“Thank you for behaving,” whispered Eliza, squeezing her daughter’s shoulder.
Rett smiled to herself, and the grin grew when she spotted Calum between Tiffany and Georgie. He caught her eye, cheeks burning pink, and ducked his head. He’d dressed up for today—a gray suit Rett knew Georgie took him to buy from Miller’s in the next town over. His black hair finally rested against his skull in some semblance of controlled, though she remembered what it looked like messed up.
Rett sang the hymns and listened to the sermon, the same as she always had. Warmth flooded through her bones at the familiarity, the well-known traditions of the little town, the rituals she clung to every year. Her stomach lurched when she looked back at Calum, catching him watching her. His lips formed a silent ‘I love you’.
Heat burned in her cheeks, and she chewed on her bottom lip before turning toward the front of the church. The words settled on her tongue, so right and sweet, and she ached to hear them in his voice again. It had been a pleasant surprise to hear them for the first time. To realize he felt the same way she did.
Rett couldn’t help but wonder if it was too fast. After all, they’d agreed to not kiss other people only a month ago. They knew each other for longer, sure, but it wasn’t the same. Was it? Making a mental note to ask her mother later, Rett sat up straighter in the pew and watched the pastor as he extolled about the reason for the season: Jesus Christ and his offered salvation.
After the sermon, the entire congregation descended to the basement for the potluck luncheon. Calum and Rett shuffled their way down the line, piling food onto their plates and pretending they hadn’t changed their entire worlds the night before. They found seats in the corner and sat close together, knees touching under the tabletop, and Rett rested her head on his shoulder for just a moment.
“I love you,” she whispered, lips curving when he breathed it back.
Unfortunately, any chance of further conversation vanished with the appearance of the other teens. Calum let the boys drag him into a discussion of cars while Kellie Marie and Tiffany argued over the best way to get a guy’s attention. Sofia, Penelope, and Mabel Tucker talked about going into the next town over to watch an upcoming movie release at the massive theater there.
Rett nudged Calum’s knee under the table, sucking in a breath when his hand landed on her thigh. It wasn’t inappropriate in any fashion—just a more public display of affection than he’d shown before. Even if no one could see it through the table. Calum rarely did more than wrap his arm around her shoulders as they walked through the halls at school.
Their tree was where he was freer with his touches, gentle kisses and holding her tightly to his chest. In her bed or his, where he’d press his lips to whatever patch of skin he could reach before settling in beside her. The night before when he’d loved her in a way neither had ever experienced before.
She could still feel his lips on hers and the ghost of his breath as he told her for the first time that he loved her.
Rett hesitated in her doorway three hours later, watching her mother sit down on the sofa. Her plain black dress pooled across the cushions, and her calloused hands pulled her hair from its low bun in one nimble movement. Eliza was always beautiful, but in that moment, Rett could see why her parents fell in love.
“Mama? You know how I said I didn’t need to talk?”
Eliza paused before wrapping the hair band around her wrist. Patting the couch, she gave her daughter a knowing smile. “Ya need to?”
“I think so.”
Rett sat next to her mother and leaned into her side. Saying these words would change things, and she wasn’t sure if it was for the better or the worst. Eliza stayed quiet while her daughter gathered her thoughts, then Rett blew out a breath.
“Calum and I, uh… We kinda went farther than we should have.” Rett closed her eyes at the damning silence. “We were safe, I promise.”
“When did this happen, baby?”
“Last night.”
“Do you regret it?”
“No. Definitely not. I—I love him, and he loves me.”
“He tell you this?” Eliza prodded, and Rett smiled as she cuddled into her mother’s side.
“Yeah. After we…”
“As much as I wish you’d talked to me before,” started Eliza, voice soft and gentle, and she reached for Rett’s hand, “I guess I’m just glad you two were safe.”
Rett squirmed as her stomach did somersaults. “I didn’t mean to. I only went to wish him a happy birthday. And—and it just happened. I don’t regret it, though.”
“Well, thank you for telling me, baby.”
“Why aren’t you mad?” asked Rett after a long moment of silence. She’d expected anger. Disappointment. Instead, she received understanding.
“Oh, honey, your daddy and I didn’t wait ’til marriage, neither.” Eliza laughed softly, kissed Rett’s hair, and held her close. “I’m sad my baby is growing up into a young woman, but I can’t be angry you did something so human. As long as you were safe and you weren’t pressured into it, I have to accept you’re not a little girl any longer.”
“Mama?”
“Yeah, Retta?”
