“You’re not mad about this? You loved your daddy, Dixie. You talked about him like he was your knight in shining armor.”
Dixie sighed; the breath she released held resignation. “He was, or at least that’s what I let everyone believe. I knew my daddy was a philanderer. Mama never let me forget it. She stayed married to him for a reason, Em. Surely you know that reason was the prestige of the Davis name and all that money. But while she held on, she never let him forget he was a cheat. I loved him regardless. Because he was the only person at home who showed me any kind of approval.”
Em fought hard not to share her disbelief, her disappointment, that the Ethan Davis she’d admired from afar was, after all, only human. “I didn’t know, Dixie. I don’t think anyone knew.”
Dixie nodded, her expression sad. “That’s because it was a Davis family secret. I won’t say I’m not shocked by how close to home he played, or that your mama kept this from all of us for so long. I wouldn’t be surprised if my mama had somethin’ to do with makin’ her keep that secret, and if she did, I’m sorry, Em. You were entitled to as much as me.”
Em stayed silent. Dixie had more than her share of disappointment with her mother. She wouldn’t add to it.
Dixie peered at her. “My mama knew, didn’t she, Em?”
Her mouth went dry, her next words thick. “Accordin’ to my mother, yes.”
Dixie nodded. “Looks like Pearl and I have some talkin’ to do.” She shook off her visible disappointment and put a smile on her face. “Let’s forget about how I feel for the moment. The question is, are you mad? This is huge, Em. A huge part of your life kept from you. It has to hurt.”
Em closed her eyes, still shaky. “I’m not mad, no. Maybe I haven’t processed it all yet? Or maybe it’s because it explains everything about my mama? It’s funny, but the part about your father bein’ mine isn’t what sticks out in my mind right now. It’s the part about us bein’ half sisters. It’s plum crazy after our history.”
Dixie gave her a tight hug. “I dunno. I feel like it’s the icing on the cake of our friendship. We’ve come full circle. I am a little sad, though. Sad that I was so awful to my own flesh and blood.”
Em grinned. “Sadder than when you thought I wasn’t your flesh and blood? Because that would cut me so deep, Dixie. After all your apologizin’ and everything.”
Dixie laughed. “I’m sad that I treated you that way, relation or not. My point is, if my father had to have a child from a torrid affair, I couldn’t have picked better than if I’d picked you myself.”
She knew Dixie was just joking, but the word affair brought up a new crop of issues. “I’m illegitimate.”
“No. You’re Emmaline Amos. My best friend, and now, my sister. Who uses the term illegitimate anymore, anyway?”
Dread began to fill her stomach. This meant more gossip. “Everyone in Plum Orchard.”
Dixie made a face at her, dismissing the notion. “Everyone doesn’t count, Em. Only the people who love you count.”
“What do we do now, Dixie? How do we explain all of it?”
“Well,” she drawled, a twinkle in her eye. “First we call up Pearl and tell her the Davis family will has some fixin’ to be had. Then we go find the person who sent you that birth certificate and we end this once and for all.”
She’d never explored past the idea that it was all a joke. “Who do you think it was?”
Dixie planted her hands on her hips. “Who do you know that has more time on their hands than a clock, not a single request on her dance card and loves to make trouble?”
The comment Louella had made about her mother and a boyfriend. Now everything made sense. It hit her like a ton of bricks. “Louella?”
“Who else, Em? Now, I don’t know about you, but this crazy grudge of hers has gone too far. Her bid to get rid of Call Girls by pickin’ us off one by one won’t work. I won’t let it. I’m not going to let her run you out of town with her gossip. I won’t allow her sordid wish to make me miserable affect the boys anymore, and I certainly will not allow you to resign as my GM, leave all the people you love and who love you while you sit back and take it. So, person, what do you say we go handle this—together?”
*
Em and Jax strolled the town square hand in hand with Dixie and Caine in tow. The Winter Solstice festival was in full swing, lights swayed from the trees and the gazebo was aglow with dozens of battery-operated candles.
Booths were set up along the street, the scent of hot buttered popcorn and plum wine mingled with the chilly breeze.
Maizy was waiting with Gage and Tag by the cotton candy booth. She waved when she saw Jax and bounced up and down. “Cotton candy, Daddy!”
“Sugar rush, huh, kiddo?”
Maizy cocked her head. “Hey! Why are you holding Miss Em’s hand?”
Jax plucked a piece of her cotton candy from the cone and squeezed Em’s hand. “Because I like her. That okay with you?”