Page 53 of Falling

“We call Helen, Peg, and Grinny The Golden Girls around here,” Uncle Pierre says. “Where you see one, you’ll usually see the others.”

“Unless I’m with a fella,” Peg says, leaning in. “Gettingsome lovin’ when I can just makes me a better friend all the way around.”

“Peg!” Helen says, while Callum and Uncle Pierre laugh.

“You know it’s true.” Peg laughs. “I become quite cantankerous. Nobody knows that better than my girls.” She glances back at Grinny’s table. “Speaking of cantankerous, Grinny—”

“Is just fine,” Helen finishes, her eyes wide and focused on Peg.

“Right,” Peg says, giggling. She glances back at their table again. “That Pappy is a fine specimen. And the only man I’ve ever come across that hasn’t—”

Helen leans down and pats Peg’s hand. “Why don’t we let them order?”

Peg looks up at Helen and smiles at her and then around the table. “This one tries so hard to keep me in line.”

“It’s impossible, but I do try,” Helen adds.

We all laugh and Peg stands up and moves next to Helen, putting her arm around her. And then she points at me and Callum.

“The two of you would makeoutrageouslybeautiful children.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Callum grumbles under his breath, shooting me an apologetic look, while I try not to turn bright red.

She’s still going. “I never had my own, but I love this boy like he’s my own grandson, and I tell you what…he was the mostgorgeousbaby. Most come out looking like little old, wrinkled men, you know? But not the Landmark babies. And especially not this one.”

“I knew Callum was your favorite,” Sutton says from the other table.

Peg laughs and shakes her head.

Grinny looks over then and her eyes narrow on Peg.

“What are you saying over there, Peg?” Grinny asks.

“Just how beautiful the Landmark babies are,” Peg says, full of innocence.

“And in particular, Callum,” Sutton adds, smirking at Callum.

Grinny’s head tilts and she slowly nods. “Hewasexceptional.”

Peg lifts her hands likeSee?

“Still is.” Grinny winks.

Amen.

“Wonder what happened?” Callum mutters.

“I heard that, Callum Henry Landmark, and you cannot tell me you don’t know how handsome you are!” Peg cries. “Why, I saw people taking pictures of you when you walked by the other night…when you walked in here today too, now that I think about it. There were some girls talking about howhotyou are…”

Callum frowns, and I shift in my seat. Ana and Mae talked about how hot Callum is—could it have been them? Is it possible that people are recognizing him? No, that wouldn’t be happening so fast. Would it?

“I’m so sorry I’m just now getting over here,” a woman says, pulling a small notepad out of her apron. “Hi, I’m Jo,” she says to me, blowing a strand of hair out of her eyes.

“This is my niece,” Uncle Pierre says proudly.

“Oh my gosh, it’s so nice to finally meet you!” she says. “I’d heard about you...nothing gets past the gossip mill in Landmark Mountain…”

Her glance at Callum makes me think she heard about me staying with him for sure.

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