Page 7 of Talulah's Back in Town

“I go over there occasionally. But I’ve decided to settle here. This is where I’m building my business.”

“What kind of business?”

“I drill wells for a living.”

“No kidding?” That was the last occupation Talulah had expected Ellen to have. She didn’t know of one other female well-driller.

Ellen shrugged. “It’s a living.”

“How’d you get into that?”

“Runs in the family. My father’s a driller. So was his father.”

“He taught you everything he knows?”

She grimaced. “No. He saved that for one of his stepsons. But I don’t need him. I figured it out myself.”

“Brant told me you and he used to date.”

“It’s been over a year, but...yeah.”

“Have you...gotten with someone else since?” She was prodding, but she was so curious she couldn’t resist.

“No. When you’ve been with Brant Elway, it’s not easy to find someone who measures up,” she joked.

Her response prompted Talulah to dig a little deeper. “Would you mind a personal question from a total stranger?”

Fresh interest glittered in Ellen’s eyes. “You and I aren’t strangers anymore. You already like me better than your great aunt did, right? You said so yourself.”

There was a transparency to Ellen that made Talulah feel comfortable asking almost anything. “Then I’ll go ahead. What happened between you and Brant?”

“I wish I could tell you.” Dropping her cigarette, she crushed it beneath her boot. “We’re still friends. He treats me great whenever he sees me and stops by to visit now and then. The only thing I can figure is that he didn’t want to lead me on when he was just trying to make a statement.”

“Astatement?” Talulah echoed.

“I’m guessing the reason he asked me out in the first place was because he wanted me to feel accepted and welcome. By being seen with me, he was putting everyone here on notice that different isn’t always bad, essentially trying to make it a little easier for me to fit in and become part of the community.”

Talulah wasn’t convinced Brant was that perceptive, that kind or that deep. And even if he was, she didn’t want to think so flatteringly of her old archenemy. She’d neverhatedhim, exactly. But they’d battled over Charlie for two years, and she’d prided herself on being one of the few women in town he couldn’t count among his many admirers. “Are you sure he wasn’t just after a piece of ass?” she joked.

Ellen picked up the stub of her cigarette. “I’m sure, since I would’ve gladly given him one had he ever made a move,” she said. “Let me know when you’re ready to open that bottle. I’ll come over again.”

Brant hadn’t tried to sleep with her? Talulah hadn’t anticipated that. “I will,” she said and lifted the wine in farewell.

Brant had been expecting a call from Charlie, so he wasn’t surprised when his phone went off while he was fixing the roof on the barn closest to the house. He rocked back on his haunches, removed his gloves and used the bottom of his T-shirt to mop the sweat from his face before he answered. “What’s up?”

“Talulah’s back in town, man. I just ran into Marie Christensen at the grocery store. She said she waited on her at the diner this morning.”

Brant probably should’ve been the one to tell Charlie about Talulah. But he’d put off relaying that bit of news. There’d been something in her eyes that reminded him of a cornered animal, and that had made him want to cut her a break in spite of what she’d done at the wedding.

It shouldn’t have stopped him, though. She had no excuse for hurting Charlie so deeply. Even if she had to break up with him, why couldn’t she have done itbeforethe wedding? Putting it off until the very last second had heaped so much embarrassment on top of the rejection. “Is that all Marie said?” he asked tentatively.

“What do you mean?”

Apparently, the waitress hadn’t mentioned that Brant had been in the restaurant at the same time. He wondered if he needed to divulge that information, but ultimately chose not to say anything. He’d get grilled if he did:Why didn’t you tell me? Did you talk to her? What’d she say? What does she look like? Did she mention me? What’s she doing these days? Is she seeing anyone?

The fact that Charlie still compared every woman he dated to Talulah, and the new prospect always came up short, indicated that he hadn’t gotten over her, even after all this time. That became more apparent than ever when he was drunk. Then he’d ramble on, crying in his beer about the various things he’d seen her post on Instagram, especially the pics that included some guy named Paul. “You gotta forget her, man—move on,” Brant said. “I’ve told you that before.”

Conveniently ignoring his advice, Charlie asked, “Why do you think she’s here?”

---