I winced and plopped a heapin' spoonful next to my burger, mumblin', "Better not be gross."
We were quiet while we ate, both lost in our own heads. While my mom was probably thinkin' about Dad, I was thinkin' about Calvin.
"You remember John Calvin?" I asked, breakin' the silence.
Mom wiped her mouth with her napkin while nodding. "Sure. He was a loyal customer for many years. He and your granddaddy were good friends."
Oh, shit, I hadn't known that neither. Both my dad's parents had died years ago, but Mom's were still kickin', enjoyin' their eighties in Florida. As much as I'd miss her, I'd encouraged Ma more than once to go spend some time with them and stop livin' in a house with a ghost she couldn't escape. She responded the same every time.Your dad's here, so I'll be here.
"What d'ya know about his daughter?"
Mom's face sobered. "Such a sad story. Mariah—that was her name—was a sweetheart. Only met her a handful of times when she was in town. She'd left town years before I met your daddy."
Mom proceeded to tell me a tale I'd just learned. It was no less depressing the second time around. I fuckin' hated that Calvin carried this around with her every damn day. Then again, weren't we all carryin' around some heavy shit? We just had to find the right people in life to help lighten our load.
"What about John's wife?" I asked.
"Ya know, I don't know. We'll have to ask your dad when he—" Mom shook her head. "Anyway, what makes you ask about John?"
"I, uh, met his granddaughter."
"You did? Where?"
"Ah, well, The BP at first." Mom eyed me, probably noticin' the color of my face turn as it heated. "But she's been workin' at the ranch."
"Wild Acre?"
"Yep. She was there when it happened. Saw her mama die right in front of her."
"Oh, that poor girl." Mom's face softened. Yes, Calvin deserved the sympathy, but if Mom ever gave her that wounded bird look, I was certain I'd be on the receivin' end of my viper's wrath.
"Listen, I don't think she wants no one to know, so?—"
"Of course," Mom said. "My lips are sealed. Rhett doesn't know?"
I shook my head.
"But she told you?"
I nodded.
"I see," Mom said, sittin' back with a smug smile on her face.
"What do you see?" I was feelin' a little defensive. No way was I that fuckin' transparent, right?
Right?
"When’d'ya meet this girl? Before or after you called off the wedding?"
"Jesus, Mom!" I stood, gatherin' my plate and headin' for the kitchen. My mom was hot on my heels, her own plate in hand.
"What, it's just a question!" she badgered. I stood at the sink and took her plate a little too aggressively, startin' to clean both our dishes. She leaned a hip against the counter and continued on, not losin' a bit of steam.
"No one in this town has any damn clue why you'd call off your wedding to the girl you've loved for twenty years. This would certainly be an explanation, but can't say it'd be one you should be too proud of."
I shot her a glare. "After, Mom. I met her after. I never woulda cheated on Sassy. And you know that." I returned my attention to the dishes in the no-longer-leakin' sink. "Damn."
Mom pressed a hand to my shoulder. "Okay, you're right. I do." She took dishes from me to place in the dryin' rack as I washed. "You're a good man, Brody. Your dad was so proud of you. But I think he'd be just as confused as the rest of us."
