Page 64 of Love in the Storm

His mom kept her questions about his job simple, and he chose to gloss over most of it for her sake. Blackwater wasn’t overrun with crime, but there were a number of things that kept him awake at night. The Howards and the Pattons were trying their best to kill each other off on a regular basis, and the Wilson brothers had an endless list of ways they could torment people.

“No, it was good. How was your day?”

“Wonderful.” His mom’s answer to the question was always the same, and people in town occasionally called her Ms. Wonderful.

“Can I play Fortnite before we go?” Jacob asked.

“Sure. I’ll come get you when I finish helping Granny clean up.” The three of them took turns in sets cleaning up after dinner when they ate with Asa’s mom. Three people in the small kitchen was too crowded.

Jacob took off toward the living room as Asa started stacking plates.

“Anything I can help with?” his mom asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Whatever’s got you thinking so hard.”

Asa carried the dishes to the kitchen, and his mom was right behind him. With the door closed between them and Jacob, they could talk without being overheard.

“You remember Lyric?” Asa began.

“Of course. I need to get her address so I can send her a thank you card for taking such good care of you.”

“She was really nice, and we had a great time while we were snowed in.”

His mother’s hands halted above the dirty dishes in the sink. “Are you dating her?”

There was a hint of excitement in his mom’s voice. What did he think about her reaction? Excitement was his top emotion when he thought of Lyric most of the time, but there was also doubt, shame, and indecision grappling for the number-two spot.

“No. I actually hadn’t talked to her since we left the cabin until today. I ran into her at Deano’s.”

“How is she doing?”

“Well, I overheard her talking to Kendra. I think she’s getting evicted.”

“Kendra?”

“No, Lyric.”

“Oh, goodness. That’s awful.”

Asa rubbed the back of his neck. Stressing about Lyric had his muscles aching. “Um, I don’t think I told you this, but Lyric has a criminal record.”

“What? Is that why she’s being evicted?”

“No, no. She used to be an alcoholic…and an addict. It sounds awful, but she said she’s been sober for over five years.”

His mother rubbed her forehead. “Wow. Sober for five years is quite an accomplishment.”

“Yeah, and it could also disappear in an instant.”

The wet rag was whipping toward his face before he had a chance to block it.

“Asa Henry Scott. I did not raise you to be judgmental.”

“I know. I know.” He still had his hands up. “Normally, I’m the first person to give the benefit of the doubt, but this is personal. What if I start dating her and she gets to know Jacob? What if Jacob and I let her into our lives and she relapses? What if we love her and she leaves us when things get tough?”

The doubts poured out like water. He still hadn’t figured out which way was up when Lyric was thrown in the mix.

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