Best Laid Plans Read online

  “Why don’t you call me JT like all the kids do?” Mr. Tom said now.

  “You wouldn’t mind?”

  “Not in the least.”

  Mopp nodded and looked down so no one would see the tears in his eyes.

  “All right,” Mr. Jackson said. “Let’s say grace, so we can get started on this delicious meal.” He bowed his head and reached out to take his daughter’s hand to his left and his son’s to his right. Tad took Rush’s hand, Rush took JT’s, who took Mopp’s, and Mopp took Miss Becca’s. Grace was short and to the point. “For that which we are about to receive, we give humble thanks.”

  “Amen.”

  That was it? Mopp looked around the table. Yes, it seemed that was it. At home, Daddy would have mentioned everything they had to be thankful for and everyone they had to be thankful to, and dinner would be cold by the time he was finished.

  Rush passed him the roast beef.

  Mopp took a few slices and passed the platter to JT.

  The food was delicious, as Mr. Jackson had said—even better than Momma’s cooking. Mopp really hoped they’d let him stay here for a while.

  Chapter 2

  “RUSH’S OLDER brother is getting married,” Tad mentioned at one of the Friday barbecues in the middle of June. “Want to come, Mopp?”

  “I wasn’t invited.”

  “We’re inviting you.”

  “But I’d be one extra guest they weren’t expecting. They wouldn’t be prepared for that, for an extra mouth to feed.”

  “Rush’s family is rich as Croesus.”

  “Who?”

  “Some rich guy in mythology.”

  “Um… Okay.” He knew a bit about mythology from when he’d been in high school, although he couldn’t remember reading about someone named Croesus.

  “Besides, his brother told him he could bring some friends. Becca’s going as his date.”

  “Excuse me? But I thought you and Rush were dating.”

  “We are.” Tad frowned, and for a second Mopp thought he looked uncertain. But he must have had that wrong. Tad Jackson was never uncertain. And then Tad grinned, and Mopp realized he’d entirely misunderstood Tad’s expression. “Becca’s gonna be Rush’s beard.”

  “That’s a horrible term to use.” Rush sounded affronted.

  “But true.” Tad laughed and pinched his chin.

  Rush sniffed and stuck his nose in the air, reminding Mopp that he’d come from a very wealthy, high society background. Not that Rush was anything but super nice to him.

  Tad leaned over and kissed Rush’s cheek.

  “You see,” Rush started to say. “The thing is—”

  “His family are a bunch of whack-a-doodle-doos.”

  “Tad, Rush is standing right here,” Miss Becca hissed. “He can hear you.”

  “That’s okay, Becca.” Rush sighed. “Tadder is right. But what I was going to say was that I haven’t come out to my family yet.”

  “So you see, Mopp? You have to come with us, if only for moral support.”

  “You could take Mr. Cooper.”

  “We could, but he happened to mention to JT that he’s got work.”

  Mopp knew he was weakening. He would like to go, but… He cleared his throat. “I don’t have any clothes.”

  “Good grief, are you a girl?”

  “Thaddeus!” Rush frowned at him.

  “What?” Tad tried for innocent, and to tell the truth, Mopp thought it was about the cutest thing he had ever seen.

  “Don’t be rude. Mopp, if you’d do us the honor of accompanying us, I would be very grateful. You and I are about the same height and size. I think I have a suit that should fit you.”

  “That’s very kind of you. I’ve never been to Atlanta.”

  “You’ll love it!” Tad almost bounced in his enthusiasm. He might think Mopp was a girl, but right now he was acting like he was five.

  “You’re being silly, Tadder.” Rush shook his head, but the grin on his face showed how much he cared for his boyfriend. “Mopp, come with me. You can try on the suit I have in mind.”

  ***

  THE SUIT WAS a little snug. Rush worked out and had good definition, as JT liked to say, but Mopp worked, and that showed in the muscles of his biceps and thighs, and the breadth of his chest and shoulders. But they managed to make it work.

