Page 19 of Moonshine Lullabies

“I don’t know what I would do without that boy. He’s been my biggest cheerleader in just about everything I do since he could talk. Believin’ in me when no one else on this planet thought I could do it.”

I gave a nod and said, “Well, after what I saw out of you yesterday, I believe you’re the kind of woman that’s not to be underestimated.”

She finished taking another bite of her sandwich and chewed thoughtfully before saying, “Thanks.”

I gave a nod and opened up my phone and asked, “What’re you on? Marketplace? Craigslist?”

“Just Google for now,” she said.

I nodded and opened up my phone to look with her.

“We don’t find nothin’ today, it’s no big deal,” I said.

She snorted. “Until somethin’ happens and J.P. changes his mind.”

I smiled to myself and said, “He won’t.”

“You sound awful sure of yourself, there, buddy,” she said, and I laughed a little.

“I am.”

She tried to suppress her smile, but I caught it.

I do believe she was loosening up around me.

We struck out on findin’ a truck today, but we did go look at at least one. It was too rusted out and wasn’t what she was lookin’ for anyhow, so we went on back to the house so she could cook.

The front door was giving the boys fits and still wasn’t done, but that was alright. Ain’t none of us have nothin’ but time for this.

When we did get back, Alina and Corliss were here, Cor’s car parked out front, the girls on the covered front porch laughing about something.

“Oh, hey, haven’t seen Alina in a while,” Jessie said when she spotted the redhead.

“You even meet Cor yet?” I asked.

“That Hex’s new girl?” she asked.

“That she is. Nice girl, a schoolteacher.”

“Oh, nice,” she said. “I volunteered at that cookout and ride y’all had around Christmas, and I saw her there, but I never got introduced.”

I rolled to a stop near the front of the house and asked, “You wanna get out here?”

“Nah, I got these few things to bring in that need to go to the kitchen,” she said, and I gave a nod and rolled on through to put the truck back in the shop.

When we got out the truck, Alina popped out the back door with Corliss right on her heels.

“Jessie, hi!” Alina called, waving. Jessie smiled and waved back.

“Hey, what’re you doin’ out this way?” I asked them.

“Oh, you know – it’s not a party until the girls arrive,” Alina said breezily and Jessie laughed.

“I know that’s right,” she responded.

“Jess, this is Cor, Cor meet Jess. She’s Cypress’ sister.”

“Nice to meet you,” Corliss declared and held out her hand.

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