The Pledge by Chandra Sparks Taylor Page A

later.
    Daddy just kind of grunted.
    Allen kissed me on the cheek, then we both walked over and gave Momma a hug.
    â€œThank you,” I said. “I know you had something to do with this.”
    She grinned at us both. “You’re welcome,” she said. “I remember what it was like to be young and in love. You guys behave yourselves, and don’t make me regret this.”
    â€œI promise to take good care of your daughter,” Allen vowed.
    â€œSo, Allen, why don’t you hook me up with one of your fine baller friends?” Aunt Dani said. “Make sure he’s older, though, and has plenty of money. At my age, I don’t have time to be dating little boys.”
    Allen grinned. “I know just the guy.”
    Â 
    Aunt Dani called me a couple of days later and told me she was going to treat me to a new outfit for my date. Allen and I had decided to go out to dinner then to the homecoming dance, and Momma and Daddy had agreed we could go to the dance without Aunt Dani and her date. I was all for something new to wear, so we headed to the Galleria mall the weekend before homecoming.
    â€œHow’s my favorite niece?” she asked, and I laughed, knowing that’s really how she felt.
    My grandparents had three children together, and Aunt Dani was my grandfather’s daughter from another relationship. It didn’t take a genius to figure out my granddaddy had cheated on my grandma, but for as long as I could remember, Aunt Dani had always been at family events, and although there were several other grandkids, including a few more girls, I was the oldest, and my grandparents and my aunt spoiled me rotten.
    â€œHey, Aunt Dani,” I said, giving her a hug.
    â€œHow was the game yesterday?” she asked.
    I filled her in, and she promised to come see me before the end of the season.
    â€œYou’re coming to regionals when we make it, right?” I asked.
    â€œWhere’s it going to be this year?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s actually in Birmingham, at the Civic Center,” I said.
    â€œIt’s on like popcorn,” she said. “I’ll be there, just let me know when.”
    I cracked up. Every now and then, Aunt Dani would use these outdated phrases, and I just found them funny.
    â€œAunt Dani, nobody says that anymore,” I said.
    â€œThen I’m just going to bring it back,” she said.
    We laughed and talked all the way to the mall. It felt good to be with my aunt again, just the two of us.
    â€œDo they have Chanel here?” Aunt Dani asked as she pulled into a spot. She put the car in gear then reached into her Coach bag for some lipstick.
    â€œNo,” Cory said, springing up from the trunk area of Aunt Dani’s SUV. Aunt Dani and I both screamed.
    â€œGirl…” Aunt Dani said, clutching her chest.
    â€œMunchkin, what has Momma told you about hiding from people and scaring them?” I said. Cory hadn’t done it in a couple years, and Momma said it was just a phase she had been going through, but obviously not, since she was doing it again.
    Cory was laughing so hard as she tried to climb over the backseat that she fell on the floor.
    â€œThat’s not funny,” I said. “You’re gonna get hurt doing that.” I shook my head and looked at the floor. Aunt Dani was still trying to recover. Her eyes were huge like she’d seen a ghost, and the lipstick she’d been putting on when Cory scared us had ended up on her cheek like a bright red jagged scar. “Say you’re sorry.”
    â€œSorry,” Cory said, but I knew she really didn’t mean it.
    â€œWhat are you doing here, anyway?” I asked.
    â€œI wanted to come, too, and I knew if I asked you’d say no.”
    I just shook my head, knowing she was right. “Come on,” I said before turning to Aunt Dani. “You ready?”
    She looked in the mirror. “Do I look ready? I should spank you,