My Writing.
Once inside that folder, I find a million more, all separated by various years or purpose. There are many titled “Amos” and “Budgie Rescue” and even “My Girls,” but I stick to a safer topic: Budgie Bay Gazette.
The first article is called “Home to Me” where she discusses moving to Budgie Bay at just twenty-four, her accommodations when she arrived, favorite restaurants and things to do, and finding both love and friendship. She was sad and alone but determined to make her deceased parents proud.
Somehow, with the deck stacked against her, she found happiness.
I’ll find mine too.
Chapter 10
Elias
“Soooo,” Jessi says, grinning as she snips at my beard, “Mom told me Goldie’s granddaughter is a hottie. Do tell.”
I roll my eyes and she playfully smacks my shoulder. This makes me grunt and her children giggle with amusement.Thrilled to be the entertainment.
“There’s nothing to tell,” I grumble. “And don’t hit me. I’ll tell Mom.”
Her lips curl into a devious smirk. “She’s not the boss of me anymore, brat.”
“Oh yeah?” I taunt as if we’re teens and not in our thirties. “Want to test that theory out?”
“Hush.” She snips more of my beard off. “Tell me about this girl. Don’t make me beat it out of you. I’ll take a tongue lashing from Mom if it gets me what I want.”
Having an older sister can be maddening sometimes. Jessi thinks she’s privileged to all my secrets. Corbin could care less. He’s not nosy like our sister.
“Leave him alone,” Warren says as he strides into their kitchen. I can always count on my brother-in-law to save me from his wife.
“Finally,” I say in faux exasperation as I hold my fist out for him to bump.
“Stay still,” Jessi complains, “or I’ll accidentally cut your tongue off.”
This sends the kids into another fit of giggles. Warren chuckles as he pecks Jessi on the lips and then snatches up each kid to give them hugs as well.
“Rough day at the office?” I ask, glad to have a distraction frommy distractionat home.
“Lots of folks pulling on their HELOCs,” Warren says, tugging at the knot on his tie. “BudgieFest keeps growing every year and people are trying to keep up with demand with food, wares, stuff like that.”
We chat about BudgieFest for a bit. When Warren steps away to change out of his “big banker man” suit, Jessi strikes like the information viper she is.
“Your referee is gone,” she says wickedly. “Spill.”
She’s relentless. I’ll never hear the end of it unless I give her something. So, I give her the truth.
“She’s attractive,” I admit, ignoring her annoying squeal, “but she’s not a good person.”
She stops snipping to come around to face me. “Mom didn’t mention that.”
“I have,” I grit out. “For the past year. Does anyone ever listen to anything I say?”
“Not usually, no,” Jessi teases.
“Nora never came around to check on her grandma. She wasn’t bothered to even show up at the funeral.”
“Ouch. Not a good person at all.” Then, she sighs. “Well, poo. I really thought we had something juicy here. I thought it wasdenial, but turns out, it’s your usual grumpiness plus stating facts. She sucks.”
“Exactly,” I say with animation. “Run interference with our mother. Otherwise, she’ll make it her life’s mission to put us together. I don’t want to be with her, Jessi.”
