Defined By Deceit

Llew kept working while Ms. Pat yammered on about nothing in particular. Asking him meaningless questions and answering them for him, too. Barely taking a breath in between. Llew loved that about her, he found it charming.

“So what are you doing tonight? Is Shane coming over? This coupling of ya’ll’s is just a win-win for everyone. You’ve never looked happier and I get to see my godson a whole lot more. Yes, thank you Lord. Everything is working out just fine. That boy’s been right lonely these past few years, too. So what you doing tonight?”

He waited a beat to see if she was gonna let him respond this time. “Um. Just gonna relax in my room. It was a long day at work. I’ll probably work on my computer until my eyes cross.”

She laughed at his answer. He was exhausted. Jack had him doing all types of extra work on the site this week. Fixing equipment, dissecting blueprints. He even asked Llew for his opinion on laying the foundation on a job in the middle of one of their meetings. Everyone was floored when Llew stepped up front with Jack and Shane while the architect pointed out some more specifics the owners wanted to add to entrance of the building. The figures and calculations swam around his head, and strategically fell into place like magic. He’d slid the pencil from behind Shane’s ear and drew in the new lines, not even needing computer software to make the additions. The architect couldn’t thank Llew enough for saving him from having to draw up completely new blueprints. Everyone thought the additional layout would have them working mandatory overtime this weekend. Llew made it so not only did they not have to work the weekend, but Jack promised everyone they would be knocking off early on Friday. Shane showed Llew just how impressed he was with him that night back at his place.

“And what are you smiling about over there?” Ms. Pat’s knowing smirk told him she already knew the answer to that question, too.

“Nothing. Just thinking is all.”

“Mmhmm. Where’s Shane tonight?”

“At his parents’ for dinner.”

“Oh. That’s nice. I gotta call that lady. It’s been ages since we had tea. Since Big Daddy retired they just been all over the country.”

“Must be nice,” Llew said absently. He wondered if he’d ever meet Big Daddy Smith.

“How’s the new site coming, son? Ya’ll broke ground yet?”

“Yes, sir.” Shane popped off another piece of asparagus, hopping that Queenie would quickly serve dessert; making it all the sooner he could leave.

“Smith Jr., are you going to sulk all evening or are we going to enjoy dinner? We don’t get to see you much, darlin’,” his mom said. Her graying blonde hair was swept up into a loose a bun, showing off a very expensive set of pearls. She sat with one hand clutching a cloth napkin in her lap that only made a brief appearance to wipe the corners of her mouth before disappearing again. The other perfectly manicured fingers held her fork delicately while she ate tiny bite-sized morsels of her Chicken Florentine.

“I apologize. I’m just a little tired Momma, is all. Been putting in a lot of hours in the office this week.” Shane quickly ate another few bites.

“I heard that ain’t all you been putting in work on.” His father glared across the formal dining table at him.

Shane dropped his fork, leaning back in his seat exasperatedly. Here we go. He knew it wouldn’t be long before his father brought up Llew. Gossips in this town were worse than a damn soap opera.

“Don’t sugarcoat, Big Daddy. Coyness doesn’t become you. Spit it out.” Shane huffed.

His father put his own fork down, leaning in intimidatingly. “Watch it boy. You not gon’ smart-mouth me in my own house. I just want to know if it’s true. Have you hired a rapist to work for my damn company, and gone and started dating him, too?”

“I hired a qualified contractor to work for my company. It is mine, right? I’m pretty sure I was there when we signed the papers. To address the next part of your question; that shouldn’t concern you at all. I started dating a man that I’d taken an interest in and who I sincerely like. And for the record, he’s not a rapist. I’ve never known you to entertain gossips, Big Daddy. This family has always been a supporter of, and participant in, equality in the workplace. I wasn’t going to turn away one of the most talented designers and hardest working laborers I’d ever encountered just because years ago some guy he dated didn’t know how to stand up to his daddy and took the bitch way out.”

“Shane,” his mom gasped, clutching her pearls. “Language at my table, young man.”

Shane just refrained from rolling his eyes. This is exactly why he didn’t think Llew would be able to meet his parents anytime soon. Llew thought Shane was worthy to meet his only family but Shane was ashamed of his. They were all from Henderson, so why his parents acted like some pretentious, pompous aristocrats from Bel Air really baffled him. Llew might have taken one look at the way his parents behaved and high-tailed it away from a serious case of déjà vu.