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“Oh, the entire crew canceled their reservations at the last minute,” Bonnie says.
“That’s weird,” Cash replies.
“Grammy Hamilton died the day before the trip.”
Cash appears genuinely stricken. “What happened?”
Bonnie sighs and gives her son a comforting pat on the shoulder. “Grammy was 110. This shouldn’t come as a shock, Cash.”
“She catches more crappie than anyone else in her group, year after year.”
Bonnie nods. “But we all have to slow down at some point.”
Her voice has an odd tone to it.
Something worrisome passes between mother and son, and I suddenly feel like I’m intruding on a private family moment.
“But,” Bonnie says, perking up, “the good news is, the fish fry is still on.”
“I heard,” he says, sounding wary.
“It’s just around the corner. I hope you stay,” Bonnie says with hope in her eyes.
“You should!” I add. “I’ll be there.” I wink at him while I sip my coffee.
Cash eyes my cup, then gives me a salty look.
I beam at him and chug the rest of it.
“That whole crew brings in tons of money to the annual fish fry. I doubt you can make a dent in their absence.”
He’s trying to get my goat, but he’ll have to try harder than that.
“Oh, don’t you worry about that. I’m doing my part to boost the local economy. In fact, as soon as I’m done here, I’m headed into the Soo for supplies,” I say, referring to the nickname for Sault Ste. Marie, the town of any substantial size around here. It’s the only one with a Meijer supermarket and a Wal-Mart, anyway. I don’t know what Cash’s problem is, so I focus on Bonnie, ignoring his stern gaze. “Do you need anything while I’m there? For the store?”
Bonnie thinks it over. “Well, now that you mention it, I need more eggs, milk, and bug spray for the store. But only if you’re headed that way regardless.”
“Not a problem.”
Full of indignation, machismo, or whatever makes men behave this way, Cash seems to expand in every direction, like an angry bear rising up on his hind legs. His face grows even more severe. “I’ve got it,” he says.
“It’s no trouble, really,” I say.
“I came here to help my mom, and that’s what I’m doing.”
I can see he has a major stick up his butt about me, so I back off. “Good for you.”
Bonnie gives her son a suspicious sideways glance. “No reason to be so testy with our new visitor, Cash. She’s been very helpful while she’s been here. And she’s good company.”
“That’s great. But, I’m here now.”
He glances at my laptop and juts out his chin as if to point at it. “So, you can get back to writing your dissertation or whatever.”
Bonnie and I exchange a look, and then we both crack up.
“What did I say?” Cash asks.
“It’s nice of you to think that, but I’m writing a novel.”
