“This is the grandkids’ room,” Jeanie said, showing them a bedroom crowded with two sets ofbunk beds, a crib, and a playpen. “You know, I was just thinking this morning that I should get rid of thatcrib and playpen ’cause the boys is all getting so big.” She tickled Mimi’s chin. “I didn’t know thismornin’ that I was fixing to have me a baby granddaughter.” She set Mimi down in the playpen, whichwas filled with colorful blocks and beads. “Why don’t you play in here while I show Mommy and Daddytheir room?”
Mommy and Daddy, Lily thought. Naturally, Jeanie thinks I’m Mimi’s biological mother. Sheknew this was a notion they’d have to straighten out, but now didn’t seem like the time.
“Oh, Lily, I wanna show you somethin’.” Jeanie escorted her into a bathroom that was quitepossibly the most sensual room Lily had ever seen. A deep marble tub, which was big enough tocomfortably hold at least two people, was sunken into the floor. The tub was surrounded by candles, and acrystal bowl of many-colored bath oil beads sparkled like jewels in the light that shone through thewindow.
“What a beautiful bathroom,” Lily said.
“You can use it any time you want to,” Jeanie replied. “It’s my special place, I guess. I’ve beenwith Benny Jack’s daddy thirty-four years, and I’ve raised up three boys in this house. Sometimes I justneed a place where I can get away from the men, you know what I mean?”
“I know exactly what you mean.” Lily bit her lip as Ben erupted in a fake coughing fit.
“Well, this can be y’all’s room.” Jeanie led them into a room with a king-size canopy bed.
Paintings of outdoor scenes hung on the cream and hunter-green striped walls, and a stuffed wild turkeystood guard in the corner, looking as if he might say, “Nevermore.”
“Benny Jack’s daddy bagged him a coupla years back,” Jeanie said, when she caught Lily staringat the dead bird. “All the McGilly boys love to hunt, ’cept for Benny Jack here.”
“Well, I wouldn’t want him to hunt anyway,” Lily said. “I’m an animal lover.”
“And this way you won’t be a widow during hunting season.” Jeanie smiled. “Well, I’ll let y’allget settled in. I’d better be heading to the store if we’re gonna have a barbecue tonight.”
Lily had already popped open a Bud tallboy before she realized that only the men were drinkingbeer. The women at the poolside barbecue appeared to be sticking to diet soft drinks. Ben’s brothers,Johnny and Wayne, were knocking back beers and laughing, threatening to push one another into thepool. Lily couldn’t help but observe how muscular both of Ben’s bathing-suited brothers were. With their