Page 35 of Yes No Maybe

“Rowan’s next-door neighbor.” Tom motions at our surroundings. “This is Jack’s place.”

Marcy leans in. “Jack Graham. The writer.”

My mother squeals—a sound I’veneverheard her make. Mom doesn’t even read romance.

So, my mouth drops when she says, “TheJack Graham? Author ofCape MoonandEdge to Nowhereand, oh my gosh,Love and Other Miseries?”

Okay, I guess she does read romance.

“The one and only,” Rose says. “Jack grew up here. He’s our resident celebrity.”

“A good boy, too,” Vernon adds. “He handled the oyster roast situation with care.”

“What situation, Vernon?” Mom prompts despite my chiding look.

“Well, our neighbor Renita made some unfortunate remarks about the need to cover up Rowan’s, um, well, you know, pressuring Rowan to try her Mary Kay products as a means to...”

“Hide her scars,” Rose says plainly.

“Thank you, dear. Jack got angry—”

“I’ve never seen him so upset,” Rose gawks.

“He tried to deal with it quietly. Told Ed that Renita needed to go home. Then, Renita, well—”

“She had a right conniption.” Rose’s blue-gray eyes double in size. “Ed didn’t know what to do with her.”

“He attempted to coax her into his golf cart, but she said she was a caged bird finally let free and bringing beauty to the world—”

“She was off her rocker,” Rose says. “She gets this way, you see.”

“The party was crashing, and we hadn’t even reached the second batch of oysters yet. Poor Ed, full of apologies.” Vernon shakes his head like these are the larger travesties—uneaten oysters and a man apologizing. “Finally, Jack cornered her. He gently explained that everything was a-okay.You just need a rest, Renita. Nothing’s broken that can’t be fixed—”

“Oh, and that shedoesmake the world beautiful in her way,” Rose chimes in.

“Renita broke into tears. Then, Jack put his arm around her, and she hugged him, saying how sorry she was, and he said… oh, what’d he say?”

Rose perks up. “Oh, yes. That it’s not a party until someone gets drunk off their ass and acts a fool. The crowd cheered.”

A snicker bumbles from me, hearing Jack’s words in Rose’s prim British accent.

“The party went on like nothing happened, and all the oysters were eaten,” Vernon concludes, “and that’s that.”

“No, that wasn’t just that.” Rose turns to Mom and me. “Jack walked Renita home himself. I thought that was sweet, considering how upset she made him.”

“Did everyone know why he was upset? You know, what Renita said?” I ask, though I still don’t want to talk about it.

“Oh, no, dear.” Rose shakes her head.

“We had no idea,” Marcy says, motioning to Tom. “We just thought Renita was being Renita.”

“Vernon and I overheard it, you see. But Jack kept it under wraps.” Then, she locks her lips with her fingers and tosses the imaginary key over her shoulder. “No one knows she offended you, love.”

“I wasn’t…thatoffended. Jack was.”

“Rowan, why not?” Mom cuts in, looking bothered. “Youarea beautiful woman. You should object to anyone telling you to hide your face.”

Rose turns to Mom. “Christine, to be fair, Jack didn’t give her much chance. He’s very full-steam ahead when doing or saying what he wants. He strikes people as a cocky grump. That’s why he and Rowan aren’t besties… yet.” She holds up her crossed fingers.

---