Page 16 of Revelry
It was a perfect day for a walk.
Anderson was right about not being able to wear cute shoes any time soon.
My Dior ankle boots wouldn’t fit over the gauze, neither would my lace up sandals, so I settled for a simple pair of flip flops I’d packed for the sole purpose of throwing on when I just needed to run outside for something fast, like taking out the trash or checking the mail. They looked a little silly with my vintage romper, the neck of it cutting into a deep V that ended right above my belly button and the sleeves long and flowy at the wrist. Though the sun was bright, the little cabin community was shaded by the surrounding mountains and trees, and I embraced my miserably mismatched ensemble as I limped without sunglasses on down to Momma Von’s.
I found her sitting on the front porch with an older man when I reached her drive, and she waved one arm excitedly, beckoning me up.
“Good God, girl,” she said when I reached the top of the stairs. “What in the world happened to you?” She appraised my injuries with wide eyes.
“Got in a fight with my cabin. The hot tub started it.”
She quirked a brow, brushing her bangs back from her eyes. “I’m afraid to even ask. You want a drink? I’ve got beer or lemonade, take your pick.”
“I’m okay for now,” I said with a smile, taking the seat opposite her.
She sat in an old rocking chair with a blue cushion strapped to the seat, though the rest of the porch set was made of a light brown wicker. The table between us was a rusted white metal of some sort, with Native American print coasters piled up and ready for use. Nothing matched, and I loved it.
“Hi, I’m Wren,” I said to the man sitting with us.
“Where are my manners,” Momma Von chimed in, one hand gesturing to the man who had the same brooding brow Anderson did. “This is old man Ron. Don’t be offended if he grunts at you a lot and never smiles. He’s as soft as a baby duck, but he doesn’t want anyone to know it.”
Ron humphed and I giggled.
“Ron served in the Navy for twenty-nine years,” Momma Von added.
“Wow, thank you for your service.”
He humphed again, reaching into his plaid shirt pocket for a cigarette.
“So what are you up to today, Miss Wren?”
It was me who humphed this time, earning me a sideways grin from old man Ron. “Maybe I should take that beer.”
Momma Von chuckled and popped up from her chair, returning a moment later with a cold Bud Light. “You’re not too sure what you’re doing out here, are you, girl?”
I shook my head, cracking the top on the beer and taking a drink in lieu of answering the question.
“That’s alright,” she decided, rocking back. “Time spent lost and searching is time well wasted.”
I offered a small smile, wondering if I was really spending my time lost and searching or justlost, period. She watched me for a beat as if she knew I was questioning, as if she already knew the answer.
She opened her mouth to speak again but paused, her eyes catching behind me as a grin broke on her face. “Afternoon, Anderson!”
My grip on the can tightened marginally and I turned, catching his eyes as soon as I did. He’d stopped just at the edge of her driveway, dressed in the same jeans as the day before with a white thermal this time, sleeves still pushed up to his elbows. Except I saw those arms differently now that I’d felt them wrapped around me.
“Happy Sunday, Momma Von,” he called back, but his eyes stayed on mine long enough to light my skin on fire before he looked away.
“What are you working on today?”
“Morrisons’ shed. Planned on finishing it last night, but got a little distracted.” His eyes flicked to mine and I blushed, taking a long drink from my beer to mask the embarrassment.
“Not like you to get distracted,” she called back, and I swore I felt her eyes on my neck. “You met Wren yet? She’s renting out Abe’s cabin up the road.”
He looked at me then,reallylooked at me, and my thin romper suddenly felt completely see-through, along with my skin. I waited for him to say we’d already met, to tell them about last night, to make a joke out of me.
But instead, he adjusted the grip on his toolbox and said, “Nice to meet you.”
Oh, sure, now he says it.
