Chapter 36

I'm sure you see I have decided to finish. If you don't like the way I write I don't care how many stories you have no one is making you read it, no one is a professional here, and it's not giving you a headache. I would've had this posted on Saturday but this website is being retarded for me.

Xxxx

Everyone has now gathered for dinner.

Mary says prayer or someone else?

"Thank you Lord for bringing my children to see me as we can all be a family on the day of the birth of your son, thank you for introducing Penny and Devon to Shelly and Missy's lives. Thank you for all the gifts you give and blessings, most of all the live you show us and thank you for this food that we're gracious to accept, Amen."

"Amen." Everyone says in unison.

"So Missy since you like dark meat now, do you still eat the white meat?" Junior whispers to Missy jokingly.

"You want me to stick this fork and knife where you don't want it?"

"Like where?"

"Prepare to find out."

"You always were a little violent." He says as she takes the turkey.

"So Devon what do you think of Texas so far?"

"It seems nice."

"Haven't been anywhere but here and the airport."

"Well later we'll be attending Christmas Eve Service and maybe Missy can show around town where she grew up."

"That'd be nice, I'd like to see where she grew up."

"Yes Shelly you are attending church and that's final." Mary says.

"That's good to hear, it's important to see where someone is from, but not necessary."

"Devon I hope you plan on saving room for desert." Memaw said.

"I'll try."

"So Penny how are you and Sheldon?"

"Good."

"Just good?"

"We're still together."

"Mother what is it you're trying to ask, are you trying to ask if we've had coitus or not?"

"Coitus?" Devon asks Missy.

"Sex, it's the scientific term."

"Oh."

"No I not, I'm just asking how you two are, she's your first real relationship. "

"What about Amy?"

"Oh ease that wasn't real, you didn't have any romantic feelins' for her, you just went along with it to keep her happy and to stay friends, how is she by the way?"

"We're still friends, she doesn't come over as much."

"I'd suggest you to reach out to her Shelly, I'm sure it's difficult seeing you and Penny happier than the two of you were, but just talking science with you won't."

"I suppose."

"So Penny how has Shelly been treating you?"

"You raised a gentlemen Mrs. Cooper."

"Please call me Mary." We'll be family before either of you know it. She whispers.

"Okay. Mary, he's really sweet and I can see how much he cares for me when I look into his eyes."

"Aww." All the women say in unison.

"Penny, you're embarrassing me."

"Our Shelly is a romantic who knew."

"Junior leave your brother alone."

"So you two done it yet?"

"Junior that's none of your business and you're not too old to wash your mother out." Mary scolds.

"Well I'm happy for all four of you."

"What about me?" Junior asks.

"Junior you're married with a kid, that goes without saying.

They continue to eat until it's time to head to Christmas Service.

Xxxx

"This is a really pretty church, Mary."

"Are you religious?"

"We went growing up, but not so much."

"Maybe I talk Shelly into going."

"I don't see that happening, I can always ask Missy to go."

"Y'all seem to get along well."

"Yeah we do, I guess we have a lot in common."

Music plays to signal service is starting

Xxx

"That was a beautiful service." Missy says

"Yes it was, I hope you've been attending service in California or have you become a heathen like Shelly."

"Despite your claim his brain is a gift from God he never believed on him as he discovered science at a early age. I go when I can."

"I hope that means regularly."

"Most of the time."

"Well I guess that'll do."

"Excuse there's someone I have to talk to." As Missy and the others see Mary talking to a attractive younger man and a little brown complexion.

Hmm. Missy thinks.

"Who's that?" Missy whispers to Memaw.

"Oh just a friend."

"Looks like more than a friend to me." She suggests.

"If you want answers ask your mother, besides I've only seen them at church."

"I thank I will ask."

"I've only seen them talking for a couple months."

"So he's a new member?"

"I believe so."

Guess I'll have to ask mom later.

"Sorry about that, just had to catch up with a friend of mine."

"That's okay Mary."

"Shelly since Penny enjoyed the service maybe you can take her to one regularly."

"Mother please."

"Isn't her soul and afterlife important to you?"

"If I believed in that then yes."

"Shelly I wished you'd be more open minded, but you're so stubborn."

"I am not, just don't believe in something you can't see."

"Yet you believe in all those fictional characters of yours."

"I can see them."

"Yes on TV."

"I can still see them."

"Well I guess I'll have to pray for your soul then. "

"Maybe Missy you and Penny can attend service and Devon as well."

