Page 12 of Embers of You
I chuckle and turn to pretend like I’m interested in the wall of canned vegetables she was staring at before. “In a town this small, you don’t really need to stalk anyone.”
She quietly hums in agreement before grabbing two cans of corn, then turning to walk away.
“Sutton?” She turns back to look at me.
“Since this is the third random encounter we’ve had, I think it’s time I get your number.”
She smirks. “Pretty sure it’s only the second since yesterday doesn’t count.”
“Why not?”
She just smiles. “Goodbye, Jameson.”
I finish up my shopping without running into her again, and I have a feeling that’s because she didn’t want me to. I’m too tired to dwell too much on it as the caffeine from the drink I consumed isn’t waking me up like I was hoping.
“Ma?”I call out as I balance all the shopping bags on my arms.
“In here,” she calls back without any other clue.
My mother greets me with a wide smile that’s quickly replaced by a disapproving glare as she eyes the bags I set on the counter.
“We can shop for ourselves, you know?” She folds her arms across her chest.
“And I like helping, which you know,” I tell her as I start putting the items away.
“And I like being independent, whichyouknow.” The look she gives me makes me feel like she wants to burn a hole in my brain. I just shake my head as I continue to put the groceries away, despite her effort to help me. “Jameson, I can see how tired you are, go get some rest.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re always fine. Listen to your mother for once.”
I chuckle, reaching around her to grab the last of the items off the counter, kissing her cheek as I turn back to the fridge. “I always listen to you, Ma.”
“Your sweet talking gets you nowhere with me, and you know it,” she scolds.
I finish putting the groceries away, then glance around the kitchen to see if she might need help with anything else. When my eyes land on hers again, she’s playfully glaring at me.
“Do any of the animals need to be fed?” I ask.
“No.”
“Any cleaning in the barn?’
“No.”
“Lawn needing?—”
“No.”
“Anything—”
“No.”
“Ma—”
“No.”
I can’t help the laugh I let out at her insistence. I know there are things that need to be done around the property. Dad can’t do them all, and despite how Ma tries to help, I know it wears her out. She can’t do as much as she would like me to believe she does.
