Coffin of Hope

Chapter Forty Six

Marcy was sick of this store. Which was weird. It contained dark clothing and men's styles. That was her MO; clean boy. But something inside her rebelled at the thought of wearing another pair of baggy black jeans; oversized jersey or large, shapeless hoodie.

Mercedes noticed her bewildered frown. "What's wrong?"

Marcy opened her mouth but she didn't know what was wrong. "No."

"You don't want to talk about it?"

Marcy shook her head. "I'm not a boy."

Mercedes cocked her head with a frown. "Who called you a boy?"

Marcy swallowed thickly. "I'm not a boy." She'd often felt misgendered in life and frustrated by her mother's frustration with her by her insistence on behaving malelike. But for the first time in her life, she realized; she was female.

Mercedes saw her having a breakthrough but didn't realize what it was. She just knew Marcy looked like her brain melted. "Guys?!"

Quinn and Brittany walked over. "What's going on?"

"I don't know. She keeps saying she's not a boy."

Quinn hugged her little sister. "Marce? What's wrong? Did someone call you a boy?"

Marcy backed away from the rack in horror. What was happening to her? Her thoughts were racing and none made any sense to her.

Quinn backed her to a wall and had her bend at the waist. "Just breathe. Slowly. In and out."

Marcy drew in quick, uneven breaths at first but then took deeper ones. Soon she was calm and straightened.

By that time, the little girls had gathered around. Mickey came forward. "Are you okay, Mommy?"

Marcy looked at her. Her sisters would go overboard and she was trying to connect with her child... "Do you like the dresses you wear?"

Mickey thought that was an odd question. "Yes."

"Do you think you can find Mommy some dresses, too?"

Mickey grew very excited as her aunts' jaws dropped. "Yes!"

"Okay. Let's get the hell outta this 2004 emo store."

OF

Marc laughed.

Laura bit her bottom lip.

Mike glared. "Stop laughing!"

"You told him to just go?!" Marc couldn't stop laughing.

Mike glowered.

"Mad?" Noah played with his fingers.

Mike softened. "No, buddy. Not at you. It was my fault."

"I'll say." Mal piped up.

"Shut up." Mike snapped between clenched teeth.

Mal grinned. "I just want to know the pathway of the stream. Did he get any in the toilet before spraying the walls and floor?"

Marc bent in half, guffawing.

"I hate the both of you." Mike was über upset.

"We'll help you clean, Mikey." Laura offered.

"What?!" Marc and Mal were upset now.

She gave them both looks. "He's our nephew and he had an accident."

The word bossy played on a heavy loop in both men's brains.