Page 71 of About That Night

“Or you could just talk to her about it, tell her how you feel,” George says.

“That’s dumb,” Conway says.

“You’re going to listen to these two single guys? I’m married. Trust me. Just talk to her.”

I spread my legs apart and settle deeper into my chair, pondering life and love, babies and the future. “What do I say? I think she has feelings for me too, but she’s running scared.”

The screen door bangs as my father comes onto the porch.

“Dave!” my mother yells. “Stop banging that screen door!”

This is their nightly ritual.

I am convinced my father does it on purpose now, just to rile my mother up. It’s his way of getting her attention.

“Sorry, Jenny!” he yells back, then looks behind him like the devil himself is following him.

Then I realize why when he gestures silently to George to give him a cigar.

In a minute, he’s happily puffing away, sipping a bourbon, looking contentedly drunk.

“What are we all talking about?”

“The baby,” I say.

“Hank’s love life,” George says.

“That Chastity seems nice,” he says. “A little young for you, though, don’t you think?”

That has never once crossed my mind.

“She has a four-year-old son, Dad,” Conway says. “I don’t think that matters. If anything, she’s more mature than he is.”

I frown at my brother. “Thanks, jackass.”

“Shit, your mother’s coming,” Dad says, shoving his cigar into my hand.

“Dad, now I have two,” I say, amused. “That’s a little obvious. No one double fists cigars.”

“Just be cool.” He’s waving the air in front of him. He slumps down in his chair and crosses his foot over his opposite knee.

My mother’s head pops out the door. “You’re not smoking a cigar, are you, Dave?”

“Hmm?” he asks, in a way that is neither a yes nor a no.

It’s a brilliant, noncommittal response.

“Cash just had a baby, Mama. That’s what you do when a man’s wife has a baby. You smoke a cigar,” I tell her, trying to take the heat off of my father.

Unfortunately, I just shift it right to myself. Her gaze pins me. She stares at me so long, I move uncomfortably in my chair, sitting up straighter.

“Hank, I need to see you in the kitchen.” She disappears back into the house.

“Ooh, you’re in trouble,” George says with a grin.

“Shut up,” I tell him as I peel myself off of the rocker, not even considering disobeying her command. “You’re just lucky Cash doesn’t know how birth control works, or Mama would still be all over your ass about not giving her a grandbaby.”

He knows I’m right, so he just shakes his head.

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