Page 168 of Embracing the Change

They didn’t form a two-person reception line to receive condolences.

In fact, they were gone by the time we were out, and Reid, Greer, Jamie and Patricia received perfunctory condolences, though it was clear they all had the “mourners” respect, it was just that none of that was aimed at Jeff.

Most assuredly a sad waste of a life.

When we were alone, and only a few souls lingered in the parking lot, Reid turned to us and invited, “The ranch is a ways away, and if you’re staying in Dallas, makes the return trip farther. But we’d love it if you’d come on over. I’ll put some steaks on the grill and Greer makes a twice-baked potato that can’t be beat.”

“I’m in,” Patricia said immediately.

Jamie’s gaze went through our group, and getting nonverbal assents, he said, “We’ll follow you there.”

“Interested to know what that two hundred K comment was all about,” Patricia stated.

“Me too,” Reid added.

“We have a lot of catching up to do,” Jamie said.

They sure did.

CHAPTER 20

WRANGLER

Nora

Isat in a rocking chair on Reid’s front porch, a light breeze blowing at the silk of my skirt, looking out at a green lawn, a neat, attractive, flagstone path that led to another house in the distance (Greer’s), and a lot of land on the horizon.

I did this as the sun set.

Never in my life, not even to Jamie (unless under torture, I sensed I wouldn’t be good under torture) would I admit that I found beauty in the stark scrub, multitudinous cacti and dusty mountains of Arizona.

And the same could be said for this watercolor Texas sunset, with the rolling plain that stretched to the skyline having become the entire world before me, in the distance, cattle grazing lazily.

The door opened, and I looked that way, thinking it would be Jamie seeking some peace (much like why I was out on that porch) after he shared all he had to share with his family.

Including his paternity.

It wasn’t.

It was Reid coming out.

When we arrived, she changed into a shirt that had embroidery across the shoulders and a pair of Wranglers.

Something else I would only admit under torture: There was a small part of me that wanted to own one of those embroidered shirts.

She came to sit in the rocking chair beside me.

“If you want time alone…” I trailed off on my offer.

“Grieved that sumabitch years ago,” she replied and started rocking. She finished on a mumble, “Shitty way to go, though.”

No denying, it had been a shitty way to go.

“How’s Greer taking it?” I asked.

Reid blew out a long breath, before she answered, “I can say I’m glad you all came down, Patricia showed, and Jamie had a lot of big news to take her mind off things. She wasn’t close to her dad, but he was the only one she had.”

Poor Greer.

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