“Let me give you some unsolicited advice, sugar.If you want to completely shut down a conversation, you don’t explain your decisions.”
“Yeah, I kind of lost some clout there, didn’t I?”I asked with a rueful smile.
Muddy closed the mason jar and set it down onto the counter in front of me.“This is for you.Well, all three of you.”
“What is it?”I asked.“We already have loose-leaf chamomile.And the green tea you got at the store.”
“This is a special concoction.It’s good for stress.”She cleared her throat.“So, tell me about Lenni’s first day.”
“She has a pretty teacher,” I blurted out.
“Olivia Thomas, right?”
“Yes, how did you?—”
“I’m Muddy,” we both said at the same time.
I sighed.“Lenni has to do a project for school.It’s a family tree, which is going to bring up all sorts of issues.”
She inched the mason jar closer.
I scooped up the jar and put it into my purse.
“Bringing up issues is good.Because then they can be addressed.And discussed.Can’t tiptoe around what she’s going through.”
“Yeah.”I sighed.“I think she might be braver than me.I told her we could talk to her teacher and explain her circumstances, but she nipped that in the bud.She doesn’t want to do the project, but even more than that, she’s smart enough to realize that playing the pity card will end in disaster.”
“Ah.Kid’s got grit.I like that.”
“Me too.”I smiled.“So, what’s the plan for Thanksgiving?”
“Connor is going to take the boys hunting for wild turkey just before the holiday.Day of, I’ll be in the kitchen early.Salem and Hadley too.We’ve got an army to feed.”She beamed.
“You’re in your element, aren’t you?”
“Yup,” Muddy said.“We haven’t had a holiday like this in years.I’m so grateful that all my girls are home.Including you.”
Tears gathered in my eyes.
“I’ve heard you’re good at making sides ...”
“The best.”I preened.“When you saythe boys, who do you mean?”
Muddy stared at me for a moment and then said, “Connor’s taking his sons-in-law.”
“So, not Archer?”
“Not Archer.”
I frowned.“What about Brooks?”
“He’s taking Brooks.”
“But Brooks isn’t his son-in-law.”
“Not officially, no,” Muddy agreed.“But Brooks bought land on the ranch.That makes him family.”
“I see,” I murmured.
