Page 102 of Meet Me in Ivy Falls

‘I should be heading back. Manny’s probably waiting on me.’

‘Torran.’ His quiet yet tense voice made me stop before I reached the door. ‘There’s one more thing I want to discuss. Can you meet me at the house tomorrow around five?’

‘What is it about?’

‘A concerned citizen came to me. Wants me to check things over.’

Now I understood that tick in his cheek. Of course someone in town was complaining again.

‘I promised Tessa I’d pick the girls up from soccer practice. Is it okay if I bring them?’

‘Yes. I’ll see you at five sharp.’

He gave a firm nod but there was something in the way he looked at me. It was a quiet, almost stoic, warning that our meeting tomorrow was going to be about much more than a simple complaint.

Chapter Forty-Six

TORRAN

On My Own Terms.

The girls talked nonstop all the way from soccer practice about Rose’s recent attempt at playing goalie. It was hard to watch her tiny body moving in front of the net. Her jaw set like she was a lioness protecting her pride even with her little legs trembling. When she’d flung her body out and caught a ball midair, it took everything within me not to jump to my feet and do a little cheer.

‘Why are we going to Mr Beck’s house today?’ Iris asked as she turned the vent toward her, my old truck sputtering out the faintest bit of cool air.

‘Grandpa said there was something he wanted to talk to me about.’

The girls swapped worried glances. I’d tried so hard to keep the animosity between my dad and me hidden, but children did not miss a thing.

After our talk yesterday, I hoped things would get better on that front. It’d be nice to spend more time around the dinner table with Dad, Tessa and the girls and not have to constantly bite my tongue.

‘It’s a good thing Mama will be there.’ Iris dragged a hand over the sweaty hair matted to her forehead. ‘She promised to have drinks for Rosie and me.’

‘No. Sorry, girls. Your mama is at the P&P today. I’ll take you over there when I’m done at the house. I promise it won’t take too long.’

At least I hoped it wouldn’t take too long, but my dad’s words about meeting today made my stomach roll.

‘But Mommy said—’ Rose started, but Iris tapped her knee. Shook her head.

What was that all about?

We made the turn on to Danbury Lane and a puff of gray smoke floated out of the engine. The more I pressed the gas pedal, the darker the smoke grew.

‘Oh no!’ Rose cried. ‘What’s wrong with Sally Mae?’

When the smoke billowed out into a larger plume, I pulled over to the curb only four blocks from the house.

‘You two stay in the car.’

I jumped out and grabbed the step-stool from the back. Once the hood was cranked open I saw the issue. A crack in the water pump.

Great. One more thing in my life I had to fix.

I shoved the hood down and tossed the step-stool into the truck bed.

‘Sorry, girlies. Looks like we’ll have to walk to the house.’

Once I unloaded them and promised we’d come back for their soccer gear, we started in the direction of the house.