Page 74 of Chasing Home

“You both started it. You’re twenty-two and twenty-four. This bickering is tiring,” Mom says.

I rest my arm over her thin shoulders. “Your lives would be so boring if we didn’t stress you out from time to time. Jos still loves me.”

“Are you not going to say that you love me too?” Jos scoffs.

“’Course I love you, you pain.”

She rolls her eyes, smiling softly. “Not as big of a pain as you.”

“Was there a reason you finally stumbled over for a home-cooked meal tonight, my love?” Mom asks me.

“I missed you guys.”

“We missed you more. But you know I’m not going to let it go, so out with it. Tell me the whole truth.”

“Jen,” Mama sighs.

Uh-oh, she’s bringing out real names now. The big guns have arrived.

“What? You’re curious too, Rachel. Don’t play innocent now.”

“You’re right. But—” Mama stops herself and makes sure to tap my arm so I know she’s talking to me. “—you don’t have to share anything you don’t feel comfortable sharing.”

“Is this a new therapist technique you’ve learned?” Jos asks, looking like she’s trying to hold in a laugh.

“Not every bit of my motherly wisdom comes from my work, Josette.”

“Only most of it,” my sister replies.

“I’m going to stop baking brownies for you every time you come home,” Mama threatens.

Mom laughs at that. “As if.”

“I’ve been working on rebuilding a porch after work every day. That’s why I’ve been so busy. By the time I finish and get home, I’m ready to crash,” I admit, breaking up the playful feud happening right now. “I don’t have a girlfriend, Josette, but I want to.”

My sister grins arrogantly. “That’s what I thought.”

“You’re building her a porch? Oh, sweetheart,” Mom sighs, clutching her heart like I just told her the most extravagant news.

“Aurora, right?” Mama asks.

Daisy and her loose lips. “She prefers Rory, actually.”

Or darlin’. Personally, I think she prefers that over either version of her name. She’ll never admit that, though.

Mom starts firing off questions instantly. “How is it going? Does it look good?”

“The porch?”

“Sure.”

Josette snorts a laugh. “I think she meant with Rory, bro.”

“Oh. I think it’s going good? We have lunch together every day and meet up after work while I work on her porch. I got the new railing up yesterday.”

“Are you going to ask her to be your girlfriend?” Mom asks.

“That isn’t really a necessary thing anymore, Mom,” Josette tells her.

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