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In fact, she felt so good when we got her home last night, she called Mayor Nash over and they had one heck of a get well party. Her bedroom walls shook all night long, and neither Lemon nor I were all too enthused.
Thankfully, Evie’s bedroom is far enough away that it most likely didn’t affect her.
Evie steps into the kitchen this morning dressed in ripped jeans and half of a T-shirt.
“Okay, like”—she takes Lyla Nell from Lemon’s arms—“whatever you guys do in the privacy of your bedroom is none of my business. And personally, I’d like to keep it that way. But keep it down, would you? I’d rather stick a butterknife in my ear than listen to that ever again.”
“It wasn’t us,” Lemon is quick to contest.
“Well, it wasn’t Lyla Nell,” Evie smarts as she rubs her nose to the button that sits on her baby sister’s face before she gasps. “You mean it was Cray Cray?” she cries in horror.
As if on cue, Carlotta and Mayor Nash step into the room, shuffling one right after another with their hair disheveled, both wearing matching pink fuzzy robes and slippers.
“Eww,” Evie screeches. “I just lost my appetite. I’m out of here.”
“But we haven’t planned your graduation party,” Lemon protests.
“I’m not having one,” Evie says, grabbing an apple off the counter and tossing it into her backpack. “Conner’s dad is throwing him a big bash and everyone who’s everyone will be there. Besides, I’m his girlfriend. I’m practically required to attend.”
I don’t need to be reminded about that relationship entanglement.
In fact, I’d rather forget.
“We can do it on another night,” Lemon offers.
“Nah.” Evie shrugs it off as she hands Lyla Nell back to her. “We’ll take pictures at Triple H and call it a day.”
Triple H would be Honey Hollow High, ground zero as far as the graduation commencement goes.
“We’ll talk about it,” Lemon says, conceding for now.
“Oh, before I forget”—Evie backtracks for a minute—“did I get any mail addressed to me? It’s okay if it’s the little envelope.” She presses her lips tight as if it’s not.
“No word back from Ashford University,” I tell her. “We wouldn’t hide it from you.”
Everyone knows it’s not okay if it’s the little envelope, but we appreciate the fact she’s trying to put on a brave face.
She wraps her arms around me before taking off like a bullet out the door.
“I’m afraid I’m out of here, too,” I say to the morning crew before kissing both Lyla Nell and Lemon goodbye. “Promise me you’ll be safe today.”
“Aren’t I always?” She gives a little wink while Lyla Nell laughs her head off.
“The baby is onto you,” I tease. “And I am, too. Behave.”
“Oh, Judge Baxter, not a woman on this planet wants to behave around you,” she purrs. “And I certainly lead the pack in that department.”
“Get a room, would ya?” Carlotta fires off.
“Have a good day, Carlotta, Mayor Nash,” I tell them.
I give my girls one more kiss before ducking out the door.
It’s hot outside, the humidity is dialed up all the way, and the sun looks as if it’s ready to dole out a punishment down on our end of Vermont.
I bypass Lemon’s minivan in the driveway as I head down to the street where I parked in haste last night. Carlotta drove back to the house with me and kept threatening to leap out the door despite the fact the SUV was still moving. I figured the sooner I parked the safer we would all be.
The key fob turns over in my hand and I unlock the truck just as a dark-haired woman with a ponytail jogs up next to me.
