Two weeks after Jeremiah left it was the fourth of July. Talia and Zeke were "summoned" to her parent's house for a barbecue. Addie made a pie for them to take but her grandfather requested her banana pudding. Talia couldn't deny that request especially when he prefaced it by saying "I could die any day, Tally. Bring the damn pudding!"

"Will there be a pants problem today?" Zeke asked.

"Pants problem?"

"You know. Will your grandfather have a problem keeping himself covered?"

"I think it will be fine. Since mama moved him into The Homestead Assisted living there hasn't been a problem."

"Good because apparently my family is coming today too." Zeke gripped the steering wheel tight.

"Your mom and dad?"

"Ben and his lady friend are in town too." Zeke's tone became harsh.

"What's going on there?"

"I don't know but things don't sound right about his situation. It's just a feeling I have."

Zeke pulled the truck in front of the house. Ten or more cars were already parked haphazardly around the yard. Music and conversation floated from behind the house. Zeke got out of the truck and ran around to Talia's door. Helping her with the pudding and pie she ungracefully jumped down from the truck.

Taking the pudding out of his hands she marched up to the house. Her mama had gone all out on red, white and blue decorations. There were lights, streamers and flags everywhere. It looked like a party store had thrown up on the porch.

Knocking lightly on the screen door, Zeke opened it allowing her to go first. Talia looked to see if anyone one was around and froze in the doorway to the living room. Sitting on the couch was her grandpa. Next to him sat an elderly woman holding his hand. It would have been a sweet scene if they weren't stark naked.

"Tally! Zeke! Meet Edie. Edie this is my sweet bug, Talia, and her boyfriend, Zeke."

"Nice to meet you, dear." Edie said.

Talia couldn't get words to come out.

"Ooo is that my pudding?" Her grandpa asked.

Talia nodded looking at anywhere but at her grandfather and his companion.

"Leave that with me. Edie likes pudding. She especially likes when I lick it off her."

"Oh yes. That is my favorite. You like tapioca and lady honey flavored."

"With that I'm out. It was good talking to you grandpa." Talia sped away practically leaving a Talia shaped hole in the wall.

Making her way to the kitchen she dropped the container of banana pudding a bit harder than she intended. An opened bottle of vodka sat on the counter. Taking the Smirnoff, she didn't bother using a cup. She heard footsteps approaching. Zeke walked into the kitchen looking like he'd get sick.

Swallowing the harsh alcohol, Talia asked, "Are you ok?"

Snatching the bottle out of her hand he took his own swig. "I think I will be having nightmares for ages."

"The thing is it wouldn't have been bad if they had been dressed. They were sweetly holding hands."

Zeke choked on the vodka. "You didn't look very closely, did you?"

"Well, no. The minute I saw them naked I stopped looking. Why? What did I miss?"

"Your grandpa...uhm...had his hand in her lap."

"Yeah so?"

"Are you going to make me say it?"

Talia took the vodka back taking another swig. "Hit me with it."

"He had his fingers in her lap while she held onto his stick."

Her eyes bugged out of her head. She needed air and to find her parents. If anyone else walked into that living room, her parents would be scandalized. Marching out the door to the backyard, Talia looked around frantically. Seeing her dad at the barbecue, she marched over to him. She nodded polite acknowledgement to anyone who said hello. She rushed over to the grill.

Talia's father looked up from the grill as she approached. "Bug!" He opened his arms for a hug.

"Dad! Do you know what is going on in your living room?" He paled at her words.

"What the hell is your grandfather doing now?"

A blush colored her face. "All I'm going to say is that you don't want any of the church ladies walking in on them."

Her father sighed. "Let me go talk to your mother. Can you look after this, bug?"

"Sure, daddy." He kissed her cheek then headed toward her mother who was surrounded by gossiping women.

Talia flipped the burgers and hot dogs making sure they didn't burn. Grilling food was not in her normal wheelhouse, but she could make sure things didn't burn. She felt a pull on her shirt as she closed the grill.

A little familiar face looked at her. Talia squatted down. "Hello, Mariah. How are you?"

"Are the hot dogs ready?" She asked.

"Not quite yet. It should only be a few more minutes. Are you hungry?"

"Rex said you were going to burn all the hot dogs. I won't eat burnt hot dogs." She stomped her foot with her hands on her hips.

With a sigh, Talia looked around for her idiot brother. He stood not far away smirking and drinking a beer. "Don't worry, Mariah. I won't burn your hot dog. Now, Rex's I may drop on the ground, but don't tell him that ok. Just a secret between you and me?" Talia winked at her.

The grimace slowly left her face replaced by a smirk. "Ok. I won't tell him." She ran off. Talia looked at her brother flipping him the bird.

"Aww, now Tally why are you doing such an unladylike thing?" Rex walked next to her as she checked the grill again.

"You're an ass."

"You still love me though." He nudged her with his shoulder.

"I have to. You are my twin after all. My evil twin but still my twin."

"You think you're so funny."

"Oh, I know I am."

Talia shut the grill and looked around the party. Zeke stood with a good-looking couple. The interaction between them appeared tense. An older couple holding hands approached them giving everyone hugs.

"How's that going?" Talia had completely forgotten Rex was standing next to her.

"Fine."

