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“Royce, we don’t have to do this today, if you’re needed elsewhere?”
What my mom is actually saying, is that I’m horrible company. She isn’t wrong, but I’m hoping she can help me with my current problem.
My second conversation with Molly didn’t go much better than the first. I managed to say everything wrong. Then I told her that I loved her and she growled at me.
Since finding out that Flint’s her father, I considered asking his opinion; Ihaveknown him nearly a decade at this point. However, the glare he’s been leveling in my direction makes me feel like my days are numbered, so I’ve decided to use my mother.
What can I say?She helped me salvage a horrible first date.
“No, Ma, I want to spend the day with you.” I smile in her direction as we head downstairs to our first stop.
One of the many events that Rowansville is trying out is a Wine Walk. The shops near the town square all had the option of signing up and tickets were sold—from what I can tell, the plan is to get the shoppers drunk so they’ll make ill-advised purchases from the merchants.
Actually, the flyers say that for a reasonable ticket price, you can sample different types of wine at each participating shop, along with some cheese and crackers.
Of course, there are sales along the way, but considering that the resorts have hired buses to safely get their guests to andfrom town, my best guess is that this has the potential to be a shitshow. And I get to be in the front lines.
While my mom has wandered through the store that Gunner and Riley run out of the first floor of their building several times, today it’s a chance to introduce her to more of my brothers and their Ol’ Ladies. My hopes for something other than wine are dashed when Gunner lets me know that the shopkeepers were threatened with heavy fines if any other alcohol was served.
Moving down the street, I’m starting to feel a little bullet proof. When women look from me to my mom, they seem to back off pretty quick.
Even Vixen did an about face when she saw me. Of course, after I got her fired from the resort for sharing my phone number, no one’s seen hide nor hair of her at the clubhouse.
We have two to three tastings per location and by time we’re approaching the Yoga and Holistic Studio, I realize my mom is buzzed.
What could possibly go wrong?I think as I smile down at her. “Ma, you wanna skip this one and head over to the bakery?”
“No! If we go in order, we’ll end up at Molly’s toward the end of it and I’ll get a chance to visit with her.” The fact that she’s looking at the map, when all she has to do is look around the town square is telling. “Molly still likes me, at least,” she mutters under her breath.
“Ma!”Damn!Kick a man when he’s down.
“I’m kidding. All right now, be nice in here. We just get the wine samples and get out,” she giggles at me like I’m her girlfriend.
Entering the studio for the first time, I immediately see Charlie and Tabby. Michaels is standing just behind his wife and I can hear him exhale from across the room. Charlie looks from herbrother-in-law to me; then nudges Tabby, and the two of them burst out laughing.
“Ma, you remember Charlie?” I ask, directing her attention to the far end of the table with the wine on it.
“Oh, you mean the terrifying mechanic you introduced me to yesterday?” she responds with a wink to the ladies. “No, I don’t.”
Michaels and I share a look. “I don’t suppose you’d arrest her for public intoxication?”
He at least cracks a grin before the shake of his head dashes my hopes. “Ma, this is Tabby, Charlie’s sister-in-law, and she’s married to Sheriff Michaels, here—so behave.”
“Of course, you’re the doctor. Mack told me about you,” my mom says to Tabby after shaking everyone’s hand, thankfully before reaching her glass out to try the wine they have here.
“Having fun yet?” Michaels asks me.
“It’s not bad. Never been day-drinking with my mom, so that’s been interesting,” I answer honestly.
“Well, if you get tired, you can always go sit on your bench across the street,” he responds, thankfully keeping his voice low.
“Oh! The bacon bench!” my mom nearly howls, telling me he wasn’t quite as quiet as I had hoped. “Mack told me about that.”
I suddenly feel like everyone in here is staring at us, and of course, Charlie’s laughter isn’t helping the situation.
“Why don’t we head next door? There’s a jacket I think’ll look good on you.” I place my hand on Mom’s back and try to slowly guide her to the door.
“Oh? Is it leather? For when I go riding with Mack?” she loudly asks me, and Charlie spits out the wine she was just sipping.
