Page 18 of Nothing But It All
Harvey?Jack’s dad’s name flashes on the screen.
My stomach sinks as I pick it up.
“Hey,” I say, my brows furrowed. “What’s going on, Harvey?”
“Hey, sugarplum. How are you doing today?” His voice is crackly, betraying his attempts at hiding his penchant for cigars. “You doing okay over there?”
“I’m good. Getting my day started.”
“You’re just now getting started? It’s halfway through the morning.”
I laugh. “I don’t need your negativity, sir.”
He laughs too. “I haven’t heard from ya in a while, and I was startin’ to get worried. Afraid you’re getting too big-time for me. I saw you on the television.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, and I’m damn proud of ya, Lauren.”
I swallow a lump in my throat.
My father-in-law has no way of knowing just how badly I need to hear those words. Then again, maybe I didn’t, either, because I didn’t plan on blinking back tears already today.
“I got other things I want to talk to ya about, though,” he says.
“Sure. What’s that?”
Harvey coughs, the sound rough and raw.
“Are you okay?” I ask him.
“That’s why I’m callin’ ya. I wanted to know if you could do me a favor.”
I lean against the counter and sigh.
Harvey Reed doesn’t ask me for much. He doesn’t ask anyone for much. Truth be told, he doesn’t accept much of anything, whether he asks for it or not. So if he’s calling for a favor, it must be important.
“Sure,” I say. “What’s up?”
“Well, I messed up pretty good, and I’m in a bind.”
“What did you do this time?” I ask, smiling. “You didn’t get into a fight over college football with old man Travers at the diner again, did you? I’m not calling down there and convincing them to let you back a second time. I warned you.”
He chuckles. “No. No. Nothing like that.”
“And you didn’t accidentally mow just a hair over the property line just to annoy your neighbor, right?”
“Nah, I just blew the cuttings into his yard, the old prick.”
“You’re no spring chicken, Harv,” I laugh.
“You aren’t, either, sugarplum.”
I gasp. “That’s rude.”
“That’s the damn truth, and you know it.”
Still laughing, I take my mug back to the coffeepot and refill it. “So, what do you need? Want me to come over tonight and watchJeopardy!With you? I’ll bring a meat-and-cheese tray,” I say, taunting him with his favorite snack.
