The Harper Generations: Country Roads

Chaos at the family reunion

Misty

When Dad and I traveled to his home state, we attended church and a family reunion the next day. But it's usually the two of us. Not this time. Now, we had a gaggle of people with us since my dad and Alana were getting married while we were here.

We also saw several family members, including my mom's side, since my dad's family invited them. Here's the problem with that. I don't get along with a cousin named Brandy on my mom's side. We're the same age but fight like cats and dogs.

Another problem was Jeremy was also here. Jeremy was a guy my grandma Mary wanted me to date and marry when I got older. According to her, he was a good boy. Good boy, my ass. Jeremy paid attention to me until we did the horizontal mambo. I realized afterward Jeremy would never have my heart. At the time, I didn't understand why.

Now, I do.

Tino, his cousins, and the girls stuck close to me while the adults mingled with my dad's family.

"Who are the people giving us nasty looks?" Ryan asked.

"Oh, those are my mom's family," I said.

"Did they suck on a lemon?" Michael asked.

"You would think, but no. They're not fans of my dad because he moved my mom to Michigan and refused to bury her back home."

"Your mom's family sounds like a bunch of tools," River said.

"More than you know."

Tino slipped his arm around my waist and rested his hand on my stomach. I leaned into him, trying to relax. It didn't work when Brandy approached us.

"Misty," Brandy said in an annoying tone.

"Brandy," I said, returning her snark.

Brandy looked at Tino and licked her lips like he was her next meal. "Who's this?"

I opened my mouth, but Tino beat me to it.

"Misty's boyfriend," he said, tightening his hold around my waist.

"Oh, Misty didn't tell me she had a boyfriend. Please to meet you." Brandy held out her limp hand to Tino.

Tino glanced at it but didn't take Brandy's hand. "Yeah, sure. Excuse us." He whisked me away from Brandy while the cousins and girls laughed.

We walked down the road away from everyone.

Tino moved his hand from my waist and slipped it into my hand, intertwining our fingers. "Your cousin's a bitch."

I barked a laugh. "No shit. Brandy is always trying to one-up me."

"I thought this was your dad's family reunion."

"It is, but his family invites my mom's family. It's so screwy."

We walked until we reached a cemetery and walked toward the fence.

Tino glanced at the cemetery. "Your family holds a reunion next to a cemetery?"

"Only because it's a family cemetery."

"You have a strange family."

"You have no idea. Some guy posted a sign on his trailer saying his wife wanted it. My family was hoping I would take him up on his offer. Then he died in a fire."

Tino stared at me.

"I refuse to marry someone when I'm thirteen." I rolled my eyes.

Tino shook his head. "Yeah, your family is nuts."