Page 7 of A Tinsel Tale

Ilet Hux out and he immediately runs to the barn to find some action. I pop into the shop to let Mom know I’ve dropped him off and I’m heading home to catch a few Zs.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, sweetie. I heard about the fire! I’m glad no one was hurt.”

“Yeah, it was touch and go with the horses for a bit.”

She looks at me with concern in her eyes, “You look terrible.”

I laugh. “Thanks, Ma.”

“I mean it. Why don’t you go up to the house and take a nap here?”

“I’ll sleep better in my own bed. But thanks.”

“You don’t need to thank me. This will always be your home.” She puts two blueberry muffins in a bag and hands it to me.

“I know. Thanks, Mom.” I cover a huge yawn.

“Git,” she says, shooing me away. “Huxley will be fine. The boys’ll keep an eye on him, and he and the other two mutts can tire him out,” she says, referring to my wild ass nephews, Joseph who’s nine and Daniel who’s six.

“Supper’s at 6:00. Set your alarm.”

“See you then.” I slog back to my truck and Huxley races to my side. “No Hux, you’re staying here for now.” He tilts his head consideringly then turns and runs back to the barn. I chuckle. I swear that dog is human, he’s so damn smart.

After waking from a six-hour coma I’m back, sitting at Mom’s dinner table. Dad passes the bowl of mashed potatoes to me. I load up my plate and pass it over to my brother Cam. It’s just the two of us joining Mom and Dad for supper tonight. We’re the only Barrington kids not married off. Cam and I are the two youngest and closest in age. Cam turned thirty-two this year and I’ll finish my thirty-fourth trip around the sun the end of November. I pour about a quart of gravy over my pot roast and mashed potatoes and pass it on. Mom is a magician in the kitchen.

“I hear Evie is back in town,” Cam says around a mouthful of potatoes.

“Yep.”

“Have you run into her yet?”

I nod and continue eating. I don’t want to talk about Evie Parker. It’s a sore subject and I intend to keep a tight lid on the past.

“How was it?” Cam presses.

“A nothing burger. We said what we had to say. Hello, goodbye, yada yada.”

I feel my mom’s eyes on me and keep mine on my plate of food. She is way too good at reading me and I am not turning this dinner into a Jamie pity party.

“How did she act?” Mom asks.

“Cold as a polar bear’s breath,” I say. Cam snorts out a laugh.

“No, really,” Mom insists.

“Really. We exchanged barbs, she helped me stack the wood, then I left.”

Mom gives me that sympathetic look that feels like a hug, her eyes soft and knowing and I say grumpily, “Can we please change the subject? I didn’t bring any Tums.”

Mom tsks. “You’re not going to be able to avoid her you know. She’ll be here through the new year. Plus, Bill is going to need your help. Why don’t you try to talk to her?”

“Why would I want to go and ruin a perfectly good life?”

At mom’s stern look I sigh loudly. “If the time is ever right, I’ll try again.”

She smiles. “That’s settled then. You make sure youfindthe right time.”

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