Life Lines

38: Family Secrets

Chapter Thirty-Eight

I'd decided to walk home from the driving range since I'd been cooped up and sick for the past half of the week. But instead of going straight home, I found myself taking a detour and standing on a very familiar porch to an equally familiar house.

At first I didn't understand what I was doing there. I hadn't bothered to stop by in a long, long time but somehow, it felt right. Kells, of course, kept his mouth shut. Apparently he didn't have an opinion on this visit other than to say, "I'll wait outside."

I only hesitated a few seconds before ringing the doorbell.

And in return, I only had to wait at least thirty seconds for the door to open.

The man that stood before me was still as familiar as the last time I saw him. He had a darkening five o'clock shadow that he allowed to grow since it was the weekend. Although the color had turned more towards the gray then the black I was used to seeing. He had a long face that matched his lean frame, like he would do better at soccer than football. The colored lines that spread up from neck and across his face only made his features seem stern, even though he wasn't.

His eyes were the same crystal blue that matched the boy's I'd kissed earlier that day.

The smile was the same too.

"Hello, Mr. McCourt."

His smile turned into a grin as he looked me over, his eyes getting a slight gloss to them after he saw the color now gracing my face.

"Well, hello Southern Belle. I was wondering when you'd stop by." He held out his arms for a hug. "We've been waiting since Cecil told us you were turning Elite."

Figures. I hugged him even though I still held resentment over them cutting off contact the way they had. However, as time went by, I rationalized why they did it. Little did I know that it might not exactly have been their fault.

I hugged him, probably as much as I would hug my father if I'd gone a long while without hugging him. When he gave me enough room to breathe, I tipped my head back and smiled at him.

"I think you've shrunk," I remarked. "I remember you being somewhat taller."

He barked out a laugh and called into the house, "Slim! We've got ourselves a visitor. Bring some lemonade into the living room, would ya?"

Why he'd ever called her Slim, I didn't know. Every time I'd asked, he would just grin and she would blush. Now that I thought on it though, I started to think it had something to do with why my parents were up at Sally's the one night my uncle caught them.

Parents were gross, especially in pairs.

Mr. McCourt ushered me into the house and even before he could close the door, there was an unearthy shriek from the kitchen followed by, "Oh my Jesus! Is that who I think it is?"

Then a stout, round woman was seen bustling from the kitchen in my direction. Like I said, she wasn't Slim but that's what Mr. McCourt called his wife. And she had me wrapped up in a hug before I could say anything in response to her question.

As soon as she was done, she held me out at arm's length and was looking me over from head to toe.

  "Well, I can definitely say your father has been feeding you." She smiled at me. "And you've gotten so pretty. Not that you weren't pretty before because you were but you've...blossomed."

Oh boy. Here we go.

"They always said you were a late bloomer and now I definitely have to agree. Last time I saw you, you were nothing but skin and bones. Gangly little thing. But you are certainly all woman now."