Page 9 of Mom Ball

She slides her hand down my chest, and I squirm when it reaches my belt. Old people are funny. Once they reach a certain age, they think they can act however, wherever.

I take a step back and clear my throat. She moves her hand and uses it to wag a finger at me. Better than the alternative.

“Did you buy that mansion Jonah and Carolina fixed up to sell?”

“Yes, ma’am, I did.”

She turns to the two older ladies behind her. It’s nice to see her entourage is still in good health. “Told y’all it was true.”

She reaches toward me, and I curl my shoulders in cautiously. Luckily, she swats her hand instead of touching me. “I knew you would come home to Apple Cart one day.” She smiles. “You’re our hometown hero.”

“Well, I don’t know about that . . .” I crane my neck to find Brooke.

Paul comes up and wraps his arm around Ms. Dot. “Dot, we best hurry if we want to beat the Methodists to Mary’s.”

“Okay, dear.” She follows Paul.

Dear? That’s new to me. I remember Mom mentioning her husband passed recently, but she didn’t say anything about Paul.

The other women follow them out, and I make my escape down the aisle. A few more people greet me on the way. I’m polite, but keep trailing forward.

When I finally reach the front of the church, I see Brooke climb in a car and drive off.

I stand on the porch and sigh. Why did I let her get away?

Today and before.

My feet weigh more than I can bench press—even before my injury. I stand plastered to the brick tiles until a hand rests on my shoulder. I turn to Mom, relieved it isn’t another handsy granny.

“Sorry, son. I get to talking a lot on Sundays.”

I press my lips together to not laugh. She’s always been social, and so have I. Too bad I couldn’t be social with Brooke.

“Why don’t you follow me home. I put a roast in this morning.”

“Sounds awesome.”

We walk across the gravel parking lot toward her car. “Have you given any more thought to moving in with me?” I ask.

“Oh, I couldn’t impose.”

“Mom, it’s a huge house. I intended on you moving in when I bought it.”

She frowns. “I don’t know. I’ve lived in the same place ever since we came to Apple Cart.”

“But you’d only be moving a few miles out of town.”

“I’ll think about it.” She gives me a forced smile.

I open her door for her. Once inside, she pauses. “You are coming for lunch, right?”

Instead of saying yes right away, I lean over the door. “On one condition.”

“I have tea.”

I laugh. “Not that. Tell me why you never mentioned Brooke had a kid?”

“Brooke Marshall?”

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