Chapter 17
Ali Kat
Do you ever just get a kick out of saying,“I told you so?”Well, I do, but this is one case where I wish I was wrong. I told Momma I can’t cook, but she insisted that I try, and the results are likely to kill somebody.
Mother casts me a livid gaze as she holds out the frying pan towards me. “Did yer pa put ya up to this?”
“Pa? Why would he—”
“He just loves any excuse to get him some Mac-Donalds. That sandwich with the syrupy biscuits that is outright murder on his cholesterol.”
“I am in no way culpable to father’s bid for digestive freedom, and let’s not act like bacon and eggs are any better for his cholesterol.”
“It sure is better than the crap they’re packing into whatever it is they serve.” She scrapes the bottom of the now black frying pan with a spatula. “How did this happen? Nothing about this is natural?”
“Sorry, Ma. I tried.”
She sets the pan down on the stove and lets out an annoyed sigh.
Prim comes in from outside, her face contorting in disgust. “What’s that smell?” She buries her nose in her elbow to abate the odor.
“Prim, get yer brother,” Ma snaps. “He’s bringing Tammy to the store to get whatever it is she can possibly manage to cook without,” her eyes go to the pan, “that happening again.”
“Cool! Can I come too!” Prim asks.
“Not with chores stacking up like they are. Now git!”
?
Garrett
Prim comes bounding up the walkway, eyeing my car suspiciously. She’s a cute kid, growing into a lovely young woman, and one day, a man’s going to be lucky to call her his.
I will not be that man.
She knocks on the door, and Jake yells, “Come in!”
Her cheeks are flushed pink, and her hair’s a mess of straw and hay. It’s refreshing how innocent she is, more so than Irene ever was, with her overly-analytical personality. If I had to name one thing the Carters were exceptional at, it would be raising good kids.
“I didn’t think you had camp today?” Jake says.
Prim’s eyes fall on me, ignoring Jake entirely. “I thought you were supposed to be at the body shop?”
It takes everything I have to look her straight in the eyes and say, “Coming in late today for a job.”
It seems to reassure her, and her attention finally returns to her brother. “Tammy needs a ride to the grocery store to get prepper food, as mom calls it.”
“Not interested.”
Prim’s face falls, unprepared for Jake’s resistance.
“He’ll be there to pick her up in a few,” I say.
Jake casts a scathing gaze in my direction.
Prim turns tail and rushes away, as she does. There is no ‘leisurely’ to Prim Carter. She’s in a rush, no matter what the destination.
“If she wants to go to the store, she can walk!” Jake insists.
