Page 21 of Mountain Grump
“Two waters, two ginger ales, and two of the veggie dinners.”
Jessie grins. “Meeting your sister, I take it?”
I nod.
“I’ll get your order in, then bring the drinks over.”
“Appreciate it.” I tap my knuckles on the bar, then find a table along the wall.
My water is half gone, and my soda glass is covered in condensation when Sandra pushes through the door and drops into the chair across from me.
She came straight from the hair salon she works at, but it’s an artsy place that has no uniform. So her outfit—a crop top under red denim overalls—isn’t a surprise.
Her pixie-cut hair is dyed black, like the last time I saw her. But the piercing through her brow now has a purple diamond thing on one end.
“Hey, Brother.” Sandra grins at me.
I dip my chin. “Sister.”
I forkthe last of my fried brussels sprouts into my mouth, my eyes moving back to Sandra’s damn eyebrow jewelry.
“Are you even listening to me?”
I drop my gaze to meet Sandra’s. “No. Where would I buy ribbon?”
My sister lowers the portion of the mushroom Philly cheesesteak hoagie she was lifting to her mouth. “Ribbon? Like for wrapping presents?”
Her face is scrunched up as she looks at me like I asked her to help me build a bomb.
But no matter how right I was, I still feel like an asshole for ruining Tilda’s ribbon. I could’ve taken the time to untie it, rather than ruin it.
I set my fork down.
Matty.
I still can’t believe Jack was so sneaky. Talking about his grandkid for fucking years without actually telling me anything.
My shoulders sag.
I can’t believe Jack’s dead.
Which makes me feel like an even bigger asshole. Because Tilda, Matty, Matilda, just lost a family member.
Even though I’d never met her—and by all recollection, she’s never been to Jack’s cabin before—she must’ve been close with him.
I think about my gun locked in the glove box of my truck.
Jack never said anything about anyone else in his family. Never gave any hints about them being violent. But…
Don’t shoot me.
Which one of them sent you?
I need to talk to Tilda.
“Are you dying?”
I blink at my sister. “Not any more than usual.”
