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Langford joins us, and I fill my mother in on everything. She listens patiently, and although I can see her relief at my side of the story, I also see the purse of her lips and the crease in her brow.
“Say something, Mom,” I urge.
“I knew you were up to no good. I have barely heard from you in months. Your father tried to tell me it was because you were so busy, trying to finish and promote the upcoming record release, but a mother’s instinct is rarely wrong.”
I give her an innocent smile. “I’m never too busy for my best girl.”
“Exactly. That’s why I knew you were avoiding me on purpose,” she adds.
“Pierce got wind of the baby thing weeks ago, and we’ve been dealing with it quietly. He was hoping we could make it go away before it got out, but the accuser, a girl I had a one-night stand with in Florida last year, wasn’t happy with the sum of money he offered, so she sold the photos she had of us together without our knowledge and went public with the paternity accusations. I guess I’ve been a bit stressed. Last week just brought it all to a head, and I didn’t handle it well,” I confess.
“Garrett, you’ve got to control yourself better than that. And perhaps you need to vet the ladies you keep company with a bit more thoroughly,” she scolds.
Langford chuckles.
“Yeah, I’m planning on doing that, going forward,” I assure her.
“It’s all water under the bridge now, I suppose. All you can do is wait and see how everything comes out in the wash. I have your room all ready for you,” she informs.
“I’m thinking I might stay out at the Man Caves,” I tell her.
She frowns. “Really? But they don’t even have a shower.”
“I know. They don’t have washers and dryers either. So, you’ll be seeing me at least every other day. I just think I’ll be able to clear my head and maybe get some new lyrics on the page if I’m out there,” I explain.
I can tell she’s disappointed, but she doesn’t try to change my mind.
“That’s fine—as long as we get plenty of family time while you’re here. Promise me,” she insists.
“I promise, Mom.”
Langford stands. “Well, that was anticlimactic. I’ve got to get back up the mountain. You need a ride?” he asks.
“Nah. I think I’m gonna walk into town and say hello to a few people. I’ll stop in at the station and see if Corbin can give me a lift back to Weston’s.”
My brother Corbin is the chief of the Valley Fire and Rescue. The headquarters is right downtown in the middle of Main Street, just a short walk from the campground.
“All right, I’ll see you later,” he says.
Mom calls after him. “Tomorrow evening, you and Tucker come for dinner.”
He turns back. “Yes, ma’am. We’ll be there.”
Tucker is his son from a relationship he had after college and my parents’ only grandchild.
Taeli is standing on the other side of the door when he opens it to leave.
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but I need your signature on a couple of rental agreements, Sara-Beth.”
I scoot my seat back and stand. “I’ll get out of your hair.”
“No, you don’t have to go. I’ll just be a minute,” Mom protests.
“I’m not getting on a plane. I’m just taking a walk. I’ll call you and come by the house tonight,” I tell her.
“Okay. I know your father will be excited to see you.”
I kiss her good-bye and head out to enjoy the crisp autumn day.
