by Toni Aleo
Mom’s sobs break my heart. I get up, go to her, and wrap my arms around her neck. I kiss her soft cheek as she holds on to my hands, her fingers clinging to me. “It’s okay, Mom.”
“I just miss him so damn much,” she cries, and I kiss her once more, my own tears falling to her shirt.
“I know.”
I hold her as I turn my attention to my dad. He’s still trying to decide if he should include Mom, but then he looks back at the camera. His curly red hair is a mess, and he has bits of barley in it. Even on a day when he was nice and clean, he still smelled like barley. His face is red, sunburned, but his eyes glow green as his lips curve up in the happiest smile. Just how I remember him. “Anyway, listen, y’all. The money, it’ll be deposited into your accounts. But there are some stipulations.”
I pull my brows together as I stand. I wasn’t expecting money. I don’t need it, but then who turns down money from a multimillionaire?
“Now, I’m making another tape for if Mom died with me because it’s gonna get to be a bit complicated. If she isn’t dead, wait to watch my film.”
“I hate him,” Mom laughs, shaking her head. “He’s a nut.”
I smile as I cross my arms over my chest. Dad moves some papers around and then holds them out in front of him. “All right, so you each have your own account with your cut. It’s been like this since you were born, and I’ve been putting money into it ever since. With Reed being the oldest, he gets the distillery. And before you freak the hell out, Devin, I know he doesn’t want it. Which is why, if he doesn’t, he can sell it to you for your cut.”
Devin looks to me, and I nod. “Yeah, it’s fine.”
My brother looks relieved, and Bryce grins over at me. “Thanks. He’s been stressing.”
I shrug. “I don’t want it.”
Before anyone can comment, though, Dad goes on. “Now, I’ll come back to Reed in a second, but Devin, know there’s a clause that you cannot sell my distillery. Not that I think you will, but you can’t. It will stay in the family, and you’ll get the deed when you have your first child. Until then, it will stay in Mom’s name, but the net profits will come to you each month. Like I have been doing, you are to take five percent of the earnings and give it to yourself, Ambrosia, and Bryce. Reed gets nothing since he doesn’t want it.”
I chuckle. “Thanks, Dad.”
“That can change, but let’s wait till the end.”
When my siblings look back to me, I shrug as Dad goes on. “Now, Bryce, along with your cut of my money, I have more set aside to pay off your house and your car, but you don’t get that till you’re married.”
Bryce makes a face. “What the hell? I don’t want to get married.”
“I know what you’re saying, ‘But, Dad, I don’t want to get married.’ Listen to me, boy. You need a woman. You’re too wild, and I doubt that by the time I die, you’ll change.”
Mom grins. “He’s right.”
Bryce gives her a dry look. “I am not that bad.”
“You’ve had to move to the outskirts of town because you’ve slept with everyone in town!”
He shrugs. “So?”
“So,” she says firmly, and he leans back in his chair.
“I know you’re probably thinking you’ll just use the money I’m leaving you, but I trust you won’t. So, don’t let me down, boy.”
“Well, shit,” Bryce complains, and soon a nervousness falls over me as I stare at my dad. I don’t think I’m going to like my stipulation.
His eyes move along the paper he’s reading, and then he nods. “All right. Now, Ambrosia.”
My sister sits up, her face full of fear. If he tells her to get married, she’ll probably pass out. She isn’t the most…um, how do I put this nicely? The girl is shy as hell, and I think she struggles even to talk to us. “Baby girl, I love you, but if I don’t get you out of that damn library, I think you’ll die alone with your cats.”
She scrunches up her face. “What’s wrong with that?”
Mom laughs. “A lot, baby.”
“I want you to travel. Take a solid year and discover the world. Word that I’ve passed will get to the travel agent up in Hamby, and she’ll be emailing you.”
Full terror fills Ambrosia’s face and I want to laugh, but I won’t.
“And when you’re done, if you still want to live here, come on home. You will always have a home.”
