Page 12 of The Moment They Can Never Forgive
“Maybe we’ll see some of them today,” Leah deflected, because it was a question she’d been asking herself and still had no answer.
“Mom told me you had lots of friends. I thought they’d have come to see you before now,” he persisted with a determination she often admired but right then didn’t.
“We’ve been busy.”
Hudson gave her a look that told Leah he wasn’t buying it. She turned into the main street of Lyntacky and looked for a distraction.
“See that statue there?” She pointed to the woman square dancing. “That’s Shelly Lyntacky. She died, may she rest in peace, and loved square dancing.”
“Is that why when we hear that music, we’ve gotta dance?” Hudson asked. “It’s real weird, but I’m getting the hang of the steps.”
“Yup. She used to dance through the streets of Lyntacky to practice for her competitions, and now her uncle, Tripp, makes us dance to honor her.”
“That’s kinda cool.”
“It annoyed me when I was young, but I got used to it. Plus, it’s a chance for everyone to keep in touch with each other, depending on who you end up dancing with. Trust me when I say that by the time you’re fifteen, you’ll hate it, then love it again when you’re older.”
She could see he was thinking about what she’d said. That he would be here when he was fifteen and older.She hoped they’d be here.
After pulling into a parking spot before the Do-Si-Do Diner, she got out with Hudson.
“The names in this town are weird.”
“Every name has a link to square dancing unless you had your business before it became compulsory to do that,” Leah said.
Hudson took that in his stride as they entered the diner.
“Well hell, look who finally blew into town. How are you doing, honey?”
“Hi, Linda.”
The owner of the diner had skin the color and texture of a three-week-old orange peel. She usually had her hair dyedin some bright color—today it was snow white—and the diner’s uniforms were pink.
“Come here, girl.” Linda pulled her in for a bone-cracking hug. Then she grabbed Leah’s shoulders and studied her for an uncomfortably long time. “It’s time you came home.”
Leah wasn’t sure what to say to that, so instead she introduced her nephew. “Linda, this is Hudson, Cassie’s son.”
Linda looked around Leah, and she knew what the woman was looking for.
Clearing her throat, Leah said, “Cassie passed away a few months ago.”
“No!” Tears welled in Linda’s eyes as she looked at the boy now plastered to Leah’s legs. “H-hello there, darling.”
“Hudson, this is Linda. She owns the diner.” Leah nudged him.
“Hello.” Eyes wide, he looked in shock as the lady with long lashes, pink lips and blue eye shadow smiled down at him with tears in her eyes.
“I see Cassie in him,” Linda said, her voice cracking. “I’m so sorry, Leah.”
“It’s all right,” she said automatically, like she always did. “We’re doing okay.”
Linda sniffed loudly, then blotted under her eyes with a tissue she’d fished out of her pocket. “If you need any shifts, you let me know, but right now you go on out back and seat yourself. You’ll see some friendly faces there, and we’re full up here,” Linda said, patting Hudson’s cheek.
The boy didn’t flinch, but Leah thought it was a near thing when he saw the pink talons heading his way.
It wasn’t until she was walking along the diner’s aisle that Leah remembered what Linda had said. Friendly faces.Before she could stop and turn around, a voice reached her.
“Well hell, she lives!”
