Page 130 of Five Mountain Daddies

Truth is, I’m the only one that ever cared about him, especially toward the end. He’ll always be my older brother, troubled ornot.

I park outside of the diner a few minutes later and find Wyatt already sitting in a booth. I slide in across from him andsmile.

“Coffee?” the waitress asks and Inod.

“And some fries,” Wyattsays.

I grin at him. “Best fries in town,” I say as the waitressleaves.

“No other reason to come here.” He leans back and looksaround.

The Great American is a little rundown, with red faux-leather seats and slightly sticky table tops, but it’s basically unchanged from the way it was originally built. For a crappy diner, it’s surprisinglypacked.

“So what are you up to these days, littleCora?”

I raise an eyebrow. He called me that back in the day. “I’m a kindergarten teacher over at Jefferson,” Isay.

“Kindergarten?” He laughs, sipping his coffee. “You must have the patience of asaint.”

“Something like that. I just like kids, Iguess.”

“How long have you beenthere?”

This is my first year,” I say. “I subbed for a little bit until I lucked intothis.”

“Good for you. So you’re still living intown?”

I nod and accept the coffee the waitress puts down in front of me, thanking her quickly before looking back at Wyatt. “Sure am,” I say. “I’ll probably live in Mason River for the rest of mylife.”

He sighs, shaking his head. “You never really get away from Mason, doyou?”

“Probably not.” I sip my coffee and it’s hot on my tongue. I catch him watching me and I blush a little bit. His deep blue eyes are so handsome and piercing, and for a second I forget that we’re grown adults who just came from a funeral. For a second, I’m a kidagain.

I remember him standing next to me near the creek. Atticus was off somewhere digging in the mud for worms. “You ever catch one before?” Wyatt askedme.

I shook my head. “Never,” Isaid.

“Not that hard.” He crouched down next to the bank. “Just gotta bequick.”

I watched as he lashed out and grabbed a nearby frog. I laughed as he toppled over, splashing into the water, and the frog got away. He stood up,grinning.

“You think that’s funny?” he asked, stillgrinning.

“Yep, suredo.”

He chased me until I couldn’t breathe from laughing, and I ended up in that creek right along with him, grinning the whole time. I didn’t understand it back then but I felt something, deep down inside of me, the excitement of being touched by someone youlike.

“How’s your mom?” he asks me, back in presentday.

“The same,” I say. “You saw her.” Which is code for: still adrunk.

He nods, understanding. “Sorry aboutthat.”

I shrug, no big deal. “How are youparents?”

“Good,” he says. “They moved out into the city, sold their house last year. I guess since I’m there, and my brother and his kids are there, they figured, whynot?”

I grin at him. “Just your brother’s kids? None of yourown?”

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