Her eyes are as big as saucers and I think she might faint, but before she can, Dad is speaking.
“Back to Reed,” he says, but then he pauses, shaking his head. “I feel good about my other stipulations. I know you three will follow them, but this one might be something my firstborn will give me hell about when he meets me up here.”
I feel the gaze of my siblings as I watch the screen. Dad’s bushy eyebrows pull together, and he bites on his lip before looking into the camera. “This town put a bad taste in your mouth from the moment you were old enough to notice that people didn’t treat you the same as your siblings. That’s my fault, for reasons I won’t tell you or even try to explain, but it’s my fault. Now, for the last couple years, I’ve always said that when I die, I hope this town takes my kids and loves them for me. Everyone always said they would, so now I want to test that theory.”
My heart is pounding so hard it’s hard to hear my dad over it. My eyes are wide, and my fists clench as he goes on.
“Reed, I want you to give this town another chance. I want you to come home and live here for eight weeks. I want you to be involved, I want you to get a job here and really be a part of this community. I think you’ll see that what you’ve been looking for out in Lexington has really been here the whole time.”
My heart stops, falls into my gut, and disintegrates.
“If you get to the end of the eight weeks and you want out, Austin here will have a check for you, and you go on. But please visit your momma and your siblings. They miss you, and Lord knows they love you. But if you decide to stay, you’ll get a cut of the distillery. It’s only eight weeks. Can you do that for me, son?”
Eight weeks.
In Spring Grove.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Chapter Seven
Delaney
“From what I’m told, he has himself a week to figure out what he’s doing.”
I lean my chin on the back of the pew as Sister Engelmann gazes into my mawmaw’s eyes, her hands moving with each word that leaves her wrinkled lips. I know I shouldn’t be listening to gossip, but it’s about Reed, and I need to know. Plus, that’s how we Southern Baptists do it. We chitchat about everything, and no one is ever left out. News about Reed is basically the highlight of the month. Everyone is talking about it. Which means I have no choice but to listen.
Right?
“He wasn’t happy with his daddy’s request, and he’s already gone on back to Lexington. Shirley, bless her, is not happy. She wants him to come back. It’s a great deal of money, and if he doesn’t get it, then the other kids will. She’s worried he’ll feel more isolated. Plus, it’s what his daddy wants.”
Mawmaw nods. “It’s just downright sad how people treat him. He’s a good boy. I’ve always adored him.”
“He was always just so standoffish, like he was better than us, but I made sure to love on him when I had the chance,” Sister Engelmann says, opening a bag of crackers. She has diabetes and needs her snacks. If she had one of those nun outfits, I bet it would be easier for her to store her snacks. Alas, she’s not a nun. Referring to her as Sister is done out of respect in our faith, and it’s how it’s been since before I was even born. “You know McElroy says it’s his fault how people treat that boy?”
“No! How?”
“You know his daddy didn’t want him involved with Reed’s momma. The whole town knew she was trouble, knew that Shirley was a sure bet. But he went with Reed’s momma, knocked her up, and got stuck. He was ready to give it all up, but then she died. When he came back around, tail between his l
egs and a baby in his arms, Shirley took him back. Everyone called her stupid, said she was settling. But she loved him, and she loved that baby. I still don’t understand how she did it. She deserved more than that.”
I make a face. “She has a great life and loves her kids. I think she has everything she could ever want.”
Sister Engelmann waves me off. “Now, child, you wouldn’t understand. He had expectations. He let down his family, mixing with an outsider.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s right. I don’t understand how you can scold someone for following their heart.”
“His heart was with Shirley!”
Mawmaw nods. “His dick, though, that was with Reed’s momma.”
I snort as Sister Engelmann’s eyes widen. “Pearl, we’re in God’s presence.”
Mawmaw rolls her eyes. “I’m sorry, but it’s true.”
Sister Engelmann nods. “It is.”
“Still, it’s no one’s fault but this town’s for how they’ve treated Reed. He’s a great guy if people would get to know him,” I say.
