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“Absolutely.”
“I’m telling Mom on you!” he chimed in like a spoiled child.
“Good luck with that. She’s in Peoria.” I almost stuck out my tongue at him but remembered Kate’s camera crew was here somewhere.
Cameron and Wilson exchanged looks, and I knew.
“No way!” I turned around and almost ran into my mom. She looked just like always: capri pants, an oversized floral print top,and a pair of reading glasses hanging from a chain around her neck.
“Rae-ray, we’ve missed you so much.” Mom pulled me into a hug, the kind that smothered you in memories of childhood.
“You look so happy, and this event is impressive.” My father took me into his arms for another hug.
“When did you get here? How did you keep it all secret?” I looked from Wilson and Cameron to my parents.
“I sent them plane tickets. They arrived late last night, and since I knew you and Atley were going on a date, I didn’t want to interrupt.” Wilson looked like the smug billionaire he was. I should have punched him harder.
“Blue Star is incredible. I can’t believe we waited so long to visit. And you look so happy.” Mom’s eyes ran over me from head to toe. “Great boots. I’m going to need a pair like that for the next trip.” She elbowed my father and pointed at my feet.
“Make sure Wilson introduces you to Melvin. He’ll find you the perfect pair.”
Wilson groaned and rolled his eyes at me. I loved spending my brother’s money on Mom. After all she gave up to stay home and raise us, she deserved to get spoiled.
“Speaking of the Worn Boot, did you hear the gossip about Melvin and Wanda?” Cameron asked me.
I shook my head.
“They got engaged at Bowie’s last night. You and Atley must have missed the proposal.”
“We never made it to dinner.” No reason to pretend otherwise; Elmer was too small a town. A lie like that would come back to bite you in the ass.
“Bow chicka wow wow! You and Atley—” Wilson made a mildly obscene hand gesture where my mother couldn’t see.
“Are full-grown adults, and you will behave, brother.” I pointed a finger at him.
“When can we meet Atley?” my mom asked. “Cameron said he looks like the Marlboro man.”
“He kind of does. And he’s the strong silent type like Dad, so if you want him to talk, ask about his horse.”
My father gave one of his patented harrumphs and crossed his arms over his chest. Oh yeah, my dad and Atley would be a pair of stellar conversationalists.
“He has a horse.” My mother pressed a hand to her heart like it was about to flutter out of her chest. Apparently, I’d inherited my preference for hot cowboys from the maternal side of the family.
“Last I saw Atley, he was inside the dancehall.” I was about to corral everyone in that direction when a loud chant interrupted me.
“Go Al, it’s your birthday! Go Al, it’s your birthday!” The group of about a dozen older ladies I knew from bunco clapped in unison, their chant drowning out the band. People from around the tent joined in, and so did the band, changing their song to complement the chant. The ring of spectators swallowed up me and my family.
In the middle of the circle, Amaryllis and Wanda each held one of Al the VFW hall’s custodian’s arms and were helping him into a grape vat. The man looked both shell-shocked and like he was having the time of his life. Across his chest was anIt’s my Birthdaysash of blue satin embellished with rhinestones. His khaki pants were rolled up to his bony knees, exposing his hairy, bird-like legs. And on his head was an honest-to-God crown.
“Of course it’s the bunco ladies,” Cameron said as we all watched Al mash grapes. He was doing a damn fine jig in rhythm to the increasingly loud birthday chant. A pink blush stained his cheekbones above his gray beard, and his eyes sparkled.
The man had some impressive stamina for a guy well over seventy. His rather spectacular one-handed catch when hiscrown nearly tumbled into the vat drew more cheers. Having a whole harem of women cheering you on was one hell of a way to celebrate a birthday at his age. I had to give Al some serious props. The guy was a Mac daddy.
“Oh, I love bunco,” my mom said with a sparkle in her eye. “When can I join the game?”
Lord save us all. When my mom and Amaryllis got together… they’d get on like a house on fire.
Chapter 34