"I don't have to whoop my best friend's ass, again do I?" Rex puffed his chest out.

"Again?"

"Yeah, again. I clearly won at the bar."

Talia glared at him. "I must have been given all the brains in the womb. Mama should apologize to you for that." Talia turned back to the grill making sure nothing had burnt. "What's going on with you and Chrissy?"

Rex choked on the beer he was drinking. "What?"

"What is going on between you and Chrissy? She's got to be here since Mariah is here. Are you dating? Screwing? Friends with benefits?"

"Uh...friends who date sometimes?"

"Are you asking me?" Talia crossed her arms.

"Honestly, I don't know, Tally. It kinda just happened at the bar the other night. I've taken her out twice since then. Nothing has happened more than a kiss or two."

"Are you interested in her?"

Rex shrugged. "It's still new."

"Just be careful. Mariah will always be a priority of hers. If you can't handle that bow out now." Talia handed Rex the tongs and walked to Zeke.

Zeke saw Talia approach. He threaded his arm around her waist pulling her to him. Kissing her on her temple she felt him relax with her there.

"Ben, Mom, Dad you remember Talia, right?"

"Of course, we remember her, Zeke. How are you sweetie?" Zeke's mom pulled her into a hug.

"I am good."

"This is Amber, Ben's fiancée." Zeke gritted out.

"Nice to meet you." Talia held out her hand.

Amber looked down her nose at Talia's hand. She crinkled her nose then looked at Zeke. "Huh. I would have thought you could do better being a movie star."

"Excuse me?"

"Amber!"

Zeke and Ben spoke at the same time.

"What? I'm just saying she seems so bargain bin when he is top shelf."

Talia sighed. "It was nice meeting you, Amber. There are other's I need to see. Good seeing you, Ben. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers." Talia walked toward the house.

"You ok, Bug?" Her dad saw her walking up the deck.

"Yeah. Just wish I was different."

"Why would you say that?"

Talia lifted one shoulder. "I don't know. It just seems no matter what people are always going to question why Zeke is with me. It's bad enough I ask myself that question. I don't need other people asking it."

"Does any of that matter to Zeke?" He asked.

"I don't know." Talia looked over at an angry Zeke arguing with his family.

"I know. Just look at him. That is not a man who let's comments like that alter his feelings. That is a man who loves you and wants to protect you."

"You really think so, daddy?"

He swallowed and looked into her eyes. "It's hard for me to see any man other than me protecting you, bug. But, that man over there loves you very much. The real question is do you love him just as much?"

Before Talia could answer her father walked toward the grill. Talia needed time to think away from everyone. Grabbing a water out of a cooler she strolled around the front of the house. Sitting on the porch swing, Talia watch the wind blow in the trees. This part of home she had missed. The peace that could come with southern living. Sitting back and letting the world pass by was the best thing about being in Grandin.

Swaying on the swing, Talia closed her eyes. Questions floated through her mind. Was her dad correct in how Zeke felt about her? Did she love him too? Could they really ignore all the questions about their relationship? The only answer that continued to pop up was yes.

The pop hiss of a can opening broke her away from her thoughts. She stopped swinging and walked to the edge of the porch. Mr. Rogers was hiding next to the porch drinking a beer.

"Mr. Rogers?"

He jumped and looked at her. Guilt colored his features. "Hello, Talia. Uhm...I...um...don't tell anyone ok. It was just this one time. I needed it to cope with the drama."

Talia just looked at him.

"Ok. Well, I am going back to the party." He drank the rest of the beer quickly then dropped the can into the trash before walking back to the party.

What was Talia to do with this information? Should she tell Zeke? Was it just this one time? Talia closed her eyes to think again. She heard the steps creak behind her.

"You ok, babe?" Zeke wrapped his arms around her waist.

She nodded.

"I'm sorry about Amber. She's a bitch. Unfortunately, it looks like she's going to be around for a while. She's pregnant."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Mama was upset with your first meeting, so she wants us to come over for dinner before Ben and Amber go back to Nashville."

"Ok." Dread pooled in Talia's belly.

"Are you sure you are ok with that?" Talia turned in his arms.

"Of course. You've dealt with my crazy family. I'm sure I can deal with yours." Zeke kissed her sweetly.

"Bug, that boy better not be doing inappropriate things." Talia's grandfather's voice called from behind them.

"Don't turn around." Talia pulled Zeke to her.

"Why not?"

"They've moved to the porch swing."

"Oh, good lord."

"That's what I say when your grandpa does inappropriate things to me." Edie giggled.

"DAD!" Talia's mother's voice rang out. "Didn't I tell you that if you insisted on being naked with your lady friend you had to stay in the house?"

"Don't use that tone with me Marie Agnus. Maybe if you and that bore of a husband did more horizontal polka you wouldn't be such a prude."

"Daddy! Jason and I have plenty of good intimate times. We are actually quite adventurous. We don't need to sit around naked playing with ourselves."

Dear God! Where was an indigenous person with a poisonous blow dart when she needed one?

"Time to go." Talia grabbed Zeke's hand dragging him down the porch and out to the truck.

Zeke started the truck just in time to see her grandpa imitating hula hooping on the porch. That was a sight she could never unsee. "One thing about your family, sweets, I always get too much information." He laughed as she covered her face in her hands.