Page 24 of Awaiting the Storm
“He could have told me,” Grandma says, sliding a steaming dish of green beans down the table toward Cabe. “I didn’t spend all morning plucking chicken off the bone to make this huge casserole, just to toss it out ’cause it wasn’t eaten.”
Shelby snorts as she picks up her plate. “Cabe’ll eat the whole thing by himself.”
Cabe looks at her. “Hey, I’m a growing boy.”
Grandma laughs, and I glance at the clock over the sink. Twelve thirty. Lunch was supposed to start at noon, but Cabe was late getting in, and Charli wandered in ten minutes after that.
No one around here has any sense of urgency.
I finally sit back with a full plate—chicken casserole, green beans, and hot sourdough, slathered with a healthy helping of peach preserves. Friday lunches are always big. Grandma plays bunco with the ladies from her church on Friday evenings, which leaves us fending for ourselves for dinner, so she always makes sure to feed us a biglunch.
I almost get a bite in when Shelby decides to open her mouth and ruin the peace.
“So, Carl’s back,” she announces to the room.
The words land like a ton of bricks.
Cabe freezes with his fork halfway to his mouth. Charli makes a sound like a scoff and then stuffs a piece of bread in her mouth. Evelyn, ever the diplomat, forks at her green beans like Shelby didn’t just lob a grenade into the middle of the table.
I take a slow breath. “Shell.”
“What? Everyone’s gonna know eventually. Might as well get it out in the open.”
I sigh. “It’s not a secret. He showed up at the barn this morning.”
“And what’d the jackass want?” Charli mutters, reaching for the salt.
“To help,” I say.
“Help?” she echoes, her voice dripping with disbelief, like I just told her Carl found the cure to cancer.
“Yep. He’s back in Wildhaven. Says he wants to pitch in around the ranch again.”
Shelby lets out a laugh. “Yeah. That’s why he’s back. Tell them the rest.”
I shoot her a lethal look. “Never mind the rest.”
“Oh, let me guess. He pledged his undying love to Matty and begged her to take him back?” Charli says, setting her fork down and glaring at me.
“Something like that,” I mumble.
“That’s rich. He runs off the second things get hard. Now he’s had a change of heart, and you’re supposed to just welcome him back with open arms like he didn’t rip your heart out?” Charli screeches.
Cabe shrugs. “People change,” he says as he continues to feed his face. “Maybe he regrets the way he left.”
Charli rolls her eyes. “He should. And you, Sissy, had better not be dumb enough to fall for his charming puppy-dog eyes andI’ve changedcrap.”
I glance at Charli and Shelby, both of them practically vibrating with sisterly fury.
Grandma looks up from her plate. “I’ll say this: I liked the boy wellenough when he was around. He was a hard worker,” she declares, and her eyes come to me. “He brought out a softness in you that’s been gone a long spell now.”
“Wow. Thanks, Grandma,” I mumble, not at all thankful.
“I’m not saying let him back into your bed,” she adds, just to make it worse, and Grandpa chokes on his lunch. She reaches over and slaps him on the back as she continues, “But maybe hear him out and let him help you shovel some stalls.”
Cabe grins into his tea. “Matty, I mean, if he’s willing to shovel shit for you, he might be worth keeping around.”
“Okay,” I say sharply, scooting back from the table and holding up fingers. “Three things. Carl is back—yes. He’s going to be working here again—yes. And my love life is not up for discussion at this table—got it?”
