Page 94 of Nate

He stepped out of the truck, walked around the truck to help Markie and Lola. As he opened the back door for Lola, the house alarm suddenly went off, causing Lola to burst into a fit of laughter.

“She forgot to turn the alarm off,” Markie said, laughing.

Nate sprinted into the house and immediately spotted Stella coming back from the downstairs bathroom, her hands clutching her stomach as tears streamed down her face. Her laughter echoed through the foyer. Above it all, Nate could hear the persistent ring of the telephone.

“I had to go too bad to turn off the alarm,” Stella said, still laughing.

“What’s the code, Stella?” he shouted over the blaring alarm.

She tried to yell it out, but couldn’t stop laughing. Finally, she managed to gasp out the numbers, but even after Nate punched them in, the alarm continued to screech. He glanced toward the front door and saw Markie and her aunt entering, both doubled over with laughter.

“Do you know the code?” he asked Markie urgently. “The phone was ringing too.”

She sauntered toward him, still giggling, and looked at the panel with a glint in her eye. With expert precision, she punched in four numbers and just like that, the alarm fell silent. Nate couldn’t help but shake his head and let out a small sigh. Of course, Stella had given him the old code.

“I bet it was the alarm company,” Markie mused. “Uh oh. No one answered. That means—”

Her words were cut off by the blaring sirens of police cars pulling into the driveway. They all froze for a moment before Markie burst into uncontrollable laughter again, and he saw Stella and Lola sitting on the stairs, laughing.

“Great. Just fucking great,” Nate muttered under his breath as he headed outside to deal with the unexpected visitors.

****

The following morning, as they drove home to Clifton, Markie kept her sunglasses on. The sun was making her head pound like someone was inside with a sledgehammer.

“I didn’t think you drank that much,” Nate said, and she could hear the laughter in his voice.

“I can’t hold my wine,” she whispered.

Nate nodded. “I see that now.”

Markie slowly turned her head, lowered her sunglasses and narrowed her eyes.

“Do you find this funny, Jefferson?”

“Me? Find this funny?” He chuckled. “You bet your sweet ass I do.”

Markie laughed, then groaned at the pain in her head.

“I feel for my mother and Aunt. Those two were plastered, but I’m so glad they had a good time.”

Nate nodded. “They’re both wonderful women.”

“Yes, they are. Could you stop somewhere so I can get a coffee? I didn’t feel like having one earlier.” She laughed. “I heard Aunt Lola in the bathroom, and it sort of killed any idea of putting anything in my belly.”

Nate laughed. “I’m sure it did.”

“I’m trying to talk my mother into moving to Clifton.”

“That’s a good idea. What about your aunt?”

“She said she would if Mom did.”

“That would be good for you. I can tell they both love you.”

“They do. I love them too. I know they have each other, but I’d love for them to be there.”

“I’m sure. It’s good having family close.”

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