See No Evil

“Mom, this is my girlfriend, Stone Be

“How do you do, Mrs. Walker?” Stone adds confidently, extending her hand to my mother.

Mom’s eyes sparkle as she takes stock of the fearless brat at my side, and when she smiles approvingly, I can’t help the swell of happiness in my chest growing larger.

“Now, young girl, no need for such ceremony here,” my mother singsongs, wrapping Stone in her arms.

I fake a cough, trying to keep my chuckling at bay as my mom holds Stone just a little bit tighter than expected. She throws me a ‘help me out here’ stare, uncomfortable with such familiar affection.

Thankfully, Mom releases Stone from her death grip and pulls away, but only enough to continue taking inventory of Stone’s every feature.

“Fi

Stone keeps her facial features as placid as she can, but I know that, underneath the cool exterior, she’s uncomfortable as hell with my mom’s prying eye.

“You’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other, Mom.”

“Will I? Does this mean you’ll bring Stone to our next Sunday di

Before I’m able to say anything, Stone interjects, “Unfortunately, I work on Sunday nights.”

“Really? Where?”

“Big Jim’s. The biker bar on the Southside,” she explains without batting an eye.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think Stone dropped that little nugget of information just to see my mother’s reaction. Hell, who am I kidding? I’m positive she did it to test the woman.

But Stone doesn’t know my mother. It’s very difficult to stun Charlene Walker with anything. The woman grew up in the seventies and has raised three sons, for fuck’s sake. She’s seen it all by now. The small, infectious grin on my mother’s lips, added with the twinkling in her eyes while patting Stone’s hand in hers, says as much.

“Well then, we will just have to do a family brunch instead. I want to get to know the girl who has my Fi

Stone just nods, discreetly releasing her hand from my mother’s grip to grab onto mine.

I give her hand a little squeeze, silently telling her there is no need to be nervous. But when my mom suddenly calls for my dad to come over to meet Stone, I become just as agitated. With each step he takes in our direction, my apprehension increases. I know that disapproving glower. It’s the same one he uses when my throw isn’t on target, or if I take a sack. It’s the one that tells me that nothing from this encounter will please him. Not by a long shot.

“Hank, dear. This is Stone Be

“Quite,” he mumbles as he gives Stone a quick scan, looking over my mother’s shoulder once he’s finished.

“I was just talking about how we should have Stone over for di

“If you think that’s necessary,” he replies with no emotion whatsoever in his tone, while sca

“Hank,” my mother begins to say with a reprimanding stare for his rudeness, but my father pays her no mind.

“Excuse me, but I need to go have a word with Owen Turner about his beloved Redskins. Fool is in for one hell of an uphill battle with his team this season,” my father gloats and waltzes off.

He doesn’t even have the decency to give Stone more than a moment’s thought, preferring to just give Colt’s father a hard time about his team’s performance.

“I’m sorry about my father, Stone. Only football can grab his attention.”

She shrugs not one bit affected by his callous ways.

“No worries. Maybe next time I’ll wear a dress made of pigskin to get his attention.”

“Beautiful and fu

“Don’t forget smart. Stone here is going to change our judicial system into something that is fair for all. Not just for the rich and powerful.”

“Is that so?” my mother questions with a more serious tone.

“Yes, Ma’am. At least I’ll strive to do my best.”

“I’d love to hear more about what you aim to accomplish, dear. Maybe the two of us could have tea one of these days, and you can tell me all about your future aspirations,” my mother adds, but her enquiring, somber tone confuses me a bit.

I need to move this conversation along, not really thrilled by my mom wanting a one-on-one with Stone, especially because she’s a definite flight risk if our relationship gets too real for her. But before I can move to a safer topic, someone insistently pulls at my arm, ordering me to turn around.

“About fucking time! I’ve been looking all over for you,” East interrupts sternly, completely oblivious to the fact this is Stone’s first meeting with my mom.

“Kind of busy here, East,” I reply through gritted teeth, trying to shake his hold on my arm.

“Sorry, this can’t wait. Hey, Mrs. W. How you doing, Stone? Sorry but I gotta steal Fi

“Is everything alright?” Mom questions with concern while Stone just gives Easton her evil eye.

What’s that all about?

“Everything is fine, Mrs. W. Just saw Colt go upstairs with Betty Lee, Ma’am. I’m not sure the sheriff will appreciate Colt giving his lovely young bride a private tour of the house.”

“Oh, for crying out loud. Can’t that boy keep it in his pants for just one night?” my mother whisper-yells in aggravation. “You boys do damage control before that fool ruins my whole party. Scoot! Go on, now!” my mother insists, but my feet are still frozen to the floor, not ready to leave Stone alone with my mother just yet.

“Come on, asshole. You heard, your ma,” East growls at me, pulling on my arm again, but I still don’t move an inch.

“You’ll be alright on your own for a few minutes, brat?”

“I’ll be fine, pretty boy. Go on before someone gets shot.” She snickers.

“Remind me never to introduce you to Colt,” I kid lightheartedly, bending down to give her a quick peck on the cheek.

“Jesus, Romeo. Get on with it,” East hollers, pulling my lips away from hers.

“You’re a real jerk, you know that, East?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Tell me something I don’t know, sweetheart,” he snaps back at Stone, succeeding in pulling me away from her once and for all.

“What the fuck was that about,” I bark at him.

“I’ll explain later. We got bigger shit to worry about.”

Not from where I’m standing. I couldn’t give two flying fucks who Colt sticks his dick into. Serves him right if he got a beat down from the sheriff for messing with his woman. Although, if she were mine, I’d send her packing just as fast as I’d rearrange Colt’s handsome face.

A woman who is so easily seduced, means she wasn’t his to begin with. A wedding ring means fucking nothing if the heart is that fickle. Even though Stone might not be one hundred percent in love with me, I know for a fact she would never two-time me. My girl has more integrity and dignity than most of these southern belles profess to have.

As we both rush out of the room, my attention is grabbed by Ke