by Gen Griffin
Trish crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her mother, daring her to deny any of it.
“You're right. I'm sorry.” Nanette covered her face with both hands. “I'll deal with Grover from now on. I know he doesn't want to go into a home but he hasn't left us any choice. We can file the paperwork to have Grover declared incompetent and unable to care for himself. He'll have no choice but to go into a nursing home and the state nursing homes will be required to accept him.”
“He's not going to go willingly.” Trish didn't know if she felt relieved or just annoyed that her mother had sent her to Possum Creek fully knowing what a jerk Grover was.
“I've tried to take the peaceful approach and it very clearly hasn't worked. I've allowed my father to subject you to enough abuse, Trisha. I'm sorry I made you come to Possum Creek. I know you didn't feel like we were giving you any choice in the matter.”
“You didn't,” Trish pointed out.
“I know, and I am so sorry. I imagine that being in Possum Creek has been a horrible experience for you and I never meant it to be.”
“It hasn't been all bad.” Trish debated whether or not she should tell her mother about David.
The waitress appeared with their food. A Philly cheese-steak sandwich and french fries for Trish and a fried chicken salad with honey mustard dressing for Nanette.
Nanette waited for the waitress to leave before she spoke again.
“You don't have to try to make me feel better,” Nanette said. She brushed unshed tears away from her own eyes. “You can go home now Trish. I promise I won't say another word to you about Possum Creek. We'll keep paying your bills until you're back on your feet financially and ready to move out on your own. In fact, if you want to, you can go pack up all your things and drive home today. Use my credit card for gas.”
“I can go home now?” Trish stared at her mother, stunned. “You mean, back to Brooksville?”
“Yes,” Nanette nodded. “I can’t ask you to stay in Possum Creek any longer. I shouldn’t have asked you to come here to begin with.”
Trish opened her mouth and then closed it abruptly. She could go back to her parents quiet subdivision in Brooksville. She was free to leave the old wood-framed house on Honeytree Drive in the rear-view mirror. She wouldn’t have to worry about Grover throwing his breakfasts onto the hood of Addison’s truck anymore. She wouldn’t have to worry about him shooting at the mailman or throwing his pee at doctors. She wouldn't have to worry about piles of stolen jewelry being hidden in her furniture.
But leaving Possum Creek would mean leaving David. She thought about how good it had felt to sleep in the bed beside him last night. She loved being wrapped up in his strong arms and cradled against his muscular chest. He made her feel safe for the first time in longer than she cared to admit. She thought about what it would be like to say goodbye to David, knowing that she'd never lay beside him in a bed ever again.
“I want to stay,” Trish spoke the words quietly but there was a certainty in her voice that even she wasn't used to.
“You want to stay in Possum Creek?” Nanette's eyes were wide with surprise and her voice was tinged with shock.
“Of course she does.” Addison plopped down in the booth next to Trish, interrupting her conversation with her mother with unashamed abruptness. He focused his huge turquoise eyes on Trish even as he plucked a french fry from her plate. His blonde curls were dripping water onto the table and his game warden's uniform was decidedly wet. “You're not leaving, are you?”
“No.” Trish slid over in the booth to give him a little more room. “I was just telling my mother that I like living here and that I want to stay.”
“Good.” Addy helped himself to her sweet tea. “Because you can't leave. Oh, and hi, Trish's Mom.”
He turned his broad, blindingly white smile on her mother.
“Hi.” Nanette appeared to be fairly taken aback.
“Mom, this is Addison. Addy, this is my mother, Nanette.” Trish took her sweet tea back from Addison as she made the introductions.
“It's nice to meet you,” Nanette said. Trish watched as her mother took in all 6 feet of Addison's golden boy good looks and easy charm. Nanette looked a little overwhelmed and Trish didn't blame her. It had taken her weeks to get used to the boy.
“The pleasure is all mine.” Addison held his hand out to Nanette as if he were going to shake her hand. When she placed her palm in his, he lifted it to his perfect mouth and kissed the back of her hand instead. “Trish can't leave,” he said.
