Page 80 of The Moment They Can't Forget

He opened his mouth, but she interrupted him. “No, wait. Let me guess.”

“I’d rather you didn’t,” JD said, looking around them to see who was listening.

“I think that you and she who shall be nameless have…”

“Shut up,” JD hissed.

“… been doing the limbo, and now you don’t know what to do about it.”

“Who has been doing the limbo?” LouJean said from behind Nina. “I love the limbo, and I’m very good at it. Last year, I was one of the finalists at our bingo club night.”

He didn’t pinch his nose, but he wanted to.

“You—” He leaned in so he was just inches from Nina’s face. “—shut up and do not say another word. This is no business of yours.”

She smiled. “If you want my opinion, I think it’s a good match.”

“I don’t.”

She made a zipping motion with her fingers across her mouth.

“Like that’s ever shut you up,” he muttered. “Go back to work and do something useful.”

She saluted him. “JD and Zoe sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g,” Nina sang softly as she passed him. He growled, and she giggled, then left.

“Ready.” Henry arrived carrying a leather overnight bag that was likely worth more than a trip to London.

“Yes. Let’s go.” He stomped outside with his brother on his heels.

“Everything okay, JD?”

“Peachy.”

“Not sure I believe you,” Henry said. “I have my rental, so I’ll follow you to your place.”

He got into his car and drove away from Circle Left with his brother following. Solitude, freedom, and friends. He had all that here, and Zoe was challenging it, and he had no idea what to do.

When he pulled up at his house, Henry parked beside him and got out of his car.

“This is your place?” his brother said, looking around him.

“It is.”

“Wow, I never would have pictured you somewhere like this. It’s nice. Homely, but nice.”

“What’s wrong with homely?” JD asked.

“Nothing. I like it.”

“JD! Parsnip is acting weird again!” Vi yelled from the barn.

“What the hell are you doing here on a Sunday?” He opened the gate and headed to where she stood with Henry on his heels.

“I had nothing else to do,” she said with a shrug.

She wore scruffy shorts and a long-sleeved shirt with worn cuffs today. She had two bunches of hair tied on the sides of her head.

“Vi, this is Henry, my brother,” JD said. “Vi works here looking after the animals.”

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