Page 2 of Family Secrets

“Careful with your tongue, Lizzie. Jonah may not be a prizefighter…”

“Are you kidding, Granny? He isn’t even the water boy.”

“Be that as it may, Sweetheart, Jonah isn’t much, but he’s your only option in this town.”

Elizabeth knew her Granny spoke the truth. Middleton was twenty minutes from everywhere, yet failed to catch the eyes of any business developers who opened stores in towns all over Kansas. With a population of less than three thousand, Elizabeth didn’t see prosperity knocking on Middleton’s door anytime soon.

“Speaking of prize fighters…”

“Way ahead of you, Lizzie. I’ve got two beers I saved from my bridge club meeting I’ll put in the fridge to get nice and cold.”

“Granny, you holding out on the fine ladies in the church?” Elizabeth teased, picking up the grocery bag and slinging her purse over her shoulder.

“Considering there ain’t a lady in that church,” Elizabeth and Birdie spun in the direction of the now open door, the surprise fading from their faces as they recognize the woman standing in the open door.

“Rose, I didn’t hear you come in.” Elizabeth greeted as she stepped around her granny’s neighbor and best friend. Rose was a gem of a woman, kind-hearted and funny as they come. She and Birdie had been instant friends since the moment they met when Rose moved in next door thirty years ago.

“I’m not surprised,” Rose leaned over to kiss Elizabeth’s cheek. “Probably deaf from all that snoring I heard last night.”

“And on that note, I have to go or I’ll be late for work.” Stepping to the side, she placed a kiss to Birdie’s cheek. “I’ll be back in time for the fight. You, me and the devastatingly handsome Kane Cavallo and some other guy we don’t care about.”

Birdie loved to see the excitement on Elizabeth’s face as she shared her love of boxing. She wished she could afford to take her to a live event, but with their limited funds, the best she could do was the overpriced internet cable service Elizabeth worked a little extra for each month.

“Have a good day, Sweetheart. And make sure you hide your lunch, can’t have you coming home hungry because of a thief.”

“That thief has a name, Granny. And not to worry, I have a way of keeping him out of my food.” Elizabeth sent a wink in Rose’s direction, never more grateful for the devious side of the sweet old woman who had more tricks up her sleeve than Houdini.

“You ladies behave today, don’t want to hear about the Sheriff showing up because of your shenanigans.”

Birdie watched Elizabeth back down the drive and then pull onto the road behind the wheel of her ancient Chevy. The car was older than dirt when she gave her the keys for her seventeenth birthday, but Elizabeth worked hard and kept the car clean and running, just as she did everything she touched. Birdie knew Elizabeth was meant for bigger things than this one-horse town, but she feared what would happen if she ever left to pursue the dreams Birdie imagined ran through the young woman’s head.

Gripping the edge of the sink, it was time to tell her the truth. Tonight, she vowed, tonight she would tell her everything. She prayed Elizabeth wouldn’t hate her.

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