change."
Diana just stood there.
"I told you he was different, mama. I was right. He went with me and he held my hand for a little but I let go because I didn't want too many people knowin'."

Diana took her eyes away from her daughter's and just stared at the far wall.

"So...? Will you accept it now?" Annie asked happily.

Diana thought.

"Proof."
"Huh?"
"Proof. Where's your proof? How do I know he went?"
"Well, I'm not lyin' to you. If he hadn't gone I wouldn't want to be with him anyway."
"Proof, Annie. Where is it? If you don't have any then I don't believe you."
"What...?" Annie frowned.
"I don't believe you!"
Annie looked at the floor.
"You don't have a picture or nothin'?"
"I didn't...I didn't know I needed one..."
"Fine. Then no. I don't accept it."
Annie sniffed.

Then she remembered something.

Or rather someone.

"Jenny." Annie stated.
"What?"
"We ran into Jenny while we were there! Jenny met him!" Annie took Diana's wrist and pulled her behind all the way to the living room.

Annie began dialing on their phone.

She listened to it ring.

"Hello?"
"Hi, Mrs. Mills, is Jenny home?"
"JENNY!"

Annie waited patiently and gave her mother the phone. "Ask her."

"Jenny speaking." Jenny greeted.
"Jenny."
"Oh hi, Mrs. Moore."
"Jenny, did you see my daughter at the march the day before?"
"Um..."
"It's alright. She won't be in trouble if she went."
"Oh, yea. She was there. Her boyfriend too."
Diana gasped quietly.
"Wait! I-I didn't mean that...what I meant was...um...Johnny. Yea, she went with Johnny."
Diana knew that was a lie, she ran into Johnny on her way to the grocery store for the Ross household when she hadn't seen Daniel all that day.
"Okay, thank you, Jenny."
"Yes, ma'am. Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine."
Diana hung up the phone and faced her child.

Annie was standing there, smiling. "Well?"
"She told me you were there alone."
"Wh-...No! I'll call her back! She must think she had to cover for me or somethin'. He was there, I swear it!" Annie reached for the phone but her mama grabbed her hand.
"I'm tired of these lies, Annie Denise. I want you to stop talkin' to that boy. I knew he was no good."
"But, mama..."
"ENOUGH, ANNIE!" Diana threw her child's wrist away from the phone.
Annie flinched.
"Go to bed! And I don't wanna hear about you and that boy ever again. I don't wanna see it. You stay away from him, do you understand me?"
"Yes, ma'am..." Annie muttered quietly. She turned around and hurried to her room where she shut the door.

Annie crawled in bed and cried into her pillow.
All she wanted was to not have to hide anymore.
She wanted to be able to tell her mama about this boy like she used to do with Johnny. She missed being able to share sweet moments and how big of a crush she had on a boy. And this boy was the most special of all but her mama wouldn't listen. That broke Annie's heart.

She heard a knock on her window.

Annie quickly got up and grabbed a bag.

She began stuffing everything she could inside of it. She even tiptoed to her bathroom and grabbed her toothbrush.

She went back to her room, shut the door, then opened her window and climbed out.

"Where are we goin'? Lavender field?" Daniel asked.
Annie kissed him several times on his lips. Daniel laughed a bit, wondering what had gotten into her.
"I want to stay with you tonight." she admitted.
Daniel stared down at her in surprise. "Really?"
She nodded.

He quickly took her hand and led her off.

•~~~•

"Overtime?!" Diana repeated as she and her husband sat in bed.
He'd finally broken the news when she came back.

"That's right."
"Wha-...Well are you gettin' paid more?"
"I don't know. It was either keep my salary or be fired completely. We need money."
"But...we need somebody at home too!"
"I know, Diana. What do you want me to do? I told him all'a that and he ain't give a damn!"
Diana huffed.
"I'll be home. Just...not as soon as usual."
"And if somethin' happens? It'll be real dark on your way back. You gotta drive through a sundown town before you can get home. What'll you do then?"
"Pray. Keep a weapon on me. Maybe drink a few beers so I don't feel it too bad."
"Sirius..."
"Don't worry about it. I got a family to feed. Y'all need a roof over y'all's heads. I ain't tell you for you to disagree. I told you so you'd know I'm not out there with any other woman while you fixin' me dinner or nothin'. I wasn't about to let 'im fire me. It'll be alright. Get some rest."

Sirius clicked off their lamp then laid down completely.

Diana still sat there in thought.

Lord, you called my son home not too long ago and while I know it was your will...I wasn't ready...please don't take my husband too. I don't know what I'd do. My heart can't take it. I'm beggin' you...