Page 32 of Whiskey Lullaby
Momma stared straight ahead at her reflection, and after a few seconds, her expression fell, and the smile slowly faded. Swallowing, she dropped her chin to her chest, but before I could say a word, she was making her way to her walk-in closet and shutting thedoor.
“Momma?” I stepped to the closet door and tapped over the painted wood. “Youokay?”
The knob twisted. The door swung open and Momma walked out, wearing one of her white, floral dresses. She moved past me to the doorway, stopping and grabbing the doorframe to catch herbreath.
“Momma…” I stepped behind her and placed my hand on herback.
Her shoulders rose and fell on a hard breath. “I may be dying, but I refuse to do it without grace.” And she went into the hallway, slowly making her way down thestairs.
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Much to my surprise, Noah’s truck was parked by the shop when I got home from work. When I opened my car door, Bo’s distinct laughter came floating around the back of thehouse.
Instead of walking through the front door, I followed the stepping stones around to the backyard. Noah was leaned over Daddy’s tractor working on theengine.
“Need a wrench?” Boasked.
“Yeah.”
Noah stopped and grabbed the bottom of his grease-stained undershirt, lifting it to wipe the sweat from his face. My eyes went straight to the exposed skin on his stomach, then to those deep lines that disappeared under the waist of the jeans hanging dangerously low on his hips. When he dropped his shirt, my gaze lifted to the ridiculous grin on hisface.
“Hey, you,” hesaid.
“Hey, baby girl,” Daddy chimedin.
I immediately spun around, praying no one saw me staring at Noah. Mommy and Daddy were sitting on the old aluminum glider by the azalea bushes. “Hey.” I glanced over to Momma, taking note of the pink scarf wrapped around her head. “You lookpretty.”
“Your daddy thought it would be good for me to get some fresh air.” Placing a palm on his chest, she rested her head against his shoulder and Daddy stretched out his legs, rocking theglider.
The tractor engine cranked, and Sampson sat up from his spot on the backporch. “Yeah,” Noah shouted before shutting it off. “Looks like you just needed some spark plugs,John.”
“Thank you,Noah.”
Bo wiped sweat from his brow as he started toward the backdoor. “Bo,” Daddy shouted. “Grab those burgers when you come back out, wouldyou?”
“Sure,Dad.”
I turned around just as Noah dusted the dirt from his hands onto his jeans. His gaze stopped on me for a brief moment. “Alright, John, well, I think that’s got me done for theday.”
“Guess it does.” Daddy stood, hitching his pants up before he walked to the grill and fiddled with the burners. “You sure you don’t wanna stay for dinner? I grill a goodburger.”
Noah rubbed the back of his neck. “Appreciate it, but I already have plans.” He took a slow step back, his gaze stopping on me for a beat too long before he turned around. “I’m playing tonight at Tipsy’s…eight o’clock,” he said as he rounded the side of thehouse.
Something on the grill popped and Daddy jumped back a goodfoot.
Momma looked over, laughing. “Don’t burn your eyebrows off, John. We’d be the pair then, wouldn’t we? Me with no hair and him with no eyebrows.” Momma patted the empty spot on the swing next to her and I took a seat. “Was workgood?”
“It was fine. Just glad I have the next few days off.” The engine to Noah’s truck rumbled to life. Sampson hopped up with a growl before taking off around the side of the house,barking.
Momma’s cheeks had a slight, healthy pink tint to them, not near as pallid as they had been. It was evident she felt better, and that was what made it so hard. I knew it was only temporary, but I also knew I should be eternally grateful for every moment, no matter how temporary itwas.
“We should go get our nails done at Judy’s this weekend like we used to,” Isaid.
She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “I’d like that.” She swept her hand over my cheek, cupping my face like she did when I was a little girl. “Noah seems nice.” The hinges on the glider creaked when she pushed itback.
“Yeah.”
One corner of her mouth curled in a knowing smile. “He’s not hard on the eyeseither.”