“She can't?” Nanette swallowed slightly. Her eyes were wide and curious, as if she wasn't quite sure what to think.
“No.” Addison shook his head. His wet curls sent water flying in all directions. He grabbed another handful of fries.
“Are you here for food or are you just mooching mine?” Trish asked him as she contemplated her sandwich.
“Um, depends.” He smiled at her sheepishly. “I'm-.”
“Broke?” Trish filled in the blank on her own.
“I don't get paid again until Friday.” Addy shrugged his broad shoulders. “I guess I'm mooching unless you want to buy me food?”
“You're batting your eyelashes at the wrong person,” Trish pointed out to him. “I'm broke too, remember?”
“Oh yeah.” Addison sighed. “I need to learn how to budget.”
“You do,” Trish agreed. She tore her sandwich in half and handed one half to him. “You're lucky they always give me too much food here.”
“You don't have to feed me,” Addy said. He was already lifting the sandwich to his mouth.
“I always feed you,” Trish said.
“Yet another reason why I love you,” Addy replied.
“You know, I don't mind buying you your own dinner,” Nanette said quietly. “I always enjoy getting the opportunity to meet Trish's friends.”
Addy shook his head. “It's okay. I'm good with sharing.”
Trish rolled her eyes. “Get him his own food. He'll eat half of mine, all of his and then go mooch half of someone else's plate. He's a bottomless pit.”
Addison snorted. “Am not.”
Trish rolled her eyes at him. “You are. Don't even bother lying. Just go up to the counter and order something.”
Addison looked back at Nanette. He smiled at her prettily. “Are you sure you don't mind?”
“Not at all.” Nanette returned the smile.
“I'll be back in a second.” Addy stood up and trotted over to the counter to place his order.
Nanette and Trish both watched him go.
“He's a friend of yours?” Nanette asked. Trish could hear the surprise mixed with a slight bit of skepticism in her mother's voice.
“He lives next door to Grover,” Trish explained. “He's the county game warden.”
“He's Pearl's grandson.” Nanette put the pieces together in her own head and then nodded slightly. “I didn't see it at first but now I can. He's Dale's son, isn't he?”
“I don't know,” Trish admitted with a shrug. “Pearl is his grandmother but I've never met his parents.”
“Pearl only had one child. He's Dale's son. I can see it in the way he's built, though he didn't get those pretty boy looks from the Malone side of the family. Who did Dale marry?” Nanette tapped her lip thoughtfully with the tip of her finger. “I can't remember now. It's been too long. I can see why Curtis is jealous though.”
Trish frowned at her mother as they both watched Addison flirt with their waitress. “You can see what?”
“Why Curtis is so jealous,” Nanette repeated.
“How do you know that Curtis is jealous of Addy?” Trish narrowed her eyes at her mother.
Nanette blinked sheepishly. “I'm sorry, Trish. Curtis has been calling me almost every day. His calls are one of the reasons I felt like I needed to come down to Possum Creek to check on you.”
Trish took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. “What did Curtis tell you?”
Nanett
e hesitated and then seemed to gather herself. “He called me up the other night and was completely irate. He said you were sleeping with a cop here in Possum Creek.” Nanette cast a purposeful glance in Addison's direction. He failed to notice that he was being stared at. He appeared to be discussing the torrential downpour outside with several of the customers who were occupying the diner's narrow bar.
“I'm not sleeping with Addison,” Trish said flatly.
“I wouldn't judge you for it,” Nanette said. “He's a beautiful man. I'd be tempted myself if I weren't happily married.”
“Mom-.”
“No, really Trish. You know I've always felt you should be free to experiment sexually. How are you supposed to find yourself as a woman if you don't take the time to learn what you enjoy. You shouldn't be ashamed of having a little fun. I've never encouraged you to limit yourself.”
“I know, but I'm really not sleeping with Addy. Not that he hasn't offered.” Trish held up her hands in mock surrender. “I agree he's stupidly attractive but he's also extremely slutty. Too slutty for me. He really is just a friend.”
