Page 50 of Home Town Advantage
We’ve had a fun brunch. Ashleigh, Daylen’s stepmom, showed up in a barely there Santa outfit, complete with a short skirt and halter top. Jagger refused to participate in a family photo unless Ashleigh covered up. I have some amount of compassion for Jagger for having Ashleigh as a mother. It can’t be easy with the way she dresses, but she’s otherwise an attentive, loving mother. Jagger should be thankful for that.
Jagger flipped for the Bluetooth sunglasses I got her. She’s been wearing them throughout the entire meal, bopping to the music now playing into her ears from the sunglasses. I have to admit, they’re super cool. I might need to get myself a pair.
Daylen narrows his eyes at his father. “Yo mama is sostupid; when she went to a movie and it said no one under seventeen, she went home and got sixteen of her friends.”
I let out a small laugh, but Hank doesn’t budge. He almost always wins.
Hank stoically stares at Daylen and says, “Yo mama is so ugly; when she gives head, it qualifies as anal.”
Daylen tries to hold it in, but eventually the floodgates open, and his loud laugh bellows throughout the restaurant. Theentirerestaurant.
Hank wipes the corners of his mouth with his napkin as he smiles in satisfaction. “Winner, winner.”
Jagger covers her face in mortification. “I swear, Dad, just when I think it can’t get any worse, you never fail to surprise me.”
Hank winks at her. “Thank you.”
Daylen shakes his head with a huge smile on his face. “Man, I never win. You’re the McDaddy jokester. I bow to the king. I guess brunch is on me.”
He moves his hand to reach for the check, but Hank slaps it away. “Nonsense. No child should pay for their parents’ meals. It’s an unwritten law.”
Daylen chuckles. “I’m a grown man. And happen to make a very good living from simply catching a ball.” He mumbles, “Even though Vance throws for shit. Thank God he has me to make him look good.”
I elbow him, and his smile widens. Hank turns to me. “Don’t listen to his nonsense. He’s a grown man who drives a car intended for sixteen-year-old girls. I think Barbie has the same one in the movie. Speaking of cars, how do you like your new vehicle, Vance? Daylen was telling me about it. Nowthat’sa manly car.”
Ashleigh smiles. “What kind of car did you get? A sports car? I love those.”
Daylen lets out a laugh. “Vance wouldneverget a car like that. He’s from Montana and thinks he’s still a cowboy.Homeboy wears cowboy boots and jeans when it’s eighty-five degrees out…to the beach.”
I roll my eyes at Daylen before turning to Ashleigh to politely respond, “No, it’s not a sports car. It’s a pickup truck. A Ford F-450 Super Duty.” I crack a smile. “To answer your question, Hank, Iloveit.”
Hank nods. “I was thinking of upgrading my truck too, but with gas prices and my long commute, it’s hard for me to justify one as big as the F-450.”
Daylen shakes his head. “You can get gas for under a dollar at Taco Bell. At least I do.”
Hank lets out a loud laugh. Jagger smacks Daylen’s chest as she giggles at his joke. And Ashleigh still has no idea what’s going on. Basically, a typical meal with the Humblecuts.
SULLEY
I wake on Christmas morning. Not hearing any voices, I assume my parents are still sleeping, but when I quietly make my way to the kitchen to turn on the coffee machine, I see my mother in her nightgown sitting at the kitchen table, staring out the window with tears silently falling from her eyes.
“Momma?”
Her head snaps toward me, and she quickly wipes her tears away while offering me a small smile. “Good morning, sweetie. Merry Christmas.”
I move toward her and take her hand in mine. “What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing. Just missing him a little extra this morning.” She motions toward the stocking with Finn’s name on it. “Seeing his stocking on Christmas morning with nothing in it makes me sad.”
It’s not just this morning. She’s been unusually sad these past few weeks since I’ve been home.
I sit down in a chair next to her, still holding her hand. “Did something specific happen? You’ve been down for weeks.”
She turns her head and stares back out the window. “I ran intoher.” Maddie. We don’t say her name out loud. “Francesca was with her. I was reminded of what could have been. That little girl was supposed to be ours. A little piece of Finn left here for us to love.” She swallows hard. “I can’t help but mourn for everything we’ve lost. Everything that was stolen from us. She’s a pretty little girl. She looks exactly like Maddie.”
Vance bought Maddie and her now husband, Curtis, a huge house a few towns over. They’ve had two more kids since. It’s rare for my mother to see her, but I know it hurts when she does. At least this explains her melancholy demeanor of late.
“Do Jane and Michael spend much time with her?” I have no idea if Vance’s parents have a relationship with Francesca.
