Page 30 of Any Second Now
Raleigh doesn’t quite look like the same woman, even with her always wispy blonde hair and pretty brown eyes. There’s a slightly lost look in those eyes, even more pronounced than what I noticed on New Year’s Eve. Then she looked happy and free and relieved.
I realize we’re all standing around awkwardly so I step forward and open my arms. She’s stiff as she leans in, but her body relaxes against mine as I wrap my arms around her in the most appropriate way I can muster. It feels more than good to have her in my arms.
I swear I hear her sigh.
“Now that I’m not holding a sewage tube, you’ll hug me?” Raleigh says into my shoulder.
“Exactly.” I chuckle and let her go reluctantly, but before it gets weird. Weirder. “It didn’t seem like the right time for a hug.”
“Sorry, sewage pipe?” Lachlan gestures to an empty chair next to me and Raleigh sits.
“Yeah. I was emptying the Pink Palace’s sewage tank.”
“Still confused.” Lachlan makes a face.
“The Pink Palace is an RV,” Raleigh says with a laugh. “And emptying the sewage tank, while necessary, is my least favorite part of RV life. My second least favorite is actually driving the giant hunk of metal.”
“Sounds like you need wine.” Lachlan picks up an empty glass from the middle of the table and fills it generously with red wine before topping off mine. “Not sure why Atticus got all fancy on us for tonight instead of just drinking local craft beer like usual, but it’s his birthday celebration.”
Raleigh glances over at me, her eyes flitting down over my face briefly. I might have tried just a bit harder than usual tonight. Instead of a plain t-shirt, I’m wearing an expensive black shirt.Instead of my backwards hat, I actually swiped some product into my curls.
I look like an asshole, and truly wish I’d just been myself.
“What’ve you been up to since yesterday?” I gulp the wine. I prefer beer, but this’ll do the trick to relax me faster. “Any good new cross-stitch ideas?”
“Cross-stitch?” Lachlan furrows his brow in amusement. “Why am I so confused tonight?”
“Yes. I do cross-stitch and sell it online. With sarcastic or snarky quotes.” Raleigh sips her wine and sighs with pleasure. “And I do have some new ideas.”
“Go on,” Lachlan says. “Tell us.”
“It’s inspired by my chicken.” She pauses with a smirk.
“Sorry, your what?” I sit up straighter in my chair. “Did you say your chicken?”
“Yes, yes I did.” Raleigh rolls her shoulders back and closes her eyes for a second, as if gathering the strength to tell us a story. “This morning a chicken knocked on my door, and when I opened it—carrying my baseball bat, Fred, of course?—”
“—wait—” Lachlan tries to interrupt.
“Shhh, dude, let her talk.” I wave at him.
“—she literally let herself into the RV. She’s a white fluffy chicken.”
I stare at Raleigh with my jaw dropped slightly open.
“You— you kept it?”
“Her. And yes, for now. I named her Megg-hen.”
“I like it,” Lachlan says with a laugh.
“You are now a chicken mom.” I shake my head but can’t stop grinning.
“That sounds weird, but yes, temporarily.” She laughs. “Someone must have lost her—she’s really pretty. Clearly a backyard chicken. Or pet chicken. Or whatever.”
“Clearly.” I glance at Lachlan. “Did you know people have pet chickens?”
“Yeah. Of course.” He looks at me like I’m nuts.
