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“First, you and I need to talk. About yesterday.”
She stiffened. “I can’t leave her alone. You know how she is.”
“One hour, and then I’m coming to get you.”
But Blue was already moving away.
April waved at him over Riley’s head. The familiar trunk of his old resentments creaked open, but when he peered inside, he only saw dust. If he wanted to, he could walk over to his mother just to shoot the bull. Which was exactly what he did.
April had chosen to wear jeans to the celebration, along with a straw cowboy hat and a figure-hugging top that looked like vintage Pucci. She nodded toward the band. “With a lot of practice, the bass player might be mediocre.”
Riley piped up next to her. “Did you see Blue? At first I didn’t know it was her. She looks like a real grown-up and everything.”
“An illusion,” Dean replied tightly.
“Not from where I’m standing.” April peered at him from under the rim of her cowboy hat. “And I doubt those men who’ve been trying to get her attention would agree. She seems oblivious, but nothing much gets past our Blue.”
“My Blue,” he heard himself say.
April found that interesting. “Your Blue? The same woman who’s getting ready to leave town in two days?”
“She’s not going anywhere.”
April looked worried. “Then you have your work cut out for you.”
A man approached with a ball cap pulled low on his head and big silver aviators shading his eyes. Riley gave a little jump. “Dad! I didn’t think you’d come.”
“I told you I would.”
“I know, but…”
“But I’ve let you down so many times that you didn’t believe me.” He’d left his earrings and bracelets behind and dressed inconspicuously in an olive drab T-shirt and denim shorts, but nothing could disguise that famous profile, and a woman with a baby in her arms looked at him curiously.
April developed a sudden interest in the band. Dean’s head wasn’t screwed on straight enough right now to figure out what was going on between them.
“Do I see Blue coming toward us?” Jack asked.
“Doesn’t she look awesome?” Riley said earnestly. “She’s the best artist. Did you know Dean still won’t look at her paintings in the dining room? Tell him, Dad. Tell him how beautiful they are.”
“They’re…different.”
Blue popped up before Dean could ask what he meant. “Wow,” Jack said. “You’re a woman.”
Blue flushed the way she always did when Jack addressed her directly. “It’s temporary. Too much bother.” Jack grinned, and Blue turned to Riley. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but
Nita wants you.” Through a hole in the crowd, Dean saw Nita furiously beckoning from her chair. Blue frowned. “She’s going to have a heart attack if she doesn’t calm down. I vote we don’t rush with the CPR.”
“Blue always says stuff like that,” Riley confided to the rest of them, “but she loves Mrs. Garrison.”
“Have you been drinking again, young lady? I thought we talked about that.” Blue grabbed Riley’s arm and walked off with her.
“Looks like you’re getting company,” Jack said. “I’d better make myself scarce.”
As he left, Judge Haskins and Tim Taylor, the high school principal, came up to Dean. “Hey, Boo.” The judge couldn’t quite pull his eyes away from April. “Nice to see you here performing your civic responsibility.”
“However unpleasant it might be,” Tim said. “I had to give up my Saturday morning foursome.” Both men gazed at April. When no one said anything, Tim held out his hand. “Tim Taylor.”
Dean should have seen this coming. Since April stayed out of places like the Barn Grill, she hadn’t met either of them. She held out her hand. “Hi. I’m Susan—”
