Page 88 of Castings & Curses

“I don't know about that,” Tyler hemmed and hawed.

“Sure. It's not everybody's cup of tea,” I had to admit. Why would Tyler be excited about his cousin’s pinup calendar?

“Kolby gets it, and she tells me it's for the chickens.”

“Do they pose with chickens every year?” I asked.

“Of course they do, otherwise it's not Belvoir County now, is it?”

“Good point. I understand Kolby has chickens.”

“She has a couple of good prize birds. We lost a big portion of our flock about eight months ago, and that was real hard on her, real hard. She lost one of her show roosters. But the flock is coming back, and we got a couple of cockerels that look like their plumage is coming in real good, and they'll be picture-perfect.”

“You know what Belvoir County needs is a chicken pinup calendar. Because, I swear, I've never seen prettier birds. Thank you, Tyler.” I said as I pushed up to my feet. “I'm feeling a lot better.”

“Go get some food, you might be having some low blood pressure. And you probably just need to eat something. It's awfully close to lunch.”

“Good idea. You’re coming to the big barbecue, right?” I asked.

“I wouldn't miss it. Nan would have my hide if I did.”

Slowly I made my way out of the office before I let the tears come. I was miserable and somehow felt even more alone. I sat in my car and stared out the window for a long time. I don’t know what possessed me to call Eric, but I did. Something inside just made me think he would make me feel better.

CHAPTER10

Eric

“Hey!” I said a little too loudly as I answered the phone.

I didn’t even bother to play it cool. Paisley was calling and that made me happy. I wasn’t some teenager who needed to play games. I was a widower. As much as I missed Janelle, denying my interest in Paisley was not going to bring her back. And I liked Paisley.

“Eric.” My name was followed by a sniffle.

Damn, I knew that sound. I remembered it all too keenly. Janelle would try to hide when she was crying from me. It took a while before I learned it wasn’t because she didn’t think I could handle it, she wanted to be stronger. That was my job, I was good at being strong. I was there to be strong when Janelle, and now Paisley, couldn’t.

“Paisley, what’s the matter? What’s wrong?” My gut tightened. A moment of panic was replaced by all the levelheaded emergency responder training I’d been through.

“Are you safe? Can you tell me where you are?”

She made more sniffling sounds through the phone.

“I’m in the parking lot at Dr. Booth’s office.”

Fuck. I had forgotten she cancelled because she had an appointment with Duchamp’s only baby doctor.

“Are you and the baby okay?” I asked in a slow, steady voice.

She made a keening cry, and my heart sank. “The baby is fine, and I guess I am too. I just really need a friendly voice who isn’t going to judge me.”

I let out a sigh, good the baby was okay. “Paisley, honey, why would I judge you?”

“Because I’m six months pregnant and my husband, my ex-husband, can’t stand me. I shouldn’t have called.”

“You absolutely should have called. I’m glad you thought of me as a friendly voice. Stay where you are. Let me get Sarina over to my mom, and I will be right there.”

I started walking toward the playroom.

“You don’t have to. I don’t mean to be a bother.”

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