  Two days later, Mr. Jackson rented a Hummer so he could drive the entire family up to Atlanta, and they made the three-and-a-half-hour trip to the state’s capital.

  Mopp had never been in a church—cathedral—as huge as St. Claire’s. He tried to keep his mouth shut, but he was stunned by the size of it and the beauty of the stained-glass windows, and he was sure he looked like a country hick in the big city for the first time.

  He was surprised Rush sat with them at the back of the cathedral. Shouldn’t he have been up front with his family? But then the wedding ceremony started and Miss Becca and Miss January had to take out handkerchiefs and gently dab at their eyes, and he forgot about it.

  Mopp had to bite back a laugh when Mr. Jackson did the same. “You don’t say a word about this to the crew, Mopp,” he ordered.

  “No, sir.” He looked at his boss with all the innocence he could muster, and Mr. Jackson snorted.

  By the time the ceremony was finished, Mopp was starved. The bride and groom walked back up the aisle and waited to greet the guests who had come to the cathedral. He hoped he looked happier when he got married.

  Mopp blushed when his stomach rumbled, and he groaned at the length of the receiving line.

  “Come on,” Rush said, after he wished his brother and new sister-in-law the best and introduced everyone from the ranch. “They’re going to Piedmont Park for the photographs, but Anderson-Cumming will have the cocktail hour started by the time we get there.”

  “Sounds good to me. Um… who’s Anderson-Cumming?”

  “Not who, what. It’s the catering hall where the reception is being held.”

  The food was amazing, even the dishes with tentacles, and it was a good thing they ate their fill, because someone’s son or nephew hit the open bar early, got roaring drunk, and made a heavy-handed pass at Miss Becca and Miss January.

  That was when the fight broke out. Who’d have thought such… such rich people would do that?

  Mr. Jackson and JT hustled them all out of the catering hall, although not before Mopp caught a fist to the eye.

  “I apologize, Rush,” Mr. Jackson said as he drove them back to Savannah.

  “No need.”

  Mopp peeked over the middle seat of the Hummer to where Rush was cuddled against Tad’s side. He actually seemed happier than the bride and groom.

  “That was the best party my family has ever thrown!”

  ***

  WHEN THE BRUISE on his face finally healed, he agreed to go to the barbecue Mr. Jackson and JT held every Friday afternoon.

  He dove into the pool and joined in the water polo until he got hungry, and then he climbed out and wrapped a towel around his waist. Before he could join the line for the food, a warm, soft hand closed around his biceps.

  “Why, Billy Bob Bolt, I do believe you’ve been working out.”

  Miss January Stephens, the prettiest girl in the world, was actually talking to him. And she knew his name!

  Instead of choking on his tongue, which he wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d done, Mopp smiled at her. He knew he couldn’t compete with all the guys she’d dated, so he kept it simple and didn’t try to make it rakish.

  “Miss January, I was just about to get myself a plate of barbecue. Might I get one for you as well?”

  “Thank you, I’d like that.”

  Mopp was certain he’d died and gone to heaven.

  He was even more certain when she spent the rest of the afte
rnoon at his side.

  “Billy Bob, why don’t we go for a ride?” she suggested.

  He looked down at himself. He still wore his swim trunks. “I’ll need to change.”

  She patted his cheek. “I do also.”

  “I’ll meet you here in about five minutes.”

  “Oh, no, sugar. It always takes a lady longer to make herself pretty.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Miss January. You’re beautiful just the way you are.”

  “You darling boy.” She got up and walked to the kitchen door, and Mopp knew his weren’t the only eyes watching the tempting sway of her hips.

  Down boy, he told himself. She’s willing to go for a ride with you, but that’s all she’ll be willing to do. Classy girls like her don’t date country boys like you.

  He jogged to the bunkhouse, took a quick shower to wash off the pool’s chlorine, then got dressed in the nicest jeans and shirt he owned.

  He was so thrilled to be in her company that the kiss she gave him at the end of the night was just the cherry on top.

