Page 81 of Cookout Carnage
Sherilyn leaned against a countertop and sunk her head. ‘This isn’t going to work.’
‘You sure you can’t introduce Tristan to your folks? He’s a fine-looking man with such manners. I think your mama would like him.’
Sherilyn bit back a sigh. ‘She would. But Pa and my brothers? Honestly, Lucille, it’s not that I don’t want to introduce him to them, I don’t want to introduce them tohim.’
Lucille’s mouth was moving, as if trying to find the words to refute her and failing.
‘Tristan is sweet and kind and gentle,’ Sherilyn continued. ‘And they’re… You’ve seen Fender’s face?’
Lucille nodded.
‘I mean, his name is Tristan Fawcett-Underwood. If he’s fancy, heaven knows how posh the rest of his family are. Can you really imagine them sitting down for catfish and chitlins with Axle and Fender Bodean?’
Lucille looked as wretched as Sherilyn felt.
‘But what happens if things go well with him?’ Lucille asked. ‘What about the future?’
Sherilyn shrugged helplessly.
Her purse vibrated and she pulled out her phone.
Mama: Sherri-Lynne honey, how u gettin on? XO
‘It’s Mama,’ she said to Lucille. ‘Fender’s coming home this afternoon. Pa’s gone to get him.’
She messaged back.
Sherri-Lynne: Sorry, Mama, been delayed. Be home soon XO
She pinched the bridge of her nose. A headache was coming on.
‘I just don’t know where to take him or what to do,’ she said. ‘Midway is so small, and everyone knows my family.’
The kitchen was quiet as they both tried to think. Truman’s voice carried from the front room in a never-ending rumble of white noise.
‘How about you go on a hike?’
‘Maybe. I don’t know if he’s very outdoorsy though.’
‘Or take him to see your old school?’
‘But it’s the summer.’
‘So, no one will be there. The grounds are big.’
There was a knock on the back door and Sherilyn shrunk back. Lucille opened it and let in Thad. He had streaks of white paint from the sign down the front of his outfit.
‘Hey, Sherri-Lynne!’ he said with a smile, raising a hand.
‘Thaddaeus Lee!’ hissed Lucille. ‘You keep your voice down! What in tarnation have you done to your costume? And you need to replace all of my warts. They don’t grow on trees, young man.’
‘Sorry, Lucille,’ he mumbled.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘I came to tell you, I can’t hold them back much longer, they—’
The doorbell rang.
