Read Online The Game of Denial by Brenda Adcock - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Brenda Adcock
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Literature & Fiction, Contemporary, Gay & Lesbian, Genre Fiction, Horses, Lesbian, Lesbian Romance
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If I fall asleep please make sure I'm in the shade." Joan propped herself on her elbows and took deep breaths. "This is nothing like being in the city. No noise, no car horns, no carbon monoxide. How do you stand it?"
"It's tough, but you get used to it," Evey said.
"Fran asked me to walk her down the aisle this morning," Joan said. "I wasn't expecting that. I thought maybe my brother or Tucker would have that role."
"I think it's wonderful. Not many mothers get to escort their child down the aisle."
"Did your father give you away?"
Evey laughed and shook her head. "More like signed my deed away."
"What do you mean?"
Evey sat up, her face sober. "I'm not who you might think I am, Joan."
"I think you're a nice person, a good mother, a caring friend, a hard worker. Am I wrong?"
"I like to think I'm all those things, but I wasn't always."
"Everyone changes, Evey."
"When I was about Tully's age I was just beginning to become noticed on the riding circuit and was pretty full of myself. I partied and drank and thought I was enjoying life. My father thought I should start thinking about settling down, getting married. The circuit wasn't a seemly place for young women back then. Anyway, I met Les and liked him okay. Not the man of my dreams or anything, but someone to hang around with, you know? My father liked him and knew Les wanted his own farm. But Les' folks didn't have much." Evey looked around and took a deep breath. "After an event in Richmond, Les and I went out and had a few drinks." She shook her head. "We actually had a lot of drinks, or as it turns out, I had a lot of drinks. I don't remember much about that night. But I know that was the night I got pregnant with Brad. That was the night everything about my life changed."
Joan didn't know exactly what to say and waited for Evey to continue.
"A couple of months later, when I was certain I was pregnant, I sucked up the courage to tell my daddy. He laughed! I couldn't believe it. He called Les and told him "˜the good news'." Evey looked at Joan and blinked hard. "My daddy paid Les to get me drunk and pregnant because he knew I would agree to get married because of the baby."
"Why would he do that?"
Evey brought her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms tightly around them. She lowered her forehead to her knees and seemed to be trying to decide what to say.
"If I was married and had a baby I would seem more normal, I guess. Like everyone else we knew." Evey shook her head and tossed her hair back as she gazed up at the blue sky. Finally she turned her head toward Joan. "I shouldn't be telling you any of this. I don't want Brad to know. You won't tell him will you?"
Joan rested her hand on Evey's back. "Your secret is safe with me."
"It actually feels good to tell someone after all these years. I guess I thought Brad would think less of me if he knew the truth."
"Everyone has secrets."
"Do you?" Evey asked.
"Of course." Joan smiled.
Chapter Eight
MONDAY AFTERNOON JOAN paced restlessly back and forth on the front porch of the Chase home listening to her personal assistant, Cleo Morrison, run through a lengthy list of messages with questions only she could answer. There were deadlines for both print and television advertising campaigns looming on the horizon and Joan wasn't used to being so out-of-pocket. For the first time she wished Fran had chosen a location closer to New York for her ceremony. After all, most brides did get married in the bride's hometown. She understood why Fran had chosen Virginia but while it was beautiful and peaceful, it was also the ass end of nowhere. Joan paused to jot down a question concerning one of Charmaine's clients and was relieved when Cleo said it was the final message.
"I'll pass this along to Charmaine," Joan said. "She will probably call back shortly. We'll both be back at the office next Monday. Can you keep everyone calm until then?"
"Certainly, Ms. Carmichael. I don't foresee a
"It's tough, but you get used to it," Evey said.
"Fran asked me to walk her down the aisle this morning," Joan said. "I wasn't expecting that. I thought maybe my brother or Tucker would have that role."
"I think it's wonderful. Not many mothers get to escort their child down the aisle."
"Did your father give you away?"
Evey laughed and shook her head. "More like signed my deed away."
"What do you mean?"
Evey sat up, her face sober. "I'm not who you might think I am, Joan."
"I think you're a nice person, a good mother, a caring friend, a hard worker. Am I wrong?"
"I like to think I'm all those things, but I wasn't always."
"Everyone changes, Evey."
"When I was about Tully's age I was just beginning to become noticed on the riding circuit and was pretty full of myself. I partied and drank and thought I was enjoying life. My father thought I should start thinking about settling down, getting married. The circuit wasn't a seemly place for young women back then. Anyway, I met Les and liked him okay. Not the man of my dreams or anything, but someone to hang around with, you know? My father liked him and knew Les wanted his own farm. But Les' folks didn't have much." Evey looked around and took a deep breath. "After an event in Richmond, Les and I went out and had a few drinks." She shook her head. "We actually had a lot of drinks, or as it turns out, I had a lot of drinks. I don't remember much about that night. But I know that was the night I got pregnant with Brad. That was the night everything about my life changed."
Joan didn't know exactly what to say and waited for Evey to continue.
"A couple of months later, when I was certain I was pregnant, I sucked up the courage to tell my daddy. He laughed! I couldn't believe it. He called Les and told him "˜the good news'." Evey looked at Joan and blinked hard. "My daddy paid Les to get me drunk and pregnant because he knew I would agree to get married because of the baby."
"Why would he do that?"
Evey brought her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms tightly around them. She lowered her forehead to her knees and seemed to be trying to decide what to say.
"If I was married and had a baby I would seem more normal, I guess. Like everyone else we knew." Evey shook her head and tossed her hair back as she gazed up at the blue sky. Finally she turned her head toward Joan. "I shouldn't be telling you any of this. I don't want Brad to know. You won't tell him will you?"
Joan rested her hand on Evey's back. "Your secret is safe with me."
"It actually feels good to tell someone after all these years. I guess I thought Brad would think less of me if he knew the truth."
"Everyone has secrets."
"Do you?" Evey asked.
"Of course." Joan smiled.
Chapter Eight
MONDAY AFTERNOON JOAN paced restlessly back and forth on the front porch of the Chase home listening to her personal assistant, Cleo Morrison, run through a lengthy list of messages with questions only she could answer. There were deadlines for both print and television advertising campaigns looming on the horizon and Joan wasn't used to being so out-of-pocket. For the first time she wished Fran had chosen a location closer to New York for her ceremony. After all, most brides did get married in the bride's hometown. She understood why Fran had chosen Virginia but while it was beautiful and peaceful, it was also the ass end of nowhere. Joan paused to jot down a question concerning one of Charmaine's clients and was relieved when Cleo said it was the final message.
"I'll pass this along to Charmaine," Joan said. "She will probably call back shortly. We'll both be back at the office next Monday. Can you keep everyone calm until then?"
"Certainly, Ms. Carmichael. I don't foresee a
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