Page 64 of Tangled Emotions

I hope Edie’s there.

Seeing her would make the awkward conversation I was about to have better.

Once I got there, the only patron in the place was Matt, and he was waiting for me at the counter.

“Doc!” He sat up and waved.

I walked over as Evie came through the door from the back. “Hey Mattie, is your teacher here?” She stopped and her jaw dropped open.

“Aunt Evie, that’s my gym teacher, Doc.”

Her face was priceless, and I’d never seen Evie speechless.

From the back I heard a plate drop breaking and Big E looked through the window, pale. “That’syour teacher?”

Matthew looked confused. “Yeah. Doc.”

Evie pointed behind her and stuttered. “Um, I’ll buh bee right back.” She darted back through the swinging door and Matt flipped over two coffee cups.

I took a seat at the counter. “You like coffee?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “How do you take yours?” Matt hopped down and went to get the coffeepot.

“Black.”

“Gotcha.” He filled my cup first, then filled his halfway. “I need to leave room.”

“For cream and sugar?”

He nodded and put the coffee pot back and climbed back up to sit beside me as Evie came back through the door, smiling like the cat who ate the canary. She put the small dish of creamer on the counter and shook her head.

“Matt, does your mom know why you’re here?”

“No.” He folded his hands. “Please don’t tell her Aunt Evie. I need to talk to Doc, man to man.”

“Oh. Okay.” She nodded slowly. “Can I get youmenanything else?”

“No thank you.” He spun in his seat to face me. “Unless you want something, Doc?”

“I think I need me some nachos.” I winked at Evie.

“And you both need me to keep Edie away?” She cocked her hip.

Good Lord. She’s about to help him out.

“Please.” Matt had his eyes on his aunt, wide and innocent.

“Because I love you, and you didn’t tell your mom I let you eat ice cream for dinner this weekend.” She nodded and called over her shoulder. “Need an Edie at the counter!”

“I heard that.” Big E leaned forward. “Did you know?”

I shrugged. “Let’s say I had my suspicions.”

Evie giggled. “I’ll be in the back.”

I watched as she went back through the doors and then took a drink of my coffee.

Folding his hands on the counter, he faced me. “Now. As I was saying. I’m looking for a date for my mom. Sweetest’s day is coming up and I think it would be good for her to go to dinner and maybe some dancing.”

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