by Cathie Linz
“Good for you.” It was only now occurring to Jake that if Zoe was his birth mother, then Lulu would be his half sister.
Okay, maybe it had occurred to him before, but he’d wiped it from his mind because it felt weird.
All of this was weird. That must be why he suddenly felt the urge to deliver some kind of protective big-brother speech warning Oliver not to take advantage of Lulu.
It was more likely that Lulu would take advantage of Oliver. The guy didn’t stand a chance.
Lulu could take care of herself. Oliver couldn’t.
“Listen, just be cool, dude,” Jake said.
“Right.” Oliver pulled on the EINSTEIN ROCKS T-shirt, messing up his highlighted hair and making him look as though he’d just stuck his finger in an electric outlet.
Lulu was coming to pick up Oliver at Jake’s place before Jake headed off to work the late shift at the tavern. Which meant she’d be here any minute now.
When Lulu knocked on the door, Oliver went berserk. “She’s here! She’s here!”
“Dude.” Jake shook his head.
“Right.” Oliver stood still. “Be cool. No problemo. I am totally cool. Cooler than liquid hydrogen, which is negative 252.87 degrees Celsius.”
Lulu banged on the door.
Oliver nervously looked to Jake for his cue.
“Open the freaking door,” Jake growled.
“Right. Of course.” Oliver ran so fast he almost tripped over his own feet.
“Live long and—”
“Prosper. Yeah, whatever. Hi, Mutt.” Ignoring Oliver, Lulu bent down to hug the dog.
Jake immediately knew something was up. Oliver remained clueless. “So how’s it going?”
Jake asked Lulu.
“Life sucks,” she said.
“Yeah, sometimes it does.”
“Zoe is still in town. I don’t know why she doesn’t just leave me alone.”
“Because she’s your mother.”
“In name only.”
“So I’m guessing you’re still avoiding her?” Jake asked.
Lulu nodded. “All week long.” She straightened and glared at Oliver, who had remained silent.
“I’ve got my period and I’m in a rotten mood. Are you sure you still want to go out with me?”
The poor sap just beamed at her. “Definitely.”
“Have fun, you two.” Jake ushered them out the door.
Alone at last.
“Woof.”
Not quite.
“What do you want?” Jake said.
“Woof.”
“Don’t even try to pretend that you understand what I’m saying. I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to myself. You just happen to be in the room.”
“Woof.”
“One thing’s for damn sure. You’re never going to see me acting so whacked out over a woman.
Never gonna happen, my friend. I’m just here biding my time to get some answers about my birth mother and then I’m gone. Hitting the road. You know what my buddy Andy would tell me, don’t you? He had this saying—‘Handle every situation like a dog. If you can’t eat it or hump it, just piss on it and walk away.’”
“Woof.”
“I’m good at walking away. From women, from commitments, even from killer avalanches.
Yeah, I’m a damn Olympic gold medalist at walking away.” Jake paused to look at Mutt.
“Don’t give me that hang-dog look.”
Mutt sat his bony ass down on Jake’s bare foot.
“You’re not gonna keep me here when it’s time for me to go. No kick-ass sociologist with incredible legs and a complicated brain is gonna keep me here either. Got that?”
Mutt wagged his tail at him.
“I said got that?”
“Woof.”
“Good. As long as we’re clear. Now get off my foot before you break it.”
“Woof.”
“Did you see that? The guy in that rusty pickup just gave you the finger,” Oliver told Emma as they walked toward her Prius on Sunday. “He’s doing it again!”
Emma looked across the street to see Roy slowing his truck to stick his arm out the open window in order to give her the obscene gesture.
“Do you know him?” Oliver asked.
“You could say that.” Even from this distance she could see the anger emanating from Roy.
“Is he a friend of yours?”
“Do you think a friend of mine would greet me like that?”
“Of course not. You’re right. I wasn’t thinking straight. It’s just that everyone has been so nice here. I wasn’t expecting to see something like that.”
Roy had slowed his dilapidated truck to a crawl, making Emma very nervous.
“Come on.” She grabbed hold of Oliver’s arm. “Let’s stop here.” She tugged him into the tea shop.
The owner, Steve Daniels, was a former pro wrestler who’d married an English nanny. She doubted Roy would come in and confront a man twice his size. She was right. Roy took off.
“Can I help you?” Steve asked.
“Do you have any organic green tea?” Oliver asked.
“Loose or in tea bags?”
“Loose.”
“Right here.”
She waited while Steve and Oliver talked about the health benefits of green tea. “Nice move.” The compliment came from behind her, and she turned to see Nathan, the town sheriff, holding a box of tea bags in his hand.
“What?”
“Coming in here when you felt threatened by Roy. That was a smart move. I was just on my way out there to give him a ticket for holding up traffic, but there wasn’t any other traffic. Has Roy made any other contact with you? Tried to intimidate or threaten you in any way?”
“No.”
“Good. You’ll be sure to tell me if he does, right?”
She nodded.
“You may have noticed that he has a drinking problem, and that makes him do stupid things. Not that he is all that smart to begin with.”
“I heard that he isn’t happy about the recent changes here in Rock Creek.”