“Oh.” Nanette frowned. “Well, is there another cop in your life? Curtis seemed so sure that you were sexually involved with a cop.”
“Curtis thinks I'm sleeping with Addison,” Trish explained as she picked up a few of her own fries and dipped them in the ketchup.
“Did you explain to him that you weren't?” Nanette asked.
“I don't see why I have to justify my sexual activities to a man who cheated on me multiple times. One of the benefits of getting a divorce is that I don't have to answer to his wild accusations anymore.” Trish crossed her arms over her breasts and frowned at her mother.
“I'm sorry, Trish. You're right.” Nanette nodded and looked down at her own food. “I'm still not used to the idea that you and Curtis are really splitting up for good. I honestly thought you were going to stay with him forever, regardless of how poorly he treated you.”
Trish didn't know what to say as Addison came back to the table and sat back down beside her. He looked from her expression to Nanette and then back again. “Am I interrupting?”
“No,” Trish told him. “I was just trying to find the least awkward way possible to explain why Curtis thinks I'm sleeping with you.”
Addison wrinkled his nose, borrowed Trish's tea again and then frowned when he found it empty. “How much have you already confessed to?”
“Not much.” Trish pursed her lips at Addison. “I'm having a hard time figuring out why everyone seems to think they get to have an opinion on my sex life.”
“I assumed that you were sleeping with David,” Addison said as the waitress delivered his cheeseburger to the table. It was fully loaded and dripping all its fixings onto the plate. He picked up the burger and winked at Nanette. “Not that I have an opinion on that. I'm glad he's getting laid. It's been a while for him. A long while.”
“Dammit Addy.” Trish rolled her eyes but she couldn't help smiling at him.“Being glad he's getting laid is still technically an opinion.”
“She's sleeping with who?” Nanette asked curiously.
“You hadn't told your Mom about David yet?” Addison tried and failed to look sorry.
Trish sighed and put her head against Addison's shoulder so that she didn't have to look at her mother. “Its been a long couple of days. I haven't quite worked out how to explain how I went from being married to Curtis to divorcing Curtis to being engaged to David.”
“You did finally say yes?” Addison reached for her left hand and then whistled as he caught sight of the large square diamond and its antique setting. “Holy shit. I don't want to know what he spent on that.”
“No, you don't.” Trish pulled her hand back from Addison.
“You've gotten engaged again?” Nanette's surprise was very clear in her tone.
“It's complicated,” Trish said.
“The ring is gigantic.” Nanette held out one hand to Trish and wiggled her fingers. “Can I see it?”
Trish hesitated for half a second and then pried the ring off. It fit her finger so snugly that she had to tug to get it past her knuckle. She dropped it into her mother's outstretched palm.
Nanette brushed her hair back out of her own eyes as she turned the ring over in her hands for several seconds. “At least I don't have to worry you'll ever hurt for money. I'm pretty sure you could pawn this and buy a house.”
Trish cast a glance sideways at Addison, recalling her last attempt to pawn a ring. “I think it's pretty.”
“It's gorgeous, Trish.” Nanette handed the ring back to Trish. “But does he really love you?”
Trish blinked at her mother. “It's complicated.”
“It's complicated?” Nanette repeated with disbelief.
“He loves her,” Addison said. “She just doesn't quite believe him because he's incredibly bad at explaining his feelings to her.”
Nanette frowned. “Trish, you shouldn't jump into a relationship you aren't sure of.”
“David is the best guy I've ever met. He's a raving lunatic at times, but I'm getting used to just going with it.” Trish took a deep breath and forced a smile at her mother.
“Do you love him?” Nanette asked.
“I didn't think so at first, but he's grown on me.” Trish shrugged her shoulders and picked up her tear. “You'll understand when you meet him. I hope.”
“Is he anything like Curtis?” Nanette asked.
“No.” Trish and Addison spoke at exactly the same time.
