Chapter Three — The Little Confession

The break of the day after, Evelyn felt lighter on her foundation than she had in geezerhood. She hummed as she moved around the kitchen, fingers drumming on the counter while she waited for the tympanum to seethe. Bruno Walter peeked over the edge of his paper, eyes warm and sleepy, and Evelyn just smiled, the memory of the night before still humming under her skin.

Later that good afternoon, she was out tending her flowers when Savannah River stepped into the yard, sleeve full-of-the-moon of fresh laundry. She looked so pretty in a cut Patrick White jersey and soft shorts, fuzz up in a messy bun that showed off the breaking ball of her neck opening. Evelyn watched her for a instant, spunk thumping a little harder when Savannah caught her eye and waved.

"Hey, Evelyn,"savanna called, setting the laundry basketful on the porch rail."Beautiful day, huh ?"

Evelyn smiled back, but something playful sparked behind her eyes. She wiped her work force on her gardening apron, then leaned closer to the low hedge."savanna,"she said, voice sweet and quiet,"I hope you two slept well after… in conclusion night."

Savannah tilted her head, confused."Last Night ?"

Evelyn's grin widened just enough to progress to Savannah's cheeks thrill before she even understood."Well, sweetheart… our Windows pipeline up just so. I was up late… and I could see you two."She touched her chest, giggling like a girl with a delicious secret."All of you."

savannah's heart went all-embracing, her typeface going pink."Oh my god, Evelyn — we didn't realize — we never close the drape all the way — oh, I'm so humiliated, I'm so sorry—"

Evelyn waved a hand, cutting off the excuse."No, honey. Don't you dare be sorry. If anything… you did me and Walter a favor."She leaned in, eyes sparkling."It's been a long time since we… you know. But watching you two — youth, so hungry for each other — I felt like a female child again."She gave a small, giddy laugh."He was so hard I thought he'd break dance me in two. We haven't been like that in years."

savanna's mouth fell open, her helping hand covering her sassing."Oh my god…"

Evelyn touched her wrist lightly."Don't you be embarrassed. Take it from me — you two are beautiful together. Do it every chance you get. Make a show of it if you want. You're Edward Young — you should delight every single bit of each other."She paused, breathing time detection just a minuscule at the store, her oculus glazing like she could still see Savannah River's palm tree on the windowpane."Mmm… yes, enjoy it."

savannah's cheeks burned so bright it made her giggle helplessly."I… I don't even have it away what to say."

"Say thank you."Evelyn winked."And maybe fold the drapery tighter if you really don't want an audience."

Savannah laughed and covered her face with her hands."I'm telling Jax — he's going to die."

Evelyn leaned back, brushing the petal of her roses."You tell him from me : don't you two change a thing."

They stood there a moment, giggling like little girl, the summer sun hot on their berm — both of them a little pink, both of them secretly glowing.

savannah couldn't block replaying it as she carried the washing basket inside — Evelyn's flirty grin, that electric discharge in her flabby old vocalism when she'd whispered"You did me a favor."It made her chest feel warm and tingly, like she'd just gotten away with something delicious.

She found Jax in the kitchen, shirt off, leaning against the counter while he scrolled his phone. She set the hoop down, still giggling under her breath.

"What's so funny ?"he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Savannah crossed the elbow room, pressing her palm to his bare chest, eyes wide and playful."So… you know how we don't really fold the mantle ?"

Jax frowned."Yeah… ?"

She bit her lip."Evelyn saw us last night."

His heart went big."Wait. Saw us ?"

Savannah nodded, fighting a laugh."All of it. She said she was up recently — she could see everything."

Jax's spike flushed pink but his grin gave him away."You're kidding."

"Nope."She leaned in closer, whispering it like a naughty secret."She told me she and Walter… they watched, baby. And then they did it. She said it's been years since they did it like that."

Jax laughed — a low, stunned strait that made savanna find a fluttering deep in her belly."Damn… so we gave the old man some inspiration ?"

"Mhm,"she hummed, pressing a kiss to his jaw."She said we should enjoy it every probability we get. She liked it. She looked so angelic telling me — but she got all strong just remembering it."

Jax shook his head, the bakshis of his fingers brushing Savannah's hips."So our old neighbors are getting off to you bend over the window now, huh ?"

Savannah's brass burned, but the way he said it made her thighs press together."Stop. You're making it sound unfit than it is."

"Hey."He caught her Kuki in his hand, smirking."If we're gon na apply a show… we might as well arrive at it worth it."

Savannah River swatted his chest, one-half laughing, half flustered."Jax !"

He just chuckled, dipping his head to osculate her neck — slow, deep, like he was already picturing the next sentence he'd press her up against that window. And savannah, for half a breath, pictured Evelyn's soft heart peeking through the hedge again… and felt herself get a small wet just thinking about it .