Page 97 of Worth the Trip

“Butter pecan.”

“Easy.”

“With real pecans.”

“Knew there was a condition.”

“I don’t want them little apologetic crumbs some places sprinkle in there and call abundance.”

“I’ll communicate your standards.”

“And don’t bring me anything sugar-free.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“People hear cancer and start removing pleasure from everything.”

Daddy nodded. “She still mad about that pudding.”

“Because it tasted like regret.”

I laughed and looked toward Lennox.

“You?”

“Cookies and cream.”

“Predictable.”

“Classic.”

“Children order that when imagination fails.”

He pointed his spoon toward the door. “Go see your girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

Mama lifted her water. “Yet.”

I shook my head.

As I reached the front door, Mama called after me.

“Tell that pretty girl I said hello.”

I turned around. “How you know she pretty?”

“You said she was.”

“When?”

“Last Sunday.”

Daddy looked at me.

I looked at him.

Mama smiled.