"I'll get it," Ash said to her, dropping a kiss on the crown of her head as he stood. To Linden, he said, "I'll take a glass of red."
"Red for Ash, red for Dad," Linden said to himself, "ale for Zelda, Diet Pepsi for Mom, black cherry seltzer and a splash of ale on the side for Maggie because she's weird and needs tosmellbeer, stout for me. That's everyone. Good. All set."
"What about Jasper?" Magnolia asked, her brows pinched up like she was deeply offended on my behalf. "You didn't mention her."
He stepped away, grabbed a bottle off the sideboard table. "I've got Jasper covered." He dropped a hand to my shoulder and held out the bottle to me. "Is this what you want tonight? Or something else?"
It wasmybottle. The same one I'd had the night he visited me on the back porch. The same one he'd pulled out of his refrigerator the night we ate stew and popovers, the night I'd assumed it was a great big coincidence.
"That's perfect," I managed. My cheeks were hot. So hot. They had to be glowing red right now. "Thank you."
"No problem, Peach."
"There you are," Diana said as an older man dressed in golf gear bustled in from the hall. "We almost sent out a search party." She gave me an aggrieved frown. "Jasper, this is Carlo. My very tardy husband."
"Sorry I'm late, sorry I'm late," he said as he settled into his chair at the head of the table.
"Where have you been?" Diana asked. "Your round was supposed to finish two hours ago."
"The group ahead of us was moving slowly. Everything got backed up." He lifted his hands and offered a sheepish shrug. "I'm glad you didn't wait for me."
"You know I don't wait around when the food is hot and ready," she replied. "Especially not when we have a guest. Carlo, say hello to Linden'sfriend, Jasper."
He glanced around the table as if he needed a minute to find me in the sea of faces. As soon as he did, I felt something twist inside me. Something ominous.
"Good lord, you're the woman from the television. The one with the senator from Georgia."
I'd forgotten. For the past few days, I'd put Timbrooks and my hot-mic moment out of my mind. I'd forgotten long enough to be caught off guard and now I couldn't move. I couldn't even breathe.
"Dad," Linden warned.
There was a long, pulsing moment when everyone was completely silent. It was like the quiet between dropping a glass and when it hit the floor.
Then it shattered.
"Iknewyou looked familiar," Magnolia shouted.
"Wait a second. You're the one who said—about the senator?" Ash asked.
"How do you even know my brother? I don't understand how they know each other," Magnolia said to Rob. "Nothing makes sense right now."
"Watch yourself, Maggie," Linden said.
I was frozen stiff. Didn't move, didn't blink.
"What did I say?" she asked. "I said I don't understand anything and I just want someone to explain how you know this woman who is the modern day Joan of Arc, as far as some circles are concerned."
That seemed unlikely. Highly unlikely.
Ash wagged a finger at his sister. "Honestly, yes."
"Let's pass the rice, please," Diana said. "I don't cook rice so you can eat it cold."
I nearly laughed at that because I already loved this lady and her wholeno bullshit except for the bullshit I wantvibe. If I hadn't been completely frozen in panic, I would've passed the shit out of that rice for her.
Linden leaned in, his arm hooked over the back of my chair. "Are you okay?"
I nodded. That was the best I could do.
