Borrowing Trouble by Mae Wood

Author:Mae Wood [Wood, Mae]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 25821882
Publisher: Atacama Books
Published: 2015-08-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-one

When I pulled up to my family farmhouse, the front porch lights were on and my dad was on the porch, nursing a beer in the swing.

“Hey, Dad,” I said.

Without a word, he bent down, picked up a fresh beer, passed it to me, and patted the swing next to him. I obliged him.

“Long day?”

“Yup,” I said leaning back and taking my first sip from the longneck.

“Need me to beat him up for you?”

“Who? Trip?” I laughed. “Oh, no, he’s fine.” As far as I know about my part-time boyfriend. “It’s Erica and Josh. They’re having some difficulties and I just worry about her and the kids.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I can’t help but think of Erica as still being thirteen. I guess you’ll both always be teenagers to me. Marriage is hard.”

“Yeah,” I shrugged. Like I know anything about being married. “Josh is just virtually living in New York because of work” and who knows what else “and it’s hard on Erica, basically being a single parent.” I took another long pull on my beer and looked at my dad’s garden, which was fading into its autumnal slumber. “Hey, random question.”

“Shoot.”

“You know when Trip was over for lunch?”

“Yeah.”

“You took him out to show him your garden. What were you guys talking about?”

“The garden.”

“Sure. And Mom’s sewing circle only talks about dress patterns. What did you two talk about? Since college, I don’t recall you cornering any guy I’ve brought home for a meal like that.”

“Well, now, it wasn’t about you, if that’s what you were worried about. It’s something I had a question about and he seemed like someone whose opinion I could trust.”

“That’s not particularly a straight answer.”

“That’s all I’m giving you. Go on in. Your mom is putting fresh sheets on your bed. I’m going to have another one out here. See you in the morning, sweetheart. I love you.”

I stood and with my beer in one hand, placed the other on my dad’s shoulder before leaning down and placing a kiss on the top of his head. “Night, Daddy. I love you.” I dropped my purse in the living room and made my way upstairs to my childhood bedroom. “Hey, Mom.”

“Sweetie, such a nice surprise,” she said, pausing while tucking in blankets on my bed. “Just making a fresh bed for you.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“You good?”

“Yup. I’m tired. I’ve been at Erica’s. Today was Miriam’s fifth birthday.”

“Already!”

“I know. Makes me feel ancient.”

“If it makes you feel ancient, sweetie, don’t ask me how I feel.” My mom laughed. “Need anything?”

“Nope. Just going to crash. I love you.”

“Love you, too, sweetie,” she said, giving me a quick hug. “I’ll see you at breakfast.”

I kicked off Friday morning with coffee, bacon, banana pancakes, and a segmented orange, all courtesy of my mother. “I should come home more often.”

“I’m not going to argue with that. I’d love to see you more.”

“Mom, what are you and Daddy doing tomorrow night?”

My mom paused for a moment while stirring Splenda into her coffee. “Can’t think of anything special.

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