Page 80 of Outside The Wire

“Is that right?”

“I have the perfect meal planned, and Nicholas is getting out his best wig for tonight. I’ve asked him to tone down the conspiracy theory talk for tonight, but you should know what you’re getting into. I’m afraid there are a few subjects you’ll just have to avoid. The government, for one. Just don’t bring up anything to do with it. Aliens, electricity, television, radio, brain waves, doctors, medicine, Christmas, swamps, wind farms, bees, Thomas Edison, the invention of the cotton gin, Communism, pavement, boats, and wheelbarrows.”

“Wheelbarrows?”

“You really don’t want to know.”

I was pretty sure I did. A person didn’t throw out a topic that was off-limits like that and then not tell you why. “What about Christmas? I thought Holly was named after Christmas? Andcome to think of it, you and your husband both have Christmas names.”

“I never said it made sense.”

“So, you’re not going to tell me?”

“We’ll save that conversation for another time.”

“What about the wheelbarrows?”

She sighed heavily. “About dinner, we’ll eat at six. Dress is informal. Oh, and could you be a dear and pick up Noelle on your way?”

“Uh—”

“We’ll see you then, dear!”

I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye before she hung up. What the hell was I supposed to do now? I pushed Wyatt’s door open and winced when I saw the stress on his face.

“What?” he said, his face panicked. “What is it?”

“I just got a call from Holly’s mom. She invited me to dinner.”

“She invited you to dinner?”

“It was sort of an invitation. More of a demand, really. I didn’t really get a chance to tell her no.”

“What time are you supposed to be there?”

“Six. And there are all these rules I’m supposed to follow.”

“Rules? For going to dinner?” he asked curiously, leaning back in his chair.

“What not to talk about. Apparently, her father is a conspiracy theorist.”

“What kind of stuff?”

“Wheelbarrows.”

Wyatt’s brows scrunched in confusion. “Wheelbarrows?”

“I don’t get it either. And brain waves, pavement, swamps, bees, wind farms, and a whole bunch of other shit.”

“Wheelbarrows,” he repeated. “What the fuck would you even say about a wheelbarrow?”

“I have no idea.”

“I guess you could maybe compare them.”

“Aren’t they all the same?”

He shrugged. “Are there superior brands of wheelbarrows?”

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