Page 13 of Merry Mayhem
“Actually, I’m not sure you do. She’s not from here.”
Ellie looks mildly offended. “Do you think the only people I know are from here?”
I should’ve known better. Ellie is… actually, I’m not sure how old she is. Old enough to be a grandmother to people intheir late twenties and early thirties, and to have several great-grandchildren now. But she’s younger at heart than some people my age. And I’m guessing no one is brave enough to actually ask the woman her age. I’m certainly not.
“Fair enough. She’s from over in Rebel. Do you know anybody over there?”
She laughs. “You’re hilarious.”
“I don’t know what that means. No, you don’t, or yes, you do? Y’all have a big rivalry with them or something?”
She looks at me with surprise. “You really don’t know.”
“Actually, a lot of things fall under that heading. What about this specific situation do I not know?”
She laughs, and I feel a stab of pride in my chest. It’s always a good day when you can amuse Ellie Landry. And an even better day when you can tell her something that impresses her or that she didn’t already know.
Those are very rare days.
“Honey, I grew up in Rebel. That’s my hometown.”
Okay, now I’m actually surprised. “You’re not from here?”
“Nope. I’m here because I fell in love with an Autre boy, which is a very hard thing to avoid doing, by the way. But I know pretty much everybody over in Rebel. Who did you meet?”
“Violet Chabert,” I say.
Ellie swats me with her towel. “She’s my great niece. But honey, she was just in a car accident.”
I lean in, shushing her slightly. “I know. I was the one who found her in the car. But she’s your great niece?” I ask, going back to that point.
“Her grandpa is my brother.”
Wow. That’s definitely a strange coincidence.
“You found her in her car?” Ellie asks. “She’s been unconscious since then. You’ve developed a crush on an unconscious girl?”
“Shhh,” I say again, casting a glance around.
Her grandkids are all gathered around the family tables at the back of the bar, and I’m fortunate that they are a boisterous group. There’s no way they would hear our conversation over their own unless they were standing right near us.
“I met her before the accident. And we set up a little date over the weekend. When her family found out, they invited me to Christmas dinner anyway.”
“Oh.” Her eyes narrow thoughtfully. “Yes, they’ll be wonderful for you.”
My eyebrows arch. “Well, thank you.”
“No, really. You’ll love them. And they’ll love you. You should definitely go.”
“Wow, don’t let the door hit my ass on the way out.”
She chuckles. “I know you’ve been feeling a little bit left out around here. Everybody’s coupled up and everything. And everything that went down with Sierra bruised that big heart of yours. I think it’s great you’re going to have some fun in Rebel.”
I watch her for a moment and ask, “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Are you doing things a little out of order with the family before you get to know the girl? Sure. But I’m hardly one to advocate falling in love in a normal way. Where's the fun in that?”
I laugh. “Well, I think falling in love might be jumping ahead a little bit.”
