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27
BRIGGS
It’s been a long day.
While Cora and I were gone over the weekend, we had our first frost. This usually makes the apples sweeter, but it also somehow signals to the trees that winter is coming and it’s time to be done. The apples have been falling at a rapid rate, and we’ve been all hands on deck to collect them and get them ready for storage. I’m sitting on my front porch with Duke, drinking a hard cider and listening to Cora play, when a large black Mercedes SUV slowly pulls up the road and turns for Goldie’s house. I know this vehicle doesn’t belong to any of her friends, so the only person left must be her brother.
Well, that didn’t take long.
Instantly, I’m on alert, and although I’m surprised he’s here, I’m not at the same time. And then it hits me. Maybe other members of her family came too. While I’m sure she can handle herself, she’s got me now so she doesn’t have to. I set my drink down, grab a small plastic bag from just inside the door, and make my way over to her house. I pause on her porch, not wanting to intrude, but if he gets even the slightest bit out of hand, then I’m here.
“What are you doing here, Winston?” she asks him. I almost chuckle because I’ve heard this tone before, and she’s not happy.
“I needed to come here and see what you’ve been up to.”
“Why?”
He doesn’t answer at first. Instead, I hear his footsteps as he moves around the room. Then he says, “Because it’s time for this phase to end and for you to come home.”
Oh, these people have some nerve.
And over my dead body.
“I am home.”
“Cora.” He says her name in a chastising way, and my hands clench at my sides. “Is this about the boyfriend? Because you know it will never last. He doesn’t fit into our world.”
“This has nothing to do with him. I happen to love this town. I’ve been coming here for years, and I bought this house long before I ever knew him. Not that I need to explain myself to you.”
This guy has no fucking clue who I am or what world I can belong to, and with that, I’ve heard enough. She doesn’t need to defend me. I can defend myself.
“Honey, I’m home,” I announce as I step through the door and make my way to stand next to her. Her eyes are strained, and she’s glaring at Winston.
“I’m sorry, this is a private conversation,” he sneers at me. “You need to leave.”
“Why? Is talking shit about people only something you do behind their backs?”
The look he gives me would make a lesser man take a step back, but not me. I’m familiar with his brand of entitled asshole, and I wrap my arm over Goldie’s shoulders.
She leans into me for a brief second and then steps away. She turns her back on both of us as we’re in a stare down, one I don’t plan on losing. “It’s fine, Briggs, you can go. I’ve got this.”
“I know you do, Goldie, but I think I’ll stay anyway. I’m good at taking the trash out if I need to.” I cross my arms over my chest.
Winston’s jaw falls open. I’m guessing no one has ever called him trash before. He may not be of a low social standing, but he is waste in this house, and I’d very much like to discard him.
“I’ll ask you again, what do you want, Winston?”
Cora moves to the coffee table where she starts collecting the sheet music she was working on. She stacks it in a nice pile while Winston lays in.
“Do you have any idea how much you embarrassed us this past weekend?”
She stands up straight, and my blood starts to boil.
“You’re kidding, right? Do you have any idea how much you embarrassed me? I didn’t do anything but show up, play a few songs, and leave. On the other hand, you all were horribly rude to my friends, to me, and I’m just over it.”
“You can’t just leave in the middle like that!” he snaps. “Our parents had to explain why you walked out on their party.”
“That’s not my problem. And yes, I can leave whenever I want! I am not the hired help. I am a member of the family. If I want to play or not play, that is my choice. If I want to stop and eat, I can. If I want to bring half a dozen of my friends, I will because that is supposed to be my home too. I am not beholden to any of you. However, if you would like to hire me, I’m certain my agent will negotiate with you for a very hefty price.”
