Page 45 of Worst in Show

This is news to me. As long as I knew her, she wore her hair in a wavy, shoulder-length bob.

The conversation delves deeper into Diane’s childhood, and I learn that she and Leo’s mom, Annabeth, grew up right here in this house, and that it’s been in their family for two generations before that. “We’ve had some work done to it, of course, but the general layout is the same,” Diane says. “A good, old family homestead. What do your parents do, Cora?”

“They were dentists. They retired when I was in high school and sold the house so they could travel. I moved in with my grandparents.”

“Wait, they left you?” Leo asks, frowning.

Dawn shares a look with Diane. “And you were okay with that?”

My parents told me the day the realtor came by to get the house ready for showings. They’d already talked to my grandparents and bought me an old Corolla so I’d be able to drive myself to school. Everything was taken care of. But, no, I wouldn’t say I was okay with it. I was sixteen, and my parents were done being parents.

“It’s not a big deal,” I say, ignoring the sympathy suffusing the air. “They worked hard. They deserve to spend their time however they want.” I move a piece of bread to the other side of my plate, grab my glass of lemonade, and then set it back down. No one’s ever asked me to explain this before. “It’s their life. Their choice.”

Leo puts his silverware on the empty plate with a clang. “Enough with the third degree you two,” he says as if sensing my need for a topic change. “How about some dessert?”

“Yes, good idea.” Dawn gets out of her chair. “There’s apple pie and ice cream.”

I smile up at Leo, grateful for the diversion. It’s not that I don’t understand how my parents’ decision might rub people the wrong way, but I’m not going to throw them under the bus. We were always like that; my parents did their thing, I did mine. I would have been more surprised if they had asked my opinion. “Sounds wonderful. As long as we keep it away from Boris. Apple is his favorite. I’ll help clear the table.”

“Sorry we’re so nosy,” Dawn says to me in the kitchen. “I get it. Families are complicated. I moved out at seventeen and never looked back.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, but they were assholes. Not keen on me ‘choosing’ a life without a husband and kids.” She nods at the framed wedding invitation next to the window.

“Ah.” I skim the cursive writing that’s framed by a garland of wildflowers:

Diane Kurtz & Dawn McInnis

July 10, 2014

Something stirs in my mind. McInnis—where have I heard that name before?

“Yeah, tradition before everything else. Kind of like Leo’s dad.”

My ears perk up, and I push the previous thought away. “How so?”

“John’s a hard man.” Dawn shakes her head. “Adores Annabeth like she’s one of the seven wonders of the world, which I suppose is something, but he was always tough on those boys. They could do nothing right. And he only got worse after the accident.”

Leo has a brother? What accident? There’s so much I don’t know.

“Poor Annabeth. Never been the same.” Dawn sighs.

Just then, Leo comes around the corner. “What do you say we head out to the field?”

I tear my attention away from Dawn. That’s right. That’s what we’re actually doing here.

My curiosity will have to wait. Time to get this training thing started.

Not without regret do I follow Leo outside. Part of me wants to stay in the kitchen and learn everything I can about him, but another knows I’m better off removing myself from the temptation.

“They like you,” he says once we’ve let the dogs loose. Boris stays by our feet, but Cap, Cholula, Tilly, and her siblings are running laps. Cap with his bowed legs falls behind but still lets out happy barks every few yards. I throw him a stick, and he brings it straight back for a repeat.

“It’s mutual. And I haven’t had a meal like that in forever.”

He grins. “Get used to it. If we’re going to practice here, Diane will insist on feeding you.”

He’s standing close enough to me that I smell the minty floral notes of his aftershave.

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