Page 18 of Clean Sweep
I motioned to Celeste to give me a moment. She had a nose for drama, and I could tell her senses were on alert. She waved for me to go, and I had a feeling she wanted to see this unfold.
Celeste hadn’t mentioned a fiancée or a wedding in her recent review of Leslie’s life. If there had been one, Celeste would have mentioned it. Celeste leaned back against the truck, wide eyes glued to Leslie.
Landon led me over to his car.
“Starla, babe, this is my former assistant basketball coach, Coach Beck.”
A quick smile illuminated her face as I held out a hand. “Please, call me Tanner. Coach makes me feel old.”
“Good to meet you,” she said.
Her voice had a quick, quiet, melodic tint to it. Her hands were clammy when I accepted the offered shake.
Right away, her subdued, easy personality was apparent. Perhaps a good match to Landon’s intensity. On or off the court, this kid had always been moving, thinking, trying. It had been harder to get him to scale back than to move forward. Rumors around Pineville spoke about medical school, a scholarship based on merit, and several recognitions for high honors.
None of it surprised me.
“A pleasure to meet you,” I said.
Landon tucked Celeste into his side as he spun to face Leslie. The befuddled expression had cleared from Leslie’s face, replaced with something like mild curiosity. I sensed a mask. Knew a mask.
“Can coach stay for lunch, Mom?” Landon called.
Shocked, I turned to stare at him. What did he just ask? Leslie opened her mouth, seeming equally shocked. I stepped forward, a hand held out.
“That’s not necessary, Ms. Hill.”
Celeste bounced to life. “Say yes, please! It smells so good.”
I gritted my teeth and set a mental reminder to talk to Celeste about manners—and avoiding awkward situations at all costs.
Leslie’s gaze darted to Celeste, then back to me. I thought they flickered to Starla for a moment, but couldn’t be sure. Leslie’s hands clenched at her side.
“Of course. It’s fine. We have plenty of food. Please, come inside.”
Well, what did that mean?
With a squeal, Celeste darted past me, rushed inside behind Leslie, and disappeared into the house. My thoughts broke apart.
Once Leslie left, Starla’s shoulders dropped almost to her knees. Landon held her more tightly around the shoulder.
“You got this.” Landon leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Everything is going to be just fine. I know she’s going to love you.”
“I’m fine,” she said firmly. “Really. She didn’t kick me out so . . . maybe we should just . . . I don’t know. Break the air or something? Let’s just tell her one thing. Don’t mention—”
Landon cut her off with a finger to her lips.
I tried to step around them to give them a moment, but they seemed to have forgotten I lingered back here.
“No,” Landon said, “let me handle this. I know my Mom. Let’s just tell her everything and get it over with. We’ll give her time to think about it and then talk later. We can do this.”
“But—“
Landon put a hand on her shoulder as I attempted to dodge to the right, unsuccessfully. I could push them aside and get by, but that would only make things more awkward.
Finally giving up, I held back and pretended to study the eaves. Signs of Christmas lights from previous years lingered in the chipped paint along the edges. Would Leslie need help putting them up this year?
“It will be fine,” Landon said in a soothing voice. “Trust me. My mom raised four boys. Nothing surprises her anymore.”
