AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A knot of worry forms in my stomach. “Matt, what’s going on?”
He knows by now he’s going to spill everything. “Your dad’s been having complications since his knee surgery, and it looks like he won’t be back in the shop for months instead of weeks.”
“Knee surgery?”
Matthew grimaces. “Your mom didn’t tell you about the knee surgery?”
I curse, my worry turning into a ball of annoyance. Not at Matthew, but at the whole situation.
“No. Neither of them said a word about it.”My parents take the whole “I don’t want to be a burden” thing to a new level. As they get older, it gets more and more infuriating. I have the means to help; all they need to do is ask.
“I see. I’m happy to help out your parents, you know that,” Matthew says.
I pat his shoulder and say, “I know, I appreciate you looking after them.”
He shakes his head. “The truth is, and I hate to say this about your dad because I love the guy, but he’s kinda running your mom ragged.”
And now my annoyance is squarely aimed at my dad. “What do you mean?”
With a guilty look, Matthew explains, “Two home health nurses have quit over his refusal to let them assist him. So now Bonnie’s dividing her time between harassing him to do his physical therapy and running the register. She’s tired, Cash. Everyone’s pitching in with the store and the shop, but there’s only so much. You know you’re mom. She doesn’t complain about how she’s feeling.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Shit. He’s having complications because he isn’t doing the therapy, isn’t he?”
Matthew lets out a long sigh. “That’s about the long and short of it, yeah.”
“Fuck me,” I grumble.
“To tell you the truth, I think it will do her a world of good to have you here,” he says.
I glance around the surroundings and notice the wind and harsh weather have taken a toll on the place since I was here last year. For starters, the woodwork could use a fresh coat of sealant, and a hornet’s nest is visible on the eaves in the far corner.
To top it off, the grass along the drive looks like it hasn’t been mowed in a month.
As always in summer, Mom’s flower boxes are overflowing with blooms, and far too pretty for a run-down old bait shop and garage.
“Why don’t you show me what you’re working on, and you can head on home,” I tell Matthew.
“Honestly, that’s good news, ’cause I gotta help Gretchen plan the fish fry. The neighborhood association is trying to raise funds to buy the lighthouse and turn it into a bed and breakfast. Figure it could bring in some more income for everyone along Paradise Lane. You gonna be around for the fish fry? It’s on the 15th, and we’d love to see you there.”
That’s in two weeks. “I doubt I’ll be here that long, but I’ll be sure to write a check. That’s a great idea, Matt.”
He nods, unable to hide the disappointment that this trip won’t be long-term. How can it be when I’ve got seventeen restaurants to run back in Dallas?
I mean, I could be a little less hands-on…but no. If I stay here long term, I’d lose my mind. There are no single people on Paradise Lane, and I’m not about to hit the rutted road every weekend for a Tinder date that might or might not work out. I’m not interested in dating; in fact, the next time I come home to visit, I aim to have a fiancée on my arm.
Matthew shows me what he’s been working on, which is a simple enough fix for me. We say our goodbyes outside, and I head inside the bait shop, the doorbell tinkling overhead as the door swings open.
I am ready for ice cream.
“Hello?”
The front of the shop is empty except for the aroma of stale coffee and popcorn.
I try again, moving past the small display of local crafts and souvenir shot glasses. I see some customers’ gas money on the counter but no one at the till.
That’s not unusual. Mom often wanders off to chitchat with friends in the neighborhood, even when the store is open.
Moving farther into the store, I decide I’ll have to get ice cream before that hug from Mom.