“If you’re thinking that he was giving the finger to Steve here at the tea shop, then I have to tell you that I find that an unlikely scenario. I know he’s got a grudge against you. I heard about the incident in Nick’s Tavern a few weeks back.”
“I’m sorry about that,” she said guiltily.
“No need for you to be sorry. Just be careful.”
“I try to be.”
“Yeah, my wife Skye told me you seemed to be the careful sort. But then, compared to her, a daredevil would be considered careful. She made me come in here to get her some kind of weird tea. Algee’s girl made him come in here too. We’re not really tea guys.”
The owner of Cosmic Comics gave her a self-conscious wave from the back corner of the shop where he was trying to be inconspicuous, no easy feat for a guy built like a Sherman tank.
Nathan continued speaking. “I hear your friend Oliver has moved in with Jake and is dating Lulu.” Seeing her surprised look, he added, “There’s not much going on in this town that I don’t know about.”
Which left Emma wondering if Nathan knew about Jake and her making out on her fire escape.
Roy had been a witness to that. Which is why Emma hadn’t gone back out on that fire escape since then.
“Do you know why Jake is here in Rock Creek?” The words were out before she could stop them.
“No. Have you tried asking him that question?”
“He doesn’t really respond well to questions.”
Nathan nodded. “Yeah, I noticed that about him.”
Emma checked her watch. “Well, we’d better be going. We’re heading for a family barbeque at the trailer park, and my mom will have a fit if we’re late.”
“Remember what I said. If Roy tries anything, contact me immediately.”
She nodded. “I will.”
“Who was that?” Oliver asked as he rejoined her.
“The town sheriff.”
“Is he going to arrest the miscreant who gave you the finger?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because he didn’t break the law.”
“What about the law of civilized society?”
“Roy isn’t real civilized.”
“So I gathered.”
Emma put her hand on Oliver’s arm. “Don’t tell Jake about what happened.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want him going after Roy or anything like that.”
Oliver reluctantly agreed to keep quiet.
Quiet was nowhere to be found at the Riley residence in the Regency Mobile Home Community.
The party was already in full swing and looked more like a block party than a little family get-together. The blacktopped street in front of the trailer was filled with aluminum folding lawn chairs and white resin chairs populated with adults and kids alike. Several tables were set up, covered with cheerful paper tablecloths and loaded with all kinds of food, from Mrs.
Schmidt’s famous pink potato salad to Maxie’s infamously spicy fiesta dip. A group of grills were sending up smoke signals on the far side of the cement patio, where Emma’s dad appeared to be in charge.
He even wore a barbeque apron that said IN CHARGE.
A large metal tub was filled with ice and a selection of soda and beer. Several plastic American flags all along the drive fluttered in the wind even though the Fourth of July was still over a week away.
“Your parents sure know how to throw a party,” Oliver noted in appreciation. “I must go speak with the lovely Lulu.” He was gone an instant later.
“You’re late,” Maxie told Emma before hugging her. “I wish you’d worn a more colorful outfit, hon. You should have left your hair loose. And those shoes.” Maxie shook her head, nearly dislodging the bright yellow silk orchid she had tucked behind one ear.
“They’re Doc Martens and very comfortable.”
“I should hope so since they look so bad.”
That did it. Emma had already dealt with Roy today, she didn’t have the patience for any more hassle. Her mom’s comment was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back.
Emma had finally had enough. “Do not insult my shoes!” Emma’s voice was firm and emphatic.
Her mom blinked in surprise. “What did you say?”
“You heard me. Don’t insult my shoes or anything else about me. I’m tired of it.”
“I’m just trying to help—”
Emma held up her hand. “Don’t.”
“But—”
“Enough already,” Emma interrupted her. “I love you and I know you love me, but these negative comments you aim at me have to stop.”
“Aim? You make it sound like I’ve got a gun aimed at you or something.”
“Words can be powerful weapons.”
Maxie looked distressed. “I’m not trying to hurt you.”
“Then don’t. It stops here.” Emma wasn’t naive enough to think she could instantly transform her mom’s behavior after all these years. But Emma could change her own response. She had that power, she’d just never exercised it until now. Instead of continuing to allow her mom to get away with the barbs, however well meaning they might be, Emma was hereby putting her mom on notice. “I’m not going to take it anymore. If you insult me, I’m going to call you on it.”
To Emma’s utter astonishment, Maxie was silent a moment or two as she digested Emma’s comments. Then she nodded and said, “Fair enough.”
Emma narrowed her eyes at her. “I mean it, Mom.”
“I know you do, hon. I can’t promise something might not slip out from time to time, but I really will try to do a lot better, I promise,” she solemnly vowed. “Okay?”
Emma nodded. “Okay.” She was so thankful Maxie didn’t have a meltdown, Emma couldn’t say another word.
Instead of going ballistic, Maxie focused her attention over Emma’s shoulder. “Oh look!
Leena and Cole are here.” Maxie left to go greet them.
Needing a moment to reflect on what had just taken place, Emma headed for an empty chair as far away as she could get without leaving the festivities entirely. She probably should have stood up for herself a long time ago, but she hadn’t actually spent that much time with her family since she’d left to go to college. As the designated family peacekeeper, she tended to avoid confrontations . . . but enough was enough. She wished she’d spoken up sooner, but she was sure glad she’d done it now.