“David is nothing like Curtis,” Trish promised. “Though, speaking of Curtis, I'd love to know what he told you in order to get you to drive all the way to Possum Creek in the pouring rain.”
“Oh yeah. I almost forgot about that. What lies did that fat jackwagon tell this time?” Addison asked nosily. Trish supposed she was glad he'd at least taken the time to swallow his french fries before asking questions. It was more than Curtis would have done.
“Well, I don't know if Trish-,” Nanette hesitated as she studied her daughter. “It was kind of personal to Trisha, I think. I don't know if she feels comfortable talking about it.”
“It's fine,” Trish said. “Addison has met Curtis. I don't think you can say much that he doesn't already know. Curtis already told Addy that I'm a boring lay.”
“He what?” Nanette appeared horrified.
“I'm sure he's lying,” Addison said helpfully. “Though Trish is welcome to prove how wrong he is to me anytime she wants to.”
“Shut up, Addy.” Trish couldn't help smiling at him.
“Oh my,” Nanette said. She looked purposefully at Addison. “He is shameless, isn't he?”
“Yes,” Addison agreed. “I am.”
Trish nodded. “So back to what Curtis told you?”
“He told me that you were having a very difficult time living down here. He said you weren't coping well with the challenges of caring for your grandfather. He said he felt you were desperate for attention and throwing yourself at any man who would give you the time of day.” Nanette sucked in a teeth breath and then continued. “He told me you had cheated on him with a local cop and that you had become very upset and belligerent when he confronted you about your indiscretions. He said he wasn't giving up on you but that I needed to come talk to you before you made choices you might regret later. He sounded very concerned, Trish.”
“I'll bet he sounded concerned,” Addison muttered under his breath. “If I were him, I'd be fucking concerned too. Concerned about getting shot.”
“Addy, stop.” Trish put on hand on Addison's arm. “He's gone, remember. You ran him out of town.”
“You did what?” Nanette asked, obviously startled.
“Curtis-,” Addison frowned at Trish. “Does your Mom know about the other night?”
“No,” Trish said. “Not unless Grover told her.”
“Told me what?” Nanette asked.
“I totaled out my car,” Trish said. It wasn't enti
rely a lie. “That's why I'm driving Grover's truck.”
“Oh my god. Trish. No one told me. Why didn't you call me?” Nanette was clearly horrified. “Baby, are you okay?”
“I'm fine. Obviously. I didn't call because I was fine.” Trish purposely avoided telling her mother how the accident had occurred. “But Curtis was with me and we got into a big fight. He got really nasty and I got very, very upset. Addison was the officer who responded to the wreck. He and Curtis got into a bit of an argument.”
“A bit of an argument?” Nanette asked skeptically.
“He had Trish in tears. I told him to-.” Addison's radio let out an ear-splitting shriek and began crackling madly. Addy cursed and pulled it loose from his belt. “I hate being on-call.”
He pressed the button to respond. A moment later a woman's voice came over the speaker and told him that he needed to get to Grover Shallowman's house immediately because there had been a shooting.
Trish froze in her seat.
“Shit,” Addison said. He looked over at Trish. “You hear that?”
She nodded mutely as she pushed her half-eaten plate of food away. Nanette was already standing up. She tossed a handful of cash on the table without bothering to look at the bill.
“We need to go,” Trish said.
Addison pressed the talk button on the radio and told the dispatcher that he was on his way.
Chapter 49
The scene outside Grover's house was pure chaos. One police cruiser was already in the front yard with its lights and sirens still blaring as Addison drove his own truck across the grass.
A middle-aged man with a comb-over was standing on the sidewalk talking to Sheriff Frank Chasson. The man's leg was bleeding and his pants were torn.
“Oh god. What has my father done now?” Nanette asked out loud as she and Trish climbed out of Addison's truck. They had chosen to ride back to the house with him rather than drive themselves.
Grover was laying on the ground in front of the porch with Addison's Granny Pearl standing over him. Pearl was wearing a house dress and holding a bright green umbrella over Grover as an ambulance pulled up and paramedics spilled out of it.