Sister Engelmann and Mawmaw give me a blank look before turning to each other.
Well then.
“It kills me to see Shirley so distraught, but honestly, I don’t think he’ll take it. His pride runs deeper than anyone I know,” Sister Engelmann adds.
“Yeah, I don’t think he will either,” I say, and they both look to me again.
“No?” Mawmaw asks, and I shake my head.
“He hates this place. I don’t think any amount of money could get him to stay.”
“But it isn’t about the money,” Mawmaw stresses. “It’s about his daddy’s wishes. He wants his family here, together. He’s always been about his family.”
I shrug, knowing that to be true. I also know Reed does not want to be here. “I don’t know, then.”
“Either way, I’m curious how this will play out.”
“Me too,” Mawmaw says, leaning back in the pew. “It’d be nice to have him home. He’s a great boy, and he sure is good-looking. Don’t you think so, Delaney?”
I look over at her, wide-eyed. “Why would I care?’
“Just saying,” she sings, and Sister Engelmann chuckles around her cracker. “He sure ain’t hard on the eyes.”
“Like a cool glass of lemonade and whiskey,” Sister Engelmann coos, and I grin.
Sister Engelmann has no idea how true that statement is. He is a bitter jerk who somehow packs a punch. God, he’s so sexy, though. Against my better judgment, I’ve been thinking of that dark-haired hottie since the moment he walked away from me. A part of me prays he does come back. Eight weeks is a long time and more than enough time to get my fill. But then, the other part of me knows Reed should stay where he is. He isn’t the kind of guy I need to get involved with. For one, he’ll be gone faster than I can blink, and two, I would fall madly in love with him.
Like, face first, head over heels, and all that jazz, in love with him.
That would be bad.
Sister Engelmann’s voice drops as she leans in closer to us. “So ya hear about Mayor Richard?”
I look up from the pew as Mawmaw shakes her head. “I did, and you know he is wrong for hiding it. Our town needs to know.”
I pull my brows together. “What’s wrong?”
Mawmaw looks to me, dropping her voice. “He had himself a heart attack.”
“Death comes in threes, so he’s lucky he ain’t dead,” Sister Engelmann says. “When the Lord calls, you go.”
“Amen,” Mawmaw says, and I gawk at the two women.
“Is he okay?”
“He ain’t dead,” Sister Engelmann says with a shrug. “But he isn’t looking well. I heard he’s gonna have to step down.”
“Good. No one likes him anyway,” Mawmaw says, her lip curling up. “I think the mayor should live in the town!”
“Preach, sister,” Sister Engelmann agrees, and I shake my head.
“He moved out ’cause he’s allergic to the barley,” I remind these good Christian women, but neither of them seems to care.
“We’re a whiskey town. That’s unacceptable,” Mawmaw decides, lacing her fingers together.
I fall back in my pew, letting out a long breath as I cross my arms over my chest. I lean my head back as the choir practices their hymns for this Sunday. We were supposed to leave about thirty minutes ago, but then Sister Engelmann started talking about Reed. Hence why I’m still sitting here. I’m ready to go now. I’m starving.
Mawmaw isn’t done, though. With her face all scrunched up, she holds up a finger. “We need someone who lives here, loves this town, and would do right by it when we need it.”
“You got that right,” Sister Engelmann agrees, taking another bite of cracker. “Someone young who shouldn’t be dying anytime soon. Someone who can get things done, who knows everyone in this town and loves them.”
“Exactly! And you know who I would have picked?”
Sister Engelmann leans in. “Who?”
“McElroy. He was a damn good man, and he loved this town. Spring Grove is what it is because of his distillery.”
Sister Engelmann nods eagerly. “Yup, but he’s dead.”
“God rest his soul,” they both say then, and I roll my eyes. These old biddies will be the death of me.
“Mawmaw, I’m ready. You ready?”
“Child, shh,” she scolds before leaning toward Sister Engelmann. “You should do it.”
She waves Mawmaw off. “I’m almost dead.”