  Chapter 3

  A BAD TROPICAL storm had been predicted, rolling up the coast from Florida, and Mr. Jackson had the entire crew working overtime to pile sandbags at the various jobsites. The last thing they needed was to have the foundations flooded.

  Mr. Jackson had also sent them out to check on the more elderly of their neighbors, making sure they were okay and had plenty of food, water, and fuel.

  Mopp was exhausted by the time he got back to the ranch. It was time to hunker down and prepare to ride out the storm. The bunkhouse was empty. The students who’d been staying there were either at home or elsewhere during the summer break, and it was kind of nice to have it to himself.

  He showered and changed and dashed across the yard to the house, dodging the raindrops as his grandma used to say. He let himself into the kitchen, then came to an abrupt halt.

  “Oh, hello.”

  A woman was sitting at the table, a little boy on her lap. She looked scared for a minute, and then her expression turned fierce. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Mopp.” He glanced at JT, who had just come in.

  “It’s okay, Babe,” he said. “Mopp, this is Miz Babe and her son, Denny. They need a place to stay for a while.”

  Mopp understood. They were a couple of JT’s lost lambs, not that he’d say any such thing. It would have been rude.

  “Nice to meet you, Miz Babe.”

  The little boy looked up at him. “How come your name is Mopp?”

  “The men I work with always teased me about my hair.” He grinned and tugged at his unruly curls, and the little boy grinned back at him.

  Miz Babe finally relaxed, and she smiled as well.

  “I haven’t had dinner yet. I’m gonna make myself some mac and cheese,” Mopp said. “Would you like some?”

  “Billy Bob, where have you been?” Jan stood in the doorway. They’d been dating about a month and a half now, and it never failed to surprise him that this beautiful girl was willing to go out with him. The truth of the matter was he was pretty certain she was the one, and that made him happy.

  “At work. You know Mr. Jackson looks after his crew and the neighbors.”

  “I was so worried about you!” She rushed across the room and threw herself into his arms.

  Ah. That was sweet of her. He kissed the shell of her ear.

  She turned her head and whispered, “Take me to bed? Please?”

  Mopp was hungry, but man didn’t live by bread alone. He stepped back and smiled at her, and she took his hand and tugged him along after her.

  Chapter 4

  THE NEWS CAME out that Tad Jackson and Rush Dalton were engaged and planned to be married before the end of the year. It wouldn’t be legal—Georgia wasn’t a state that recognized gay marriage, didn’t even want to recognize the fact that gays existed—but Tad and Rush wanted to commit to each other.

  Mopp thought it was wonderful and amazing. At one time, he would have been a little jealous of how much they loved each other, but not now.

  Now here he was, with the prettiest girl in Savannah as his girlfriend. God, he was a lucky so and so.

  Lucky, but tired.

  What the heck time was it anyway?

  He peered at the night table, but the clock that should have been on it wasn’t. Where…

  It was on the other side of the bed.

  That was right, he was in his girlfriend’s room. Moonlight filtered in through the parted blinds, spilling on to the bed.

  Jan’s hair was a mess—she’d have a serious case of bedhead in the morning—she had pillow creases in her cheek, and she slept with her mouth open, but that didn’t matter. As far as Mopp was concerned, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

  She didn’t usually let him spend the night with her—well, she’d told him she’d never let any of her previous boyfriends spend the night—but lately she’d brought him back here almost every night. She’d even said he could stop wearing condoms. “It’s safe, Billy Bob. I’m on the pill.”

  He’d have loved to dispense with those rubbers, but he knew Mr. Jackson would flat out fire him if he did something so irresponsible. Not that Mopp didn’t trust Jan to make sure she didn’t get pregnant, but it wasn’t fair to put all the responsibility on her shoulders.

  He studied the clock. According to the big numbers, it was only a little after midnight. Jan wouldn’t appreciate it if he woke her up, and he wasn’t willing to do anything that would jeopardize what they had together.