"I suppose."

"Maybe Missy can't help you get back to attending church."

"Momma I don't want to force him, yes he mentioned he believes and grew up around the church."

"Missy it'd be selfish if you didn't try to help him get his spiritual relationship with God back, Penny as well."

"I suppose, I just don't want to force them."

"You won't."

"I guess we could attend and maybe drag Shelly and his little friends, except the Jewish and catholic one. "

"Missy?" That voice could belong to only one person.

"Brian, Kiana, hi."

"How are you?"

"Good just visiting for Christmas."

"That's good, so how are?"

"I'm fine LA has been good to me so far, this is my boyfriend Devon." Gesturing to the tall black man about his height. Wow didn't see that happening Brian thought.

"Devon this is Brian my ex and former fiancé."

"Nice to meet you." Devon said extending his hand as they shook hands.

"So how are you two?" Missy asks.

"Well." Kiana holds her hand up to show her engagement and wedding rings."

"Congrats."

"As well as this." Kiana said turning to the side so Missy could see the slight bulge.

"I'm happy for you, I really am."

"Thank you. It's great catching up, but her parents are waiting for us as they came down."

"Sure it was great seeing you two."

"Devon take good care of Missy she deserves it."

"I don't plan on doing anything else." He says as Brian and Kiana head out and Devon and Missy rejoin their group.

Xxxxxx

(The next day-Morning)

Missy wakes up and here's her mother in the kitchen making breakfast.

"Hey Darlin'." Mary calls out.

"Hello momma." She says ties her robe.

"You sleep good?"

"Yes."

"Momma I have to ask you something."

"Yes I approve of Devon, but don't rush it, you'll know when the time is right."

"Umm that's not what I was going to ask but that was weighing on me."

"Then what is it?"

"You're not pregnant are you?"

"Is this why you brought him? For me to get to know him after you let me know he knocked you up?"

"No. Yes we have sex, I'm an adult momma, but I'm careful. We do talk about marriage and kids. But we're just dating or in a serious non commitment relationship that is holding us together."

"If you're not engaged or pregnant what is it?"

"Who was that younger black man you were talking to from the looks of it not much older than me."

"He's a newly member."

"Looked like more than that."

"Missy come out and say it."

"Memaw told me about your relationship with a black man when you were young before you met dad, so have you given dating with a black man another try?"

"We're just friends, nothing has really happened, I introduced myself, he is new in the area and we meet up once a week for coffee that's it."

"Mom I realize it's been a while since you dated as you attended sock hops and you can freely date a black man as segregation is no longer , but that's dating."

"How old do you think I am? You sound like Shelly."

"That's beside the point, it sounds like dating to me."

"You sure?"

"Yes. Momma when two people meet up somewhere and spend significant time together over a period of time together that's dating."

"Hmmm I'll have to ask David when I see him again."

"Can we meet him?"

"No."

"How about just me?"

"I don't know Missy, I didn't even realize we we're dating."

"So when am I going to meet my future Dad then."

"Missy we're just dating."

"How old is he?"

"42, yes I know he's a little bit younger."

"A little."

"Seriously how old do you thank I am?"

"So now that you're dating does that mean you're going to you know?"

"Melissa Jane. I can't believe you just ask your own mother if you were going to have sex with her boyfriend."

"I didn't know until know you had one."

"I'm not discussing that."

"Well just so you know, black men are still big." She says grabbing a plate to eat.

Xxxx

(After breakfast)

"So Missy want to show me the town you grew up?"

"We don't have to do it if you don't want to, don't let my mom influence you."

"No I really do, besides the house is empty since Sheldon and Penny disappeared somewhere."

"Where did they go?" She says looking around the room.

"If it was any other couple I think they wanted to be alone."

"Yeah or Shelly is making up for lost time." Or Penny is teaching him "things."

"Okay let's go." She said standing up heading to the door.

Little did the know Penny and Sheldon were making out behind the tree sitting on the swing chair in the backyard.

"This is nice." Penny says coming up for breath.

"Yes it is."

"Thank you for inviting me."

"I'm suppose to invite my girlfriend to my mothers house for Christmas."

"You don't have to, I've dated a few that didn't, of course I found it was because they took their other "girlfriend"."

"I'm sorry you experienced so much heart break."

"Me too, but if I didn't I wouldn't had met you." She runs her hands up his abdomen and chest and feels his newly muscles.

"That's true even though I imagine many different scenarios of us meeting and being friends."