“Ah, me too.”
I let my head fall back with a loud thunk as Sister Engelmann says, “We’ll need to keep an eye out.”
“For sure,” Mawmaw agrees before tapping my leg. “But let me get on out of here. Let me know if you hear about Reed.”
“Will do. I heard he has till Sunday, so I guess we’ll know on Monday.”
My stomach clenches at the thought. Seeing him all the time, being around him when we hang with our friends, and then being able to talk to him? Man, if I thought my sexual frustration was real before, adding Reed McElroy in there isn’t about to help at all. I don’t know, but the excitement of it has me on edge. I want to know. I want to call to inquire, or even ask Holden or Theo. I just don’t want them knowing I care.
“Hey there, Del. Are you gonna be running the league again this year?” Sister Engelmann asks me.
I stand when Mawmaw does, and I nod. “Yeah, you never did send me the signups.”
“I know. I’ll do it tonight. All the teams are complete. When I saw you were playing for the church, I wanted to cry.”
I grin back at her. “The church needs the money.”
“They sure do. I just adore you, Delaney Kate.”
I lean over, kissing her cheek. “I adore you just the same.”
When I pull back, Sister Engelmann grins up at me, her brown eyes holding a glimpse of good life in them. She cups my wrist. “Such a sweetheart, you are.”
We wish her a good night as we head out of the church. It’s a warm evening, and I’m glad I wore a skirt and tank to church. Mawmaw wasn’t too happy with it since it showed a lot of my breasts, but I didn’t care. It’s hot. When her hand comes around my arm, cupping me at the elbow, I glance down at her.
She smiles up at me and says, “I didn’t know you were playing for the church.”
“Yeah, I talked Bryce into playing too, which upset Devin and Holden since he usually plays for the distillery. But I’m ready for the church to win the pot.”
Every summer, the adult softball league puts money from each team into a pot to give the winner at the end of the season. When we have tournaments against our surrounding counties, they, too, put money in the pot. And at the end of the season, whichever county wins gets the pot. Usually, the teams in each league split the money, but the church team gives it to the church. They’ve been begging me for years to play for them, but I always made promises to someone else. This year, though, I want to play for them.
> Maybe then people won’t give me that sideways glance about that little fit I had with my baseball bat last year.
Judgy-ass town. But it’s my town, and I love it.
“You’re such a sweetheart, Del.”
“I try,” I say with a grin as we head toward the center of town so we can cut around the fields and get to our house. I almost want to ask to stop at the diner, but then, I’m ready to be home. “So, what do you think Reed will do?”
“He’ll come home,” she says, and I glance back to her, the sun making her white hair look almost translucent. I hate how her words make me excited. I shouldn’t care, but that’s pointless. I do.
“Really?”
“Yeah, as much as he thinks he hates it, it’s his home. He belongs here. He’ll come, and he won’t leave.”
Ugh. Heart, ignore her old, senile thoughts. “I think you might be wrong, Mawmaw.”
“Reed loves his family and his daddy. That will overturn his hate for all of us.”
“He doesn’t hate everyone.”
“Well, duh. I’m the best thing in this town,” she teases, and I grin.
“Got that right.”
She squeezes my elbow. “Nonetheless, he’ll come back. I know he will.”
“I still don’t think so.”
She pats my hand. “You’ll see, sweetheart. You’ll see.”
I hate like hell that I hope she’s right.
Chapter Eight
Reed
As I drive down the main road that leads into Spring Grove, I shake my head in disgust. I really thought this was going to be cut-and-dried. I’d give Devin the distillery, take my money, and make my family come to see me when they have time. It wasn’t going to be bad. It would be nice. We would do family vacations, maybe meet up in different places to spend time with each other. Just like we’ve been doing. But good ole Dad had other plans. I should have known, honestly. There wasn’t a phone call when my dad didn’t ask me to come home. When he didn’t beg me to give the town another chance. I fought him tooth and nail, and I thought maybe I had won. But, nope, Dad is the winner in the end.