  He sat at the edge of the bed, digging his fingers into his eyes. Maybe if he warmed himself a glass of milk, he’d be able to go back to sleep. Not that he liked milk, but at this point he was willing to try just about anything.

  Mopp reached for his jeans. He didn’t have a robe here, didn’t even have one at home when he’d lived there, but at home he wouldn’t be walking through the house at night in his underwear.

  JT would be up, but he usually stayed in his office, surfing the web as he put it. Or else he’d be in the alcove off the living room, softly playing the piano. One night when Mopp had brought Jan home from a date, she’d asked him in for a Coke, and they’d found JT there, playing the most beautiful music, while Mr. Jack sat behind him on the piano bench. The sight of the big man cradling him in his arms, and resting his head on JT’s shoulder made Mopp melt.

  “That’s ‘The Bolero,’” Jan whispered, not wanting to disturb JT’s concentration. “It’s the most descriptive sex music ever written!”

  “Huh?” Mopp’s face heated up. They’d only been dating a week or so, but none of the girls he’d dated—not that there had been many—had ever been so outspoken about sex.

  “Didn’t you see 10?”

  “Um… no?” He vaguely remembered hearing about the movie. The title referred to the younger woman a much older man fell in love with. Mopp hadn’t even been born when it came out in the movies, but the kids in his class had talked about it when it was on HBO. Daddy didn’t believe in cable TV, so he’d never seen it.

  “Never mind.” Jan smiled at him and ran her fingertips over his cheek. He closed his eyes, almost coming from the pleasure of her touch. Then he started as she gripped his hand in hers and gave a tug. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

  That had been the first time she’d let him make love to her, and it was a good thing he’d had a condom with him, even though she’d assured him it was safe for her. He’d learned from his brother Jim Bob, whose wife popped out one baby after another, and although his parents thought that was a godly thing to do, Mopp had seen how tired Carrie Ann always seemed.

  He’d never told anyone, but he’d driven to one of those twenty-four hour pharmacies a few towns over and bought a box of condoms.

  Not that he’d expected to get lucky, but a guy could drea
m.

  Mopp shook his head. Lack of sleep was making him dopey.

  He closed the bedroom door quietly behind him and made his way to the kitchen. A glass of warm milk was calling his name.

  ***

  MOPP THOUGHT Jan would be upset when he told her he had to spend Thanksgiving at home. When Momma realized he was content with his new living arrangements, she’d worked on Daddy until he’d finally given in.

  Mopp could almost hear her. “Isaiah, it’s a time for family. And if Billy Bob doesn’t show his face, you know your sister is going to make a huge thing about it.”

  Yeah, Aunt Deborah was like that.

  So in an effort to mend fences, Mopp had agreed to go. He’d asked if he could bring his girlfriend, and at first his parents had been pleased. But when they’d learned he was keeping company with January Stephens, they both hit the roof. Why couldn’t Jim Bob have kept his mouth shut? It was none of his business if Jan had a lot of boyfriends before him. If it didn’t bother Mopp, why should it bother his brother?

  But to keep the fragile peace at home, he’d agreed not to bring her.

  He was relieved when she didn’t seem to mind, even after he stumbled over his excuse for not being able to invite her to meet his family on that Thursday.

  Then he learned she’d be spending the holiday not at the ranch but with her own family.

  Why hadn’t she asked if he wanted to join her? He’d have made an effort to come by for a bit either in the morning or later in the afternoon.

  He didn’t say anything, though. They’d been together for five months and… together… almost as long, and he didn’t want to rock the boat.

  But it would have been nice if he’d been asked.

  Chapter 5

  TAD JACKSON and Rush Dalton planned to exchange vows in a few hours, just as Christmas Eve turned to Christmas Day.

  JT took Mopp to a shop that not only sold tuxedoes, but rented them as well. It was more upscale than he was used to, and the tall, thin salesman with the pinched mouth intimidated him. Mopp would have accepted the first tux the man showed him, but JT gave him a look and said, “You’re a young man, Billy Bob. You don’t want to look like you’re wearing your father’s tux.”