“I do.”
“Now to discuss the important stuff: what are you wearing and where are you going?”
“I don’t know. He’s going to pick me up around seven-thirty or whenever he’s done helping his brother get through the dinner rush at The Mill House. We’ll figure something out. There is the tractor-pull tonight.”
“The tractor-pull is a step above the school bus derby at least.” Lisa rolls her eyes. “Nothing says romance like the smell of exhaust.”
“I’m joking, Lisa. But I could give him a tour of Summer Hill: Civil War Edition.”
“I honestly don’t know if you’re joking about that. I know you like the walking tour of the town enough to go every year.”
“I think it’s cool that a lot of the buildings built in the late 1800s are still here. And it’s important to know the history around you.”
“You’re such a nerd.”
I hold my hand up. “Mutant and proud.”
Lisa pushes off the counter and untucks her blouse. Dressing office-casual like that every day would drive me nuts. “Have fun tonight,” she starts. “And text me with updates. Rob’s working tonight so I’ll be home being bored and need some excitement.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
Water drips from my hair, splashing onto the hardwood floor. Panicked, I grab my robe, throw it on, and pad to the front door. It’s only half-past five, and someone is knocking on the door. Chase isn’t two hours early, is he?
“Oh, Mom, it’s just you,” I say when I open the door.
“Just me? Do I need to remind you of the seventeen hours of labor I went through for you?”
“You do all the time.” I step aside and let Mom in, shutting the door behind her. “And hi, Mom.”
She gives me a hug, surreptitiously eyeing the house behind me. “You cleaned. Everything looks great, honey. And that smell…is that lemongrass?”
I nod. “My favorite scent. I got a new diffuser too.” I motion to the oil diffuser on the end table next to my couch. “The colors change and make shadows that look like a creepy forest at night.”
Mom pulls me in for another hug and plants a kiss on my forehead. “It’s so you, Sierra.”
“Not that I’m not happy to see you, Mom, but what are you doing here?”
“You didn’t come home last night.” She holds up her hand so I don’t interrupt. “Which is fine because you’re an adult and I said I wouldn’t keep tabs on you anymore, but I wanted to check in before your father and I head out.”
Between my siblings and I, I was always granted the most freedom. Which was directly related to the fact that I wasn’t interested in the normal teenage rebellion type of things like my brother and sister. Sam went out drinking with friends because that’s the normal thing to do and Scott was rebellious just to cause trouble.
My house is about a mile behind my parent’s mansion. They can’t see into the house or anything but can tell when the lights are on or off. Neither paid much attention to my whereabouts before, but since Jake passed, Mom’s been more attentive.
“Head out?” I echo.
“We’re going to Indiana to discuss purchasing the windmill farm.”
“Oh, right.” I shake my head. “I remember now. Is Gran going with?”
“Of course. There is no slowing that woman down. I hope you inherited her longevity.”
“Me too. And I’ll keep an eye on the house. Do you need me to feed Marley?”
“I was just going to ask. I left instructions out in case you need them.”
I consider hassling Mom over it, since they’ve had that parrot since I was a kid, but I’m the same way with my cats. “Okay. I’ll hang out with him too.”
“Oh, good. Thank you. He does get lonely. Are you and Lisa going out? It looks like you were in the middle of getting ready.”
“I was, but I’m not going out with Lisa. I’m going on a date.”
Mom doesn’t say anything. Her blue eyes widen so much I can almost see myself reflected back in them. Her lips—which are full thanks to lip injections—begin to slowly part yet she still doesn’t speak.
“Mom?” I ask. Is she horrified I’m going out? Thinks it’s too soon?
“Oh, Sierra.” She throws her arms around me. “You have no idea how happy this makes me.” She squeezes me tight and leans back. “Your father and I have been so worried. We didn’t want you to give up on having a love life.”
“There’s no love…” I start, feeling awkward. “It’s just a date.”
“It’s a starting point, and one I’ve been waiting for.”
“You don’t think it’s too soon?”
Mom takes my hands in hers. “Only if you feel like it is. There is no right or wrong time when it comes to things like this. Who are you going out with?” She shakes her head, knowing it’s impossible for her to not judge whoever I name. “It doesn’t matter. Have fun tonight.”
“I will,” I say with a smile, but feel empty inside. “Safe travels, Mom. When are you leaving?”
“As soon as your father gets in, we’re heading to the airport. We’ll be back Monday evening. I switched you to be the emergency contact for the house this weekend with the security company, too.” She hugs me again. “It’s good to have you back, baby.”
Chapter 12
Chase
“I got it from here,” Josh tells me. “You can go.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. A lot of the regulars are at the tractor pull tonight, so it’ll be slow, even for a Friday.”
“You say that like it’s not one of the most redneck things you go to,” I say with a laugh.
“Don’t judge it ‘till you go. They’re fun.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” I change out a few bottles of booze that are running low and clear off one more table before heading out.
“Chase,” someone calls right as I get to the door. “Wait up.”
Lisa, Sierra’s cousin, is hurrying over. She’s here alone and put in an order for takeout minutes ago.
“Hey, Lisa. Do you need something else?”
“Just to talk to you.”
“Okay.”
“Sierra told me what you did. She never would have gotten out of that party tonight if you hadn’t helped, but don’t tell her I said that. So, thanks for looking out for her. Again.”
“I like looking out for her.” And looking at her, but I don’t say that out loud.
“And she said you guys are hanging out tonight. Did she tell you about her previous boyfriend?”
I nod. “She did.”
“That’s a relief. And she’ll kill me for telling you, but she’s looking forward to tonight, even though she’s feeling a lot of guilt for moving on.”
I find myself nodding again, trying to separate in my mind what Sierra’s told me versus what I’ve learned about her from the voicemails. Fuck. It’s blurring together. My lack of response causes Lisa to look at me funny.