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“Yarrow never remembers movie details,” Blackjack had explained. “If we watch them out of order, she can pretend that’s why she doesn’t remember rather than she doesn’t pay enough attention.”
I smiled at how Blackjack adjusted to his wife’s idiosyncrasies. Their odd relationship worked. He took care of her. She treated him like a genius. They had managed to raise two well-adjusted kids.
Their marriage made me feel better about things with Goldie. My parents had been so similar that they were essentially the same person. In contrast, Goldie and I were wired so differently that I often had no idea what she was thinking.
Knowing we could be happy opposites like her parents eased my worries.
“I’m planning to marry Goldie,” I told her dad. “I’m not asking your permission. Just letting you know, so you can get any issues out of the way now.”
“What issues?”
“My life is in Baton Rouge. It’ll be tricky if I try to move here, but I’ll do it if that’s what Goldie needs.”
Studying me, Blackjack finally asked, “Is this marriage thing taking place far off in the future?”
“I plan to look for a ring in a few days. Should I ask her opinion or surprise her?”
Blackjack cocked his eyebrow. “Is that a real question?”
“No, I guess it isn’t.”
“Surprises weren’t popular at the townhouses. Duffy becomes agitated when her routine is changed, and Yarrow can get paranoid when people are planning things in secret. Goldie doesn’t have those issues, but she once threatened to set fire to a Chuck E Cheese if we threw a surprise party for her there.”
Chuckling, I liked the idea of Goldie sticking up for herself. I had never met tough women like the ones in the Crimson Guard. Though several of the club guys’ wives were ballsy, they weren’t riding next to their men and willing to brawl like Goldie.
Unsure how she’d do in Baton Rouge, I figured we ought to find out sooner rather than later.
“Zodiac’s leaving town soon,” I told Blackjack. “I need to get back to Baton Rouge for a week or so. I’d like Goldie to come with me.”
Yarrow startled me by popping up next to my chair and hissing, “No.”
Despite her irritation, she kept her voice quiet. I leaned over the side of the chair to find Anise crawling nearby. I almost asked what they were doing before realizing they were playing in the way kids would.
“My house has two spare rooms,” I told a livid Yarrow. “You and Blackjack could stay at the house with Goldie and me. Boone and Nova will also be in Baton Rouge.”
Yarrow’s irritation dropped away, and she smiled at Blackjack. “Can we go?”
“Sure. Once Goldie can move around easier, we’ll pack up Mochi and spend time in Baton Rouge.”
An excited Yarrow crawled away to tell Anise. I smiled at Goldie’s mom and tried to imagine what life was like for the Chester family when the kids were young. My parents were so structured and formal. Though my childhood wasn’t unhappy, I never enjoyed it like I assumed Goldie enjoyed hers.
GOLDIE
I awoke from a nap to find Yarrow abuzz about Baton Rouge. My mom sat cuddled on the couch with Blackjack. They were looking at her phone. I was about to ask what was happening until I spotted York in a nearby chair. His smug grin put the pieces together for me.
Sharing his smile, I asked, “How big is your mattress?”
“King-sized.”
“Do you have enough pillows for our bed wall?”
“I can have more delivered.”
“What about food?” I asked, pulling problems out of my ass to mess with him. “I’m used to pampering here at the Sorority House.”
“You can order whatever you want.”
“What about Mochi?”
