Page 13 of Just One Summer with the Grumpy

My breath hitched. “Procedure? Was it his lungs?”

“No, no, nothing like that. Just a root canal. A tooth that’s been bothering him for weeks.”

That made sense, but my mom seemed unusually edgy today. Even now, she shifted her weight from one foot to another and glanced around the hallway, as if she couldn’t wait to end this conversation.

“I was going to Bridget’s to sleep over,” I told her, “but I’ll stay to help here instead.”

Mom waved a hand. “Don’t be silly. I have this handled, so go have fun with your friend.”

Her earlier nervousness had fled, replaced by my no-nonsense mother. While I felt better about the situation, I didn’t want to leave her alone to care for Dad either. “Is there anything you need from town? I can go to the pharmacy and be back in thirty minutes.”

Her tone was flat. “Daphne, go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Fine. Okay.” I gave her a quick hug and headed for the stables to the west where my mare, Rosie, grazed. Her behavior made more sense than my own parents’ did these days. As an adopted child, they’d never made me feel like I didn’t belong. But not being able to enter my own father’s room to bring him comfort after a root canal?

Sometimes Mom took the whole ‘control freak’ thing to a new level.

Rosie nickered when she saw me and started over. I would ride her through town and let her graze with Bridget’s Appaloosa gelding, Westley, in their field. The two horses got along almost as well as their owners.

When we arrived at Bridget’s, she already had everything ready—a Magic 8 ball, the newspaper with today’s horoscopes, and even a bowl of fortune cookies. A book entitled “The Palm Reader’s Guide to Everything” sat open on her mattress. The only thing missing was a ouija board, but I had to draw the line somewhere.

“Ready to plan your future?” she asked.

I sat on her bed. “I only wanted to figure out my major.”

“Well, you won’t have to do it alone. We have the power of the universe at our disposal.” She gave her hands a wave, revealing thick bracelets full of colorful stones.

I laughed. My parents thought I was the eccentric one, but recently, Bridget had taken our astrology teenage obsession to a whole new level. “Okay, but if the universe tells me to major in Accounting, I’ll have some words to say. Not nice words.”

“Some math is important. Like counting your boyfriends.”

I elbowed her in the ribs. “You’re the only one who needs calculus to figure that out.”

“Nope. I’m staying right here in my comfy small town and kissing respectable farmers. You’re the one going to New York when you get your bachelor’s and becoming a millionaire CEO with fabulous designer clothes and a line of hot, rich boyfriends. I guarantee that someday, you’ll kiss two hot guys in a single day, and you better tell me when it happens. Better yet, I want a gallon of ice cream delivered to my door. Rocky Road. With a huge container of chocolate sauce. Better yet, chocolate sauceonmy chocolate sauce.”

I covered my heart and raised my hand to the sky. “If that actually happens, and it won’t, may I lose both boyfriends and come eat ice cream with you.” I paused. “Actually, ice cream sounds really good. Should we go?”

“You work there. Aren’t you tired of Bennie’s yet?”

“Never.”

She grinned. “Deal. But you’re paying. Employee discount for the win.”

Ten minutes later, we arrived at the ice cream shop and waited in line. It seemed surprisingly long today, and we had to stand outside. By the time we reached the counter, Bridget and I were both sweating and very ready for Bennie’s famous chocolate sundaes.

But when I flashed Bennie a smile behind the register, he frowned.

My stomach sank a little. Was I supposed to be working today? I almost grabbed my phone to check the schedule before remembering I had all week off, something that rarely happened.

“Two Bennie’s giant sundaes. You know the way we like them.” I looked around at the overflowing tables. “Do you need me today after all?”

He blinked and his frown deepened. Was that disapproval? “Figured you’d be at home with your dad. Yet you’re out getting ice cream with friends.”

My dad. Taking care of him from that dental surgery? What a strange thing for my boss to say. “Nah, he’s fine. Just sleeping it off.”

His eyes bugged, but he said nothing more as he turned and prepared our sundaes. When he reached us, his mouth pressed in a hard, firm line. “You go be with him after this, you hear?” He turned away, muttering something that sounded like “If I had a daughter like that…”

Bridget and I looked at each other, completely baffled, and found a table. No less than three adults turned to look my direction, their expressions immediately disapproving.

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