"Really?"

"Yes. Some even have where Leonard and Amy are not in our lives."

"As much I like them as friends I can't help what would've been if that were the case, things would've so much easier and simpler."

"I don't have to imagine, we meet when you move in or you go out of your way to meet me, seeing as I'm tall and I remember the way you looked at me when we first met."

"I always thought you were cute."

"You strike up conversations with me in the hall and perhaps even during my laundry time. Over time you work your way into my life until we were together and since I doubt raj and Howard would've been friends there's no me meeting Amy."

"But you might be alone."

"I'm sure I'd make friends with your help."

"I guess so. Even though you're probably right about the what if, I still like the way things happened even though it'd save me from dating Leonard and you from Amy."

"True. I'm going back in before I get melanoma."

"It's not that warm, I'll stay a few minutes."

"Very well don't say I didn't warn you." He says

As he enters the house
"There you are Shelly, come help me with the groceries." Memaw commands.

"Yes ma'am."

Just then Penny comes back inside. Hmm I'm not that old Meemaw thinks.

"Penny would you mind helping with the groceries."

"Uh sure." She says.

Xxxxx

Missy is showing Devon everyplace she hung out at and attended school at.

"This is the last stop."

"A park?"

"Not any park, where me and Shelly and my friends would hang out at. Of course he mostly would do experiments with his science kit or whatnot."

"Besides there was this big old oak tree that was perfect for hiding go seek." She says as they walk to the park and the tree.

"It is a big tree." He says leading her to the tree as her back is against the tree.

"Perfect place to do other things."

"Devon, I didn't bring you for that .

"I actually brought you to show you everything."

"I know, but I'm going crazy not being able to touch you."

"We've been gone awhile anyways, we probably need to head back before they think we ran off and got married."

"Would that be bad?"

"No, but momma and Memaw want to see me walk down the aisle since I'm the only girl. I can't deprive them off that, plus unless momma have you permission she'd kill me."

"She hasn't given me a answer."

"You asked?"

"Didn't know when I'd meet them again."

"She said ask before we leave." He said as they pullout of the parking lot to head back to the house.

Xxxxx

As Missy and Devon return

"Look who stopped bye." Mary says.

"Anna Beth how are you?"

"Good, finished school. How are you? California treatin' ya' well?"

"Of course."

"Who is this tall dark chocolate." She says eyeing him up.

"My boyfriend Devon."

"Know wonder you moved to California, I would've done the same thing."

"I didn't meet him till after I moved."

"Oh I see."

"Nice to meet you Anna Beth."

"You having any brothers or friends that look like you, send them my way okay?"

"Sure. Missy I'll leave you two to catch up."

"Okay." As he heads to the kitchen to get a drink of water.

"So." Anna Beth asks

"So what?"

"Is it true?"

"Is what?" Trying to play dumb.

"Ya' know about black men, are they big and good in bed."

"I'm not answering that, plus you're too young to be thinking of that."

"I'm 23 not 13."

"They fact you're not answering tells yes."

"You're to smart for your own good."

"I got it from Shelly."

"You did not. Shelly is another world smart, you're intelligent from a normal standpoint."

"So are we talking big or BIG." Stressing the Big in the word.

"Anna Beth I'm not discussing this with you, if you really want to know why didn't you date one in college."

"I went to Rice."

"They have a football and basketball team."

"Yeah but not in my class."

"Shouldn't studied Architecture."

"So is he really big or does he know how to use it as well?"

"Change topics."

"Fine. Does he have any eligible friends?"

"I can't remember, but I do or they're more Shelly's and turned into mine."

"Are they like Shelly?"

"Yes and then no."

"What does that mean?"

"They're a little dorky nerdy if you will, really smart but not Shelly smart, but a little more of a personality."

"Are any cute?"

"Depends, how do you feel about Indian men?"

"The country or the -?"

"Country."

"Is he good looking?"

"Look for your self." Missy says showing a picture of him from her phone."

"Well hello there cutie."

"She I told you."

"I must meet him."

"I'll arrange it."

"Maybe I could always enroll in at ucla or USC for grad school."

"You haven't even met Raj to know if you like him, I have a feelin' you will but still."

"I mean this town is boring, I've been thinking of either starting grad school somewhere else or take a job somewhere else, particularly in a warm place."Stressing the word boring.

"How about you come for a visit if you think it's something you want."

"Okay."

Xxxxx

For Missy's cousin think a younger Carrie Underwood.

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