Turn and Burn by Eden Connor

Author:Eden Connor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bad Apple Press
Published: 2015-06-17T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

When I got to the house, the door was up on the last garage bay to the right. Colt, Caine, and Jonny leaned over the engine compartment of the ‘Cuda, but I saw no sign of Dale. I parked Mom’s car under the carport, between Caine’s truck and Dale’s.

In the kitchen, Mom leaned over the bar. Proofs from the portrait session filled the narrow counter. Francine perched on a stool, admiring the various poses.

“My goodness, Macy, what a gorgeous family. The boys look so handsome. And just look at that radiant smile on Shelby’s face.”

I leaned over her shoulder to peer at the image. “Wow, that’s a great picture of me and Caine. Too bad Colt looks like he has a stick up his butt.”

Mom eyed my shopping bags. “Did you finish your Christmas shopping, honey?”

“Oh, yes. I’m ready now. Let the fat man roll.” I gave my hips a shimmy.

Dale strode through the den, looking much happier now in jeans and a long-sleeved Ridenhour T-shirt.

“I was thinking,” I began, determined to do more fact checking. “Can you call Chris and see if he has time to run a few heats against me?”

Dale’s brow furrowed. “Chris who?”

“Collins. Rowdy.”

His expression cleared. “Consider it handled.” He tugged his phone from his back pocket, looking at the screen in his hand when he passed the bar. “Macy, what’s for lunch?”

“Butterfly brains and toadstools,” she said sweetly. “Thought I’d soak them in cow pee and then sauté them.”

Francine and I exchanged a look.

“Sounds good.” Dale put the phone to his ear. “Give me a call when it’s ready, babe. I’ll be in the garage.” He kissed her on her cheek, then headed out the door. “Rowdy? I’m about to make your Christmas, dude. Guess who’s home for the holidays? Shelby wants to know if you got the balls to bring that raggedy-ass Monte Carlo out to play.”

Laughing so hard I collapsed against the kitchen table, I waited until the door slammed behind Dale. “Butterfly brains? Cow pee?”

“Man never listens to a damn word I say.” Mom huffed. “Two weeks ago, I told him I nailed the pool boy and he said ‘that’s great, honey.’”

I couldn’t stop laughing. “You don’t even have a pool.”

“I know, right?” Mom gave us an indignant look.

“You’ve been married, what, four years? Get back to me in twenty-six more,” Francine declared. “I’d take not listening any day over hearing the same old story until I want to scream.”

“Oh, in twenty-six years, I expect to be paroled for his murder.” Mom picked up another photo. “I’m going to have to buy more than I planned. Shelby, you do look happy in every one of these.”

Congratulating myself for asking the Tiptons to stay for the holidays so Mom would have company, I headed for the back room to change out of my dress.

Bet your ass, I look happy. Best. Christmas. Ever. Coming right up.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.