Page 112 of Clint & Ivy

As familiar as the woman seemed, I couldn’t place her name. She might be a fox’s mom. I’d seen lots of photos of important people in Clint’s life and had only met maybe twenty-five percent of them.

The woman entered the house and walked past me into the kitchen. I heard her humming a song. Even though I felt I should say something, I kept quiet to avoid startling her.

The woman went still, likely sensing eyes on her. She glanced over her shoulder to find me.

“You must be Clint’s girl,” she said and walked over with a cup of coffee. “Ivy, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Darby.”

The name brought back memories of stories told to me. Darby Curran was Joker’s first wife. When Shay arrived in Little Memphis, she stayed at Darby’s house. This woman was a regular fixture in Clint’s life.

“I’ve heard only good things about you.”

“That sounds like a lie, but I’ll allow it,” Darby said as her bright red lips pulled back into a warm smile. “I’m here to use their gym for my morning workout. What’s your excuse for roaming the Sorority House at this ungodly hour?”

“Clint needed to go to Rawlins. He thought I’d be more comfortable here than back at the condo.”

“Are you?”

“No.”

“Do you think he’s blind to your reality or he lied about why he brought you here?”

“I think he was worried about me being alone when something bad could be happening in Rawlins.”

“Why didn’t he take you to his parents’ house?”

“I don’t know, and I was too tired to ask when he brought me here.”

“Do you feel safer here than at the condo?”

“No.”

“Who’s still around?”

“Just Stevie, I think. Everything happened fast.”

“Well, whatever’s happening can’t be that big of a deal or else I’d have gotten a heads-up.”

“I think Clint worries I’ll fall back into my homebody habits if I’m alone at the condo too much. I used to spend my days watching TV and reading rather than engaging with people.”

“Do you miss that?”

“Sometimes.”

“You should explain to Clint how you are a big girl who can choose her own adventure.”

“That doesn’t sound like something I would say. Also, when I tell people I’m a big girl, they laugh,” I explained, standing up and lifting my arms for full effect.

Darby snorted and nodded. “Well, tell him that you’re an adult. That’s true, right?”

“Yes, but I worry I’ll miss out on fun stuff if I give in to my homebody habits.”

“Life is about balance. I enjoy my house. There’s comfort in a place I’ve spent decades making fit my style. But it’s important to get out and remember the world still exists. That’s why I come here to work out.”

Smiling, I asked, “Can I work out with you?”

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