house for your grandfather isn’t going to hurt them at all. They’ve been good boys all their lives—no thanks at all to myself and their parents, but because of my sister. You let them do this for you, Rayne. Please. If it worries you too much thinking that they want something else from you, then you’d be wrong. They all just see something they can fix, and they do it. I’m very proud of them for that.”
She turned and looked at the man. “When I was ten years old, I saw your wife berating Wats for helping my grandma to her car when it was snowing. He’d gone out and started it for her so that it would be warmed up when she got out there.” Mr. Wilkerson said it sounded like something he’d do. “Not only did Tina slap him, but she kicked him when he slipped and fell on the ice. I hurt for him then. But you know what? The very next day, he did the same thing, helping another person out to their car that he’d warmed up for her as well. I think a part of me fell in love with Wats that day. Not just for helping out two women that he more than likely didn’t know all that well, but because he didn’t not do it even after being hurt and humiliated by his own mother.” Rayne wiped at a tear that had fallen. “I’m sorry. I have no idea why I told you that. You must think I’m a ninny.”
“Ninny? You’ve been hanging out with your grandda too much, I think. But no, Rayne, I think you telling me that was something you needed to do. And believe it or not, I needed to hear it. Not for Tina, but knowing that my son was a great deal stronger than I was when it came to his mother. Thank you for that. Now, let’s go and have some lunch and have a little bit of fun.”
They did have fun. The meal was loud, and laughter rang out throughout the place. When the others, the other cousins, joined them, it was even louder, with more laughter going around. When Wats took her hand under the table, Rayne felt wonderful, like she was a part of something grand, and she was going to enjoy it as much as she could. Wats liked her, she thought, and she liked him as well. This was turning out to be a much better day than she’d thought it would be when she’d gotten up today.
Chapter 2
Tina wanted to talk to someone about her being able to get home. There was absolutely no reason for her to be locked up like this. Didn’t they understand that they were keeping her from doing her civic duties? Now that she was going to be in charge of things, she needed to make it known that she was nothing like Eita was, bless her heart. But Tina was going to be hard on the people in this subhuman town. The officer that brought her a tray for her lunch wouldn’t speak to her anymore, but that didn’t stop Tina from making her demands known to the woman.
“Did you call my husband and tell him I want him down here? Don’t just stand there, answer me, damn it. I have to speak to him about this rumor I heard about that bastard son of Holly’s moving into my home.” The woman didn’t speak to her, but she did give her that knowing smile. “You’re an idiot. I hope someone figures that out before you get someone killed. It wouldn’t be too bad if you were killed, but I’m thinking with the way my luck has been going, I’ll be hurt as well. Get me a phone, and I’ll make the call myself. I’ve been in this place for far too long, and I want my things.”
“If you have any complaints, you need to put them in writing and turn them into the mayor. I don’t think it will do you much good, however, since the mayor we have is lazier than you are. However, in a few weeks, about twelve days, I think, we’re having another vote, and there will be a new mayor in town.” The woman laughed. “Though I doubt very much that will do you any good either since Clayton Wilkerson is going to be a shoo-in for the position.”
“There is no way he’s going to be running