Page 81 of Roommate
When I stand up, my fingers are sticky with pine pitch. “Come, come!” Sally Shipley guides me to the kitchen. “Here’s the lava soap. It will get that right off.”
I accept this fussing, and also a little cup of weak cocoa and a bland cookie. Kieran wasn’t kidding when he said his mom wasn’t great in the kitchen. Cocoa is supposed to be dark and sinful. Or maybe that’s just me.
Kieran drinks his propped against the counter, unable to hide the fact that he’s counting the minutes until he can leave. His dog rises up onto his hind legs to beg from him. “No cookies for you,” he says, scratching the dog between the ears.
I would totally give that dog a cookie, but he only has eyes for Kieran.
The kitchen door flies open, and Kyle steps through. “Hey! Sorry! I went to the pharmacy for Dad.”
Kieran frowns but doesn’t say anything.
“Can I help you put the tree up?” He takes off his coat.
“We did it already,” I say. “It was no problem.”
Kyle spins and notices me on the kitchen chair. His face creases in confusion. “Okay, thanks. I’ll take care of the lights.”
“Good plan,” Kieran mumbles. “We have to take off.”
“Already?” Kyle yelps. “It’s your day off. You could stick around. We could watch a movie.”
“I can’t,” Kieran says, setting down his empty cup. “Got a lot of errands to do. And another tree to set up at home.”
“So just stay for lunch. Rexie would love it.”
Oh, ouch. Kyle fights dirty.
“Nah. Maybe next time,” Kieran says unconvincingly. “Gotta roll.” He flips on the sink and rinses his cup.
I take the hint and drain the rest of my cocoa.
Sally Shipley bustles in and repeats the offer of lunch. Kieran declines just as quickly, but she follows us out the back door anyway. “Kieran? There’s something I need to ask you.”
He turns around, a wary look on his face. “Sure, Ma. What is it?”
“It’s about the cows. Your brother has this big idea. He wants to do some angus crosses next year.”
“Yeah, cool. Why not?” Kieran draws his keys out of his pocket.
“Your father hates the idea,” she says. “Highlands are our breed. That’s the way we’ve always done things.”
“So? Is the way we do things always so great?”
Sally’s mouth forms a hard line. Like she’s trying really hard not to say anything. They just stare at each other for a moment, as if continuing some age-old argument through mental jiu-jitsu. “Just talk to Kyle,” she says eventually. “Tell him it’s not a good time.”
“No,” Kieran says forcefully. And everyone is surprised. Even Kieran. “Dad wants Kyle to step up around here. We all do. And when he does, his idea gets shot down.”
“That’s not just an idea,” his mother hisses. “Changing our whole breeding program?”
“So he could do a few of them, not the whole herd.” Kieran shrugs. “But it won’t be me who talks to him. If you and Dad and Kyle need to make a decision, you can all sit down and discuss it like grownups.”
“But Kyle listens to you,” she tries.
“This is not my job. It’s literally his job. I can’t be your go-between.”
“I see.” She folds her arms across her chest. “Fine. Drive safe.”
“I will,” he says gently. “See you soon.”
