Page 34 of Undone

“This is great—the more the merrier,” Zoe said and she almost looked like she meant it. “Is Amy here? She’s your sister-in-law, right?”

“She is—and yes, she’s here. She brought her son, too. Henry wanted his picture taken in front of the giant pig.” Brian looked toward where he was pointing. “There they are.”

Amy joined us and introduced Henry to Zoe. I crouched down to say hi to him. As we were talking, a large van pulled up and a bunch of people got out and began unloading musical instruments.

“I didn’t realize they had live music here,” Rafael said. “I’d have come here much sooner. Anything has to be better than the Squeaky Wheel.”

“Hey, I happen to like that place,” Shannon shot back.

“Only because you were underage when you first started drinking there,” Zoe chimed in.

“What?” both Brian and I said at the same time.

Shannon immediately put her hands up in the air. “Oh no, we are not going there. Not tonight. Besides, it was a long time ago and I’m sure it hasn’t happened with anyone else since.” With a huff, Shannon grabbed Zoe and Amy’s hands and tugged them toward the entrance. “Let’s go find a table before Brian finds someone to arrest and Josh decides to help him.”

I shook my head as we walked in and found a large table. As soon as we sat down, a server whose nametag read “Tina” appeared anddumped what looked like a half a package of napkins on our table before asking if we’d been here before. I was the only one to say yes. She took our drink order. Since Brian and Sofia were still in uniform, they opted for a soda and a sweet tea, Henry had recently learned about a Roy Rogers, while the rest of us ordered beer from a local brewery.

We looked at the menu posted on the wall while the band got set up. Located in what looked like a remodeled barn, the place was huge and it was filling fast.

“So what’s everyone thinking sounds good?” I asked. It all sounded delicious, which was another reason why it was always important that I eat three meals per day. Even just running a little later than usual for dinner meant that I was hungry enough to eat half a cow. Before we could make any decisions, Tina was back dropping off the drinks and she also set a bunch of small bowls on the table, each one labeled.

“Thought y’all might like a taste of some of our specials tonight to help with the dinner choices,” Tina said as another server dropped of a basket with fresh baked bread and what smelled like honey butter. “Before I go, anyone interested in some appetizers?”

We settled on an order of fried pickles, smoked potato skins, and stuffed jalapenos, and then started tasting the different options tonight.

“Oh my God, everything tastes so good,” Zoe said. She turned to me. “Have you tasted the brisket?” Before I could reply, she’d forked up a piece and held it to my lips.

My thoughts instantly went dirty and I watched her eyes get big as I slowly opened my mouth and tasted her offering.

“If there was ever a food that could be considered better than sex, then barbeque is it,” Rafael said making everyone chuckle.

“Speak for yourself, bro. I’d much rather have sex,” Sofia said, which had both Rafael and Brian frowning.

“TMI, deputy,” Brian said as he snatched another piece of the tri-tip.

“What? He started it. And it’s not like I’m a virgin,” she said and both men groaned.

“Really, Sis?” Sofia leaned across the table, forked the piece of shredded chicken Rafael had been reaching for, and popped it in her mouth with a grin.

We thought we’d settled on everything we wanted to order until Tina informed us that we had options for half and halfs, which started another round of discussions. By the time we placed our order, we’d managed to order one of each of the different meat options.

Once the appetizers were dropped off and another round of drinks placed on order to arrive with our meal, Shannon tapped the side of her glass with her fork and everyone quieted down.

“I want to make a toast to the bestest friend I’ve ever had,” Shannon started. “She managed to work through her fear of horses today in order to take some amazing photos that you all will be able to see on our website soon.”

I raised my glass with everyone else and said, “To overcoming obstacles and to new beginnings.”

As we clinked glasses all around, Zoe leaned against my shoulder and looked up at me. “Thank you,” she mouthed, and I nodded in response, opting not to say anything more. She looked overwhelmed and I didn’t want to make it worse.

As our food was served, the band struck up the first tune—a ballad of lost, then found, then lost again love. I watched as Zoe dug into her food and made small talk with everyone at the table. We were at the “found” stage of our relationship and I tried to squash down mythoughts about what would happen when she left to go to school. Once she got her degree, I was sure she’d get a job with some corporate giant. And then, much like my youngest sister Fiona, she would be off to work in some big city having forgotten everyone in Poplar Springs. Having forgotten me.

TWENTY-TWO

JOSH

“Why are you chewing your bit like a green filly?” Eli asked me. “Nervous?”

“Hell yes, I’m nervous!” I replied as I paced around the barn. “This is our first official trail ride. How are younotnervous?”

---