“He bet that I wouldn’t come?” Van asked, ignoring the stupid way her heart sped up at his name.
Becca smiled. “He said you refused to show your face at Chairs again after the time you sprinkled laxatives on Mrs. Olsen’s brownies, and Tanner forced one into your mouth.”
Van grimaced. “I’d completely forgotten about that.” She looked at the cakes she’d beautifully arranged and grinned at Becca. “I promise I haven’t spiked these ones.”
“That’s a shame.” Becca’s eyes twinkled. “It would have livened things up.” She glanced over her shoulder. “You want to come and sit with us?”
“I’d love to.” Van followed Becca to a group of ten chairs clustered beside the creek. As she sat down, she could hear a loud voice from a group of old ladies call out.
“Is that the Butler girl?”
“I think so.”
“I didn’t know she was back. She sure looks like her mom.”
Van straightened her spine, and made sure she smiled over in their direction.
“Yeah, I hear her husband left her for another woman.”
“The Butler girl?”
“No, her mom, silly. Anyway, probably want to avoid the brownies tonight. Just in case she’s up to her old tricks.”
A few of them laughed. Van sighed and turned her back on them.
“So this is Maddie. You might remember her?” Becca said, pointing at a pretty brunette sitting in the chair next to hers.
Van didn’t, but she remembered what Regan had told her in the café. Maddie was Ashleigh Clark’s sister. She remembered Ashleigh from when she was dating Gray, back when he was in high school. Van had never really liked her. Tanner hadn’t either. The girl had had a mean streak that could cut like a knife.
“Hi, Maddie,” Van said, reaching forward to shake her hand.
Maddie grinned happily at her. “You probably don’t remember me. But I remember you. I loved hearing about your and Tanner’s escapades when I was little.”
Van felt herself relax. “I guess my reputation precedes me.”
Maddie laughed. “Ah, I wanted to be just like you when I grew up. Except I was too scared of getting in trouble.”
“You wouldn’t believe how freeing it is to not give a damn,” Van told her. “You should try it.”
“I can’t wait to tell Gray I met you,” Maddie told her. “He told me about the time you restrung his guitar right before his first concert at Murphy’s.”
“Oh no.” Van covered her face with her hands. “That one was all Tanner’s idea.”
“Oh, he knows that. He’ll still be happy to hear I’ve met you. I think he has a soft spot for you.”
“All my brothers loved Van,” Becca said, grinning. “She took the heat off them, and that’s saying something.”
Van smiled at the memories of the Hartson brothers, all around the kitchen table, bickering as they shoveled food into their mouths. Gray who was either humming a song or arguing with his dad. Cam who would run home from football practice and eat everything in sight. Logan who had the best way of talking to you, so you ended up spilling your guts to him without even noticing.
And then there was Tanner. Her best friend. He’d start a sentence and she’d end it, then they’d both collapse into laughter.
“Don’t believe her,” Van told Maddie. “They were all much worse than me.”
“Savannah,” a voice called out, making Van turn in her seat. “Johnny told me you were back in town.”
Van looked up to see Nora Fairfax standing over her, a strange smile on her lips.
“Hello, Mrs. Fairfax.” Van smiled back, determined to be civil. “How are you?”
“I’m very well. More importantly, how’s your mother? I heard her husband left her.”
“She’s doing just fine, thank you.” Van would have said that no matter what. Nora and Johnny had always looked down on them, ever since her mom had been fired from her job at Fairfax Realty. Pointed remarks, insincere words, all aimed at making Van and her mom look small in front of other people. They had a longer memory than an elephant.
Nora’s smile didn’t waver. “It must be hard for her. Getting older and losing her looks. I know how much she depended on them.” She gave a little laugh. “I guess that’s a warning to us all. To make sure we are all more than a pretty face.” She looked Van up and down. “You look very much like her.”
“Thank you.” Van was determined not to let Nora get to her. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“I’ll have to let Chrissie know you’re back,” Nora said, her eyes still staring right at Van’s. “Just in case you’re thinking of hitting her again.”
And there it was. Nora Fairfax’s final jab. Van took it like a pro. During their junior year, Chrissie had said something about Van’s mom. She could barely remember what it was now. But Van had been furious, enough to punch Chrissie in the jaw. Nora had stalked to the school and made sure Van had been suspended as a result.
“My boxing days are over,” Van said, keeping her voice light. “Unless I’m really riled up. And how is Chrissie? Is she married now?”
Nora’s smile faltered a little. “No. She’s choosy. It’ll take a strong man to make her give up her independence.”
“That’s a shame. I’m sure you’re desperate for grandkids.”
Nora blinked. “Well, yes. It would be nice one day.”
“Well, I hope she settles down before she gets too old and loses her looks.” Van smiled at her. “For your sake.”
Becca coughed out a laugh. Nora blinked, as though she couldn’t quite work out whether that was a compliment or an insult.
“Oh, and Regan invited me to her splash next Saturday. I’m looking forward to it.” Van smiled.
“It’s a sprinkle,” Nora said quickly, a frown pulling at her painted lips.
“Of course it is.” Van nodded. “Though I don’t know what’s wrong with a good old fashioned baby shower. These young people, they keep changing the rules.” She winked at Nora, who was still blinking. “So I guess I’ll see you there.”
Nora’s smile dissolved. “Yes, I expect you will.” She looked over Van’s shoulder, her eyes moving like they were seeking something. “Well, I must go. Please give your mom my condolences. Maybe one day she’ll keep hold of a man.”
With that she was gone, leaving her insult behind her. Van wrinkled her nose, and turned back to her friends, smiling as they exchanged stories from their week. She was determined not to let people like Nora Fairfax spoil her evening.
If they wanted to snap at her, she’d bite back. She was big enough and bad enough to sink her teeth in deep.
“I don’t get it,” Gray said, leaning on the counter of the Moonlight Bar as Sam poured them both a pint of beer. “I thought you and Van fell out years ago.”
“We did,” Tanner said, then shook his head. “Or we had. I don’t know. Does it matter?”
“Not really,” Gray admitted, taking the glass that Sam slid across the bar and lifting it to his lips. “I’m just trying to work out why Becca called Maddie squealing because she saw you running with some girl you used to be best friends with.”