A/N: Tired of the kiddo getting sick. Still wishing for ownership that will never come.
Chapter nineteen:
The days pass, as we go to school, come home for chores, supper and organizing my stuff. All my books have been moved into our room along with my movies and various knickknacks. Out of the fifty or so boxes, I end up with three boxes of girl's toys and three boxes of stuffed animals, a box of Christmas ornaments my mother made me, my crocheting supplies, and a few of my Nana's things. All of the left overs are boxed for the local Goodwill, including some of my old clothes.
Saturday comes sooner than we expected. Eric promised me a 'date', after he got some work around the ranch done. He comes in the bedroom around eleven and finds me reading one of my Southern Vampire Mystery novels, while tapping my foot to the radio. He loops his arms around my shoulders and draws his tongue around my earlobe. I look up and smile.
"How about we go get something to eat? I'm starving and I want to get away from the house for a while, just you and me." He grasps my hand to pull me up. We get into the truck and he drives to a little plaza. We have burgers, share a basket of onion rings and milkshakes. Once he pays, we walk around the little shops and end up at a tattoo parlor.
"What do you say? Should I get one too?" He grins at me, reminding me of when he was the Hatter.
"It's your body."
"Okay, I'll do it." He opens the door and we enter. The artist sketches out what he wants and prepares for etching Eric's chest. Right over his heart, he has our initials and wedding date put in a stylized heart. The artist puts the gauze on and gives Eric instructions on how to treat it. Then he notices my tattoo as I bend over to retrieve my jacket.
"Where did you have your work done?" He asks, interested.
"Captain Morgan's in Maine." I tell him. His eyes pop.
"Really? I thought the work looked familiar. I have seen him at work at shows. He's good."
Eric looks at the clock in the truck. "Let's see a movie and then have some dinner." He suggests, as he drives to the theater and we snuggle down to see a sequel to Saw, not that we were paying much attention. Eric and I are making out in the back row, like a pair of horny teenagers, which we are. Towards the end of the movie, my stomach growls.
"You are hungry?" When I nod, he smiles and pulls me up. "This movie sucks anyway, let's get some food." When we get outside, he stoops and motions for me to get on his back. 'Come on Sook, I know I can handle it.'
After making sure he hasn't taken leave of his senses, I step on a bench and onto his back. He grabs my legs and moves me into a better position. We continue down the sidewalk this way, until we get to the restaurant. He puts me down and takes my hand, kissing my knuckles.
"Do you want to go to the club tonight, with Alcide and me? I am proud to show off my wife. Let's eat and go home and get ready for tonight. Alcide wants to dance with you, my dear. I would rather have you to myself all night but he begged, citing me stealing you away last time."
We eat in relative silence, until someone steps up to our table. Eric groans and sits back. 'How come when I take you out somewhere one of them show up. It's like there is a network of people waiting to tattle on me being out with someone other a Bellefluer. I have never shown any romantic interest in either of the girls.' When I look up, I see a hopping mad Mrs. Bellefluer.
"Why don't you ever go away? There is still time for an annulment. Then you can go home and leave Eric and Alcide alone." 'Gold digging whore. Leave my daughter's chosen husband alone.'
Eric is about to speak for me again, when I touch his arm. "My turn, to speak now." I get up and look her in the eye.
"You should be the one to leave these poor people alone. Life is not all about what a single person wants. I feel sorry for you for missing your chance at happiness that you feel the need to live through your daughters.
There can be no annulment, if Eric and I do not sanction it, even if we did, it would be difficult, seeing as we have consummated the union repeatedly. I have heard you and your daughter have a problem accepting defeat. I have also heard that you bully other members of this community into doing your bidding. I am not a gold digging whore. I didn't even know that Eric's family had money until I came out here at Christmas time. By then, we were six months into our relationship. I never cared if he had it or not.
Get used to it Lady. I am taking it on my back to be the thorn in your family's side. I am going to be living next to you come next month. I am going to be going to the same church as your family. I am to be shopping and eating at the same places and will be going to the same parties as your family. You have one month to either get with the fucking program or get the fuck out." Mrs. Bellefluer huffs and puffs and leaves.
I turn to the restaurant. "I am sorry everyone. I try not to swear as a rule, but she and her daughter have been on my case since December. I apologize for ruining your meals." I sit back down, my face draining of its flushed color.
The owner comes by our table and gives us a free dessert. "We have been thinking the same things for many years. Welcome to town, and congrats on the marriage." He tells us. "You found yourself a keeper son." patting Eric on the back.
"Honey, I think we will go to the club tonight." I tell Eric on the way home. He laughs and hisses. "That was amazing. I am sure Mom's heard about it by now."
She had, "You have more nerve than I do, Sook. She has been pushing my buttons, but tonight is the vote for new members in our club. You have to be married and have a sponsor. They asked us to sponsor them for admission. You have to own land and have a certain amount in the bank, to join. They barely meet the liquid asset requirement. Eric accedes it alone. We are going to sponsor you two and to hell with them, neighbors or no neighbors. Family first over wealth. Will you accept the invitation?" I look at Eric.
"It's your call, Honey. I don't care either way." He says, shrugging.
"Okay, we will join if asked." I say. I head upstairs to get ready for tonight. Eric and I take turns in the bathroom.
While he is showering, I walk into our closet, to pick out a respectable outfit and one for dancing afterward. I whip my hair into a twist and dress in my aqua sheath dress. I slip on some bone colored sling-backed kitten heels. I skate into the bathroom to apply some make up.
Eric comes out wearing grey slacks, a starched white button up and an aqua tie. 'Again, I married a goddess.' He whistles at me while he slips on a black suit coat. I wait for him to slip into his wingtips. We walk down to meet Alcide in the hallway, he is riding with us. We throw our extra clothes in the back with Alcide.
