Page 85 of Whiskey Lullaby
Fuming, I stormed back to my truck and cranked the engine before peeling down the drive. I had no idea where she was, or if she was with someone, and the thought of her falling asleep on another man damn near killed me. Those kisses, those light touches. Those should have beenmine.
By the timethe truck lurched over the rut at the end of the drive, my knuckles ached from clenching my fists on the wheel. Her chickens were pecking at gravel in the middle of the drive, so I laid on the horn and they scattered across theyard.
I caught Grandma push up from the metal glider on the porch. Shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand, she shuffled to the end of the porch, squinting out at the drive. I wondered why she hadn’t told me that Hannah moved. I knew damned well she had toknow.
I slung my door open. The cool autumn breeze blew through the trees catching a few of the dried leaves on itswind.
“Noah.”
“When did she move,Grandma?”
She balled her fist up and dug them into her hips. “So I see you’ve been by thepreacher’s?”
I stepped onto the porch. “Why didn’t you tellme?”
“You hug me first, boy, or I ain’t telling you athing.”
Shaking my head, I leaned over and hugged herhard.
“Didn’t even tell me you was coming…” she tsked. “That new song of yours sure is doing good. They played it at the end ofGeneral Hospitalthe otherday.”
My head was swarming with emotions. I hadn’t told my manager I was leaving. I had to get back to Nashville for a flight. And I hadn’t accomplishedshit.
“How long you here for?” Grandmaasked.
“I have to go back on tourtomorrow.”
She arched a brow. “They work you too much, you know that? All this jetting around the world seems a bit unnecessary to me.” She plopped down on the glider. “You staying for dinner, ain’tyou?”
“Grandma!”
“What?”
“Where isshe?”
Grandma huffed and crossed her arms. “She’s doing, oh…” She snapped her fingers. “She’s traveling and nursing. I hear it pays a pretty penny. I think they call it a travel nurse or something catchy likethat.”
I scrubbed my hand through my hair and paced the porch. “Where? Do you know where?” It was more than aggravating not being able to find someone in the age of social media. A person had to really try to fly under the radar, and Hannah was staying as low aspossible.
She shrugged. “How am I supposed to knowthat.”
I tossed my head back with a groan. “Oh my God, it’s Rockford! That’show.”
“Have no idea, I just know she’s gone. Came home last week for Thanksgiving and took offagain.”
“Shit.” I sat on the step and clutched my head in myhands.
“Imma forgive you for swearin’ like that on my porch since you’re upset and all.” She stood up and walked to the door. “I’ll be right back. I’m gonna get yousomething.”
I sat, staring out across the yard. I wanted to stay there, I didn’t want to go back to Nashville. I didn’t want to go back on tour and sing those songs, now knowing what I knew. God, that was going to be painful. The hinges on the door creaked and I heard the familiar shuffle of Grandma’s feet behind me before she groaned and took a seat next tome.
“Well,” she huffed. “Guess you finally realized you screwed up, huh?” She shoved the old bottle of whiskey from her cabinet against my chest. “Drink that then, it’s the only thing that helps that kinda heartbreak, boy. Go on and drink you a whiskeylullaby.”
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I drank the rest of that whiskey, got drunk, and passed out on Grandma’scouch.
I barely got back to Nashville in time for the show I had todo.