Emma was still mentally patting herself on the back when Leena found her and joined her.
“Where’s Cole?” Emma asked.
“Helping Dad grill.”
“Thank God Dad is grilling and Mom isn’t cooking,” Emma said.
“Mom doesn’t cook. She defrosts. If it doesn’t come out of the freezer or a can, she can’t deal with it.”
“And everything tastes better with mixed frozen veggies.”
“We single-handedly kept the Green Giant off the unemployment lines.”
“Do you remember the time Mom put mixed frozen veggies in the Chef Boyardee ravioli and called it dinner?”
“Yeah. I also remember that you and I never finished our conversation about Jake,” Leena said. “I hear via the grapevine that he had Oliver move in with him. What’s up with that?”
“Did people grill you about Cole when you first came to town?”
“Yes.”
“Did you like it?”
“No. But this is different,” Leena said.
“No, it’s not.” Emma waved her hand. “Change of subject. I just put Mom on notice that I’m not going to put up with any more insults, however well-meaning they might be.”
“Hah! Good luck with that.”
“Mom was actually surprisingly accommodating about it.”
Leena’s perfectly made-up eyes widened. “I find that hard to believe.”
“Anyway I wanted to let you know that the same goes for you and Sue Ellen too. No more insults.”
“We’re your sisters. It’s our job to insult you.”
“I’m serious. No more trying to make me over in your image.” Emma wiggled her Doc Martens at her, comparing them to Leena’s dainty floral sandals. “Agreed? If Mom can restrain herself, so can you.”
“Fine, spoilsport.”
“What are you two girls doing hiding out over here?” their dad walked over and demanded.
“Come get some food. Bratwurst with sauerkraut, hot dogs, or hamburgers?”
Leena looked a little green so Emma said, “We’ll be there in a minute.”
“I haven’t had the morning sickness that Sue Ellen has,” Leena said quietly after their dad left.
“But every so often I’ll smell some food and it just sets me off. Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurl in your lap.”
“I’m relieved to hear that.”
“Although you hurled in my lap.”
“I was only six at the time and I got sick on the Ferris wheel.”
“Who gets sick on a Ferris wheel? On a roller coaster maybe.” Leena shook her head. “See that’s why I’m worried about you being with Jake.”
“Because I threw up on an amusement park ride?”
“Because you’re not comfortable taking chances and being wild.”
“I’m not six years old anymore.”
“I know that but—”
“But nothing. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine.”
“Jake—”
Emma interrupted her. “Jake is fine too.”
“He sure is. And he’s walking this way.”
“What?” Emma swiveled in her seat. Sure enough, he was strolling toward them with that walk of his, full of confidence and sex appeal. He was wearing his usual black jeans and black T-shirt. His brown hair curled over his ears and fell across his forehead. “What are you doing here?” She really had to stop asking him that.
“I
invited him,” Maxie said cheerfully as she strolled up beside him. “You haven’t lived until you’ve had my spicy fiesta dip, Jake. The secret ingredient is—”
“Frozen mixed vegetables,” Emma and Leena said in unison.
“Leena, Mrs. Schmidt wants to talk with you.” Maxie tugged her out of her seat. “Come along.”
“I’m sorry if my mom has been hassling you,” Emma told Jake. “I saw her go into the bar the other day. I hope she didn’t ask you a bunch of embarrassing questions.”
Jake took the seat Leena had just vacated. As he did so, the sun shone a little brighter, the robins chirped a little more cheerfully, the Dr Pepper soda he brought her tasted a little better.
“Here.” He handed her a small bag of Cheetos. “I thought you might need these.”
She grabbed the bag and ripped it open. “You’re a saint.”
“You’re the first person who’s ever called me that.” He leaned closer. “You’ve got Cheeto dust on your lip.” He brushed her mouth with the ball of his thumb. Looking down, he added, “You’ve got some on your fingers too.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and licked her fingers, one by one, until she was ready to jump him right there and then. Luckily she was prevented from doing so by the piercing sound of an air horn activated by her dad.
“Now that I’ve got everyone’s attention, I want to propose a toast,” her dad said. He raised his bottle of nonalcoholic beer. “To family and friends.”
A minute later, Mrs. Schmidt piped up to say, “Okay, Bob and Maxie, how are you two ridgerunners handling retirement living down there in flatlander Florida? It’s no PA. I mean this state has the QVC headquarters. And if that’s not enough, there’s Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house. How about Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, huh? Or Indiana, PA, the birthplace of Jimmy Stew-art with a museum dedicated to him.”
“I loved him in It’s a Wonderful Life,” Maxie said.
“And then there’s Hershey PA. Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. What does Florida have?”
Mrs. Schmidt asked.
“Great weather,” Maxie said.
“Hurricanes,” the other woman retorted.
“No snow,” Maxie instantly shot back.
“She’s got you there,” someone called out with a laugh.
Emma turned to Jake and grinned at him. “I’m surprised no one mentioned the Crayola Factory over in Easton.”