"Eric, what did you do with Sook?" He joked, smiling.
"I'm still here under the Stepford outfit. You'll see later." He laughs. "I didn't mean that, you look great."
"Yeah, you make Stepford look good." Eric pats my hand, as we pull into the club. He opens my door and slides my hand into the crook of his arm. Alcide takes my other hand and repeats the action. Alcide breaks off to talk with some of his friends. We make the rounds. Freyda and Godric are ecstatic when they see us.
"My dear, you are absolutely gorgeous tonight." Godric kisses my hand.
"Thank you." I smile. My smile widens when the Bellefluers walk in.
Lorena can't hold a candle to either Freyda or me even. Their daughters are dressed up, if that is what you can call it. You can tell Sophie thinks she surpasses every woman in the room; she looks like she just walked off the corner of Beale. Poor Hadley, she looks uncomfortable in her dress. The mother is dressed like the party is being held in the seventies, aside from the beehive.
Sophie steps forward first, with an ugly sneer on her face. She addresses Eric and Alcide, of course completely ignoring me.
"What a lovely party. To think that we will be coming to these all the time huh? I mean, after everything is ironed out. Sure we will have to pay her off, but then we can marry right?" She nods to me while talking to Eric. I put a cautious grin on my face. Eric warns both Alcide and I not to make a scene now, with his eyes. He quietly takes her grip off his arm and guides me away by the small of my back. Alcide follows and asks us what to do.
"Her parents are still confident of Mom and Dad sponsoring them here. That is what she is talking about. That's their plan now, get in and wedge us apart then swoop in for the kill. So, don't say anything until after the ceremony. Can you give us a minute, Alcide? I need to formulate a plan with my wife." Eric asks.
When he leaves, Eric turns to me. "Honey, what are we going to do? You are more experienced with people like this."
"Just what you said, let them hang themselves. They are working the crowd, but your parents have not said something yet. There will be a role reversal when they say they were there. That's what is bandied around the room right now. Your parents are right to keep their mouths shut, until the right time. Let's talk to them." I push him toward his mother and father.
"Hi guys, so how does this work? Is there a chance you could hold off your recommendation until the last one? Build the tension, you know? They are saying that we got married without your blessing and you don't approve of me as Eric's wife." I can see the mamma bear come out in Freyda, with every word.
"Sook, I can do that if I get re-elected, I plan to blackball them after what happened in Las Vegas. If I get re-elected, consider it done." Her eyes squint at me. Eric breathes a sigh of relief when we walk away.
The ceremony starts at eight p.m. The first order of business is to elect a president. Freyda is re-elected by a landslide. They re-elect the whole board and all the officers. Freyda starts the induction by calling for each member's sponsoree. Each person has to have a different couple. So far each couple is inducted unanimously. The time comes for Freyda to nominate a couple. The Bellefluers start preening. Sophie is winking at Eric, and glaring at me.
"I have thought about who to sponsor long and hard. I have weighted all options and what can be added to our club by the induction of my chosen couple. The husband helps all without a thought of how it will benefit him. The wife, I have known of since I have lived here." Lorena is simply jumping out of her skin to walk up to her to accept the induction.
"Before I make my nomination, I feel the need to clear some rumors that I have heard tonight. My son, Eric recently married his longtime girlfriend. Sookie and I have become close over their relationship. She spent the Holidays with us. My husband and I could tell from the first time we met her, she was the one for Eric. She is the greatest cook I have ever seen and will be a great addition to our church. We were both there when they married this weekend in Vegas. We love them and Alcide dearly.
Okay, back to the matter at hand, I nominate Mr. and Mrs. Eric Andrew Northman. All in favor of this induction." She calls out. The vote comes back to induct us.
Lorena faints as we walk up to accept the induction. Sophie stamps her foot, breaking her heel in the process. Hadley waves and gives us a thumbs up. The Bellefluers cannot be sponsored again for ten years.
Once they leave, many people come up to Freyda and congratulate her on not bending to pressure. The whole group is in favor in blackballing the Bellefluers from the facilities. The older couples clear out to attend the dinner, while us kids change into some more comfortable clothes to dance in. Alcide tells us that Sophie is waiting for us outside. I go into the bathroom. and change into some tight jeans and a fitted snap-front shirt, with my boots. I braid my hair into two tight segments before putting my hat on.
Good luck Sophie, I may look weak but you are in over your head dear. I meet Eric in the hall. He has changed into black jeans, his boots, buckle and hat. He left his shirt on, but took off the tie and unbuttoned it to show his tattoo. We head into the parking lot separating the main building and the "Teen Lodge".
"Hey, bitch! He's mine and I'll prove it to you." She jumps on Eric and plants one on him. I swallow my bile. Eric's arms shoot out to his sides and he stand as far as he can with her grasping his face. She breaks away, smiling. 'Sookie, I did not incite this. I am glad too, she smells funny. I think I am going to be sick.'
"See he liked it, didn't you Eric?" She turns back to him, just as he pukes all over her sandals. He stands up, wiping his mouth while dialing a number on his cell. He walks away, glaring at her. A few minutes later, we hear a siren coming down the road. The police car pulls up as she is still smiling at me smugly. I watch Eric over her shoulder. He points to her and then to the others gathered around. The cop walks up and slaps the cuffs on her, and leads her off.
Eric explains to us that he pressed stalking charges on her. After talking to the other member's children, she was also charged with trespassing. Eric now has a hearing for a restraining order for the family.
"So, no church tomorrow morning. Sorry guys." He joked.
"I'm glad it came to a head finally, the tension was wearing." I lean into his shoulder. We head home after Alcide gets his dance and we have a few also.