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Mom brought up the rear and herded us all toward the table. Dad pulled the chicken off the grill, and we took our seats.
Drew dug out a big spoonful of potato salad. “So, what’s the word on the investigation?”
“Drew!” Dad hissed.
“What? I just want the update. Especially since everybody’s talking about those other fires.”
Because I could feel Caroline going ramrod straight beside me, I reached over to lay a hand on her leg beneath the table. “It’s still ongoing. They’ve narrowed it down to a couple of likely suspects, but conclusive evidence hasn’t been tied to either of them. As for the other fires, they aren’t believed to be connected to my truck.”
There’d been a few mailbox fires and some additional old sheds, all further afield than the original fires. Our perpetrator was getting bolder, probably enjoying seeing the department dance. But I sure as shit didn’t want to talk about work, even if I had been able to comment on an ongoing investigation.
“Shitty situation all around,” Drew continued. “Do they know what the motive is?”
Beneath my palm, her thigh began to tremble with tension.
“Well, it happens that I’ve pissed a few people off since I came home.” I kept my tone level as I attempted to glare my brother into submission.
“Son, hush. I need to say something.” Mom fixed a level gaze on Caroline. “The entire legal system of our country was founded on the idea that anyone accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty. They haven’t proved your brother guilty of anything. So until or unless they do, as far as we’re concerned, he’s a victim of circumstance, and so are you. We do not in any way, shape, or form think you have anything to do with what’s happened.”
Mortified that she’d shone a spotlight on the elephant in the metaphorical room, I could only mutter, “Mom!”
“It’s better to clear the air. Now, hopefully, Caroline will be able to relax a little better.”
Beside me, Caroline took a careful sip of her tea. “I appreciate your perspective and that y’all are being so open-minded and welcoming me into your home.” She paused before shifting her gaze up toward the tree. “Have you ever considered adding an outdoor chandelier? Something with candles would really add to the ambiance you’ve got going out here.”
Then they were off talking about upcycling projects. My mom was in heaven. They both drew me into talking about the house and my plans for it. Mom still hadn’t been by to see the place by my own refusal, but as she and Caroline continued to make suggestions, I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold her off much longer. By the end of the meal, Mom had enough fodder for Dad’s Honey-Do list that he’d be busy until the end of the decade, and I had a whole new level of enthusiasm for the home improvement projects I’d largely put off to spend time with Caroline. Best of all, my girl was smiling, and that made me feel like I’d won the lottery.
Mom rose from the table. “Hoyt, come help me bring out dessert. I made banana pudding.”
“You are a goddess among women.”
“Of course I am.”
I followed her inside, prepared to have my hands laden with bowls.
She opened the fridge and pulled out the dish. “I really like her. The two of you seem great together.”
I smiled. “Yeah, we are.”
Mom patted my cheek. “You’re a good boy, Hoyt.”
When dessert was finished and the table cleared, Mom declared Drew was on dish duty and sent us on our way with neatly packaged leftovers and maternal hugs for us both. Caroline actually lingered a moment, squeezing back and thanking her for the invite.
“You’ll come back,” Mom announced.
“I will. Thanks.”
The tone of the ride back was vastly different. I could see the faint curve of her mouth as she rode, clutching our containers of leftovers in her lap.
“My family really liked you.”
She glanced over, smiling bigger. “I really liked them. It’s a novel concept to spend time with a family like yours. They’re really great. I hope you know that.”
“Yeah, I do.” And maybe that was something I hadn’t always actively thought about. But I was thinking about it now. “I try not to take it for granted.”
“That’s good. We never had anybody to take for granted. Our dad is… well, you’ve heard the rumors. And Mom. She left all of us with him without a backward glance so many years ago.”
The idea of it broke my heart for all of them. I couldn’t imagine a mother leaving her children with a known abuser. It was hard not to judge Caroline’s absentee mom for that.
