“Why do they call it that?” Jorja’s face was scarlet, most likely from thinking about letting what she considered a bad word fall from her lips, combined with the idea of actually drinking something with alcohol in it.
“It’s because men make fun of us for drinking fruity beers,” Anna Rose answered.
“Then buy a six-pack for us,” Jorja declared. “We’ll prove to the lot of them that we can drink our fruity beer with pride.”
“That’s really moving on with determination and purpose, and I’m proud of you.” Anna Rose shot a smile across the table toward her.
“Wow!” Taryn laid a hand on her chest in a dramatic gesture, but in all seriousness, she was also both surprised and happy that Jorja was making progress. “This is a celebration day. You two were kind to each other.”
“I kind of like a bottle of that stuff every now and then,” Clinton chimed in. “Especially the watermelon flavor on a hot day. I keep a couple of six-packs up in my apartment all the time. That’s all my best friend, Quincy, drinks. He’s going to join me in my vet business in a few days. I can’t wait for all y’all to meet him.”
“That would be great,” Taryn said. “But why does he only drink that?”
“He hates the taste of the real stuff and of any kind of hard liquor,” Clinton explained. “He says life is too good to lose part of it by passing out drunk.”
“Amen,” Jorja said and cut her eyes around at Anna Rose.
“Don’t give me your old stink eye,” Anna Rose snapped. “I’ve never passed out, and when I have more than I should, I can say that I had a good time doing it.”
“Hey, we’ve all got a past,” Clinton said. “But we have a million futures in front of us, and it’s up to us to choose which path is right.”
“Where’d you get those words of wisdom?” Taryn asked and wondered if she would take the path to have a relationship with Clinton if it ever opened up.
“I heard the part about a million futures on a television show,” Clinton answered. “The rest I kind of figured out for myself. The past is gone and should be put away. But we have dozens upon dozens offutures ahead of us, and it’s our decision about which one to choose each day.”
“That’s right,” Taryn said and then reached across the table to lay a hand on Jorja’s arm. “I don’t want you to go against your morals, but I wantyouto decide what’s right foryou. Same goes for you, Anna Rose.” The voice inside her head said that she was preaching to the choir, and she agreed with it wholeheartedly.
“And for you,” Clinton asked.
“Especially for me,” Taryn said with a nod toward Clinton.
“Thank you for offering to come get us,” Irene said as she helped Ruby into Taryn’s SUV. “There’s no way I could get this old woman in my small car.”
“You just wait until you get those new bionic knees and see how quick you can get in and out of a car,” Ruby teased.
“No problem,” Taryn said. “We’re just glad y’all are going to join us. They should be getting the hot dogs roasted by the time we get there.”
Ruby settled into the passenger seat and fastened her seat belt. “You kids are so inventive. I would never have thought to build a fire in an old metal trash can—and for your information, Irene O’Reilly, I’m not as old as you are and never will be.”
“Oh, right!” Irene declared. “I’m ten days older, and that makes me ten days smarter.”
Taryn folded Ruby’s walker. “Clinton gets the credit for the trash can plan. We just went along with it, and we’re glad y’all decided to join us. It’s just hot dogs and then watermelon for dessert, but it will be fun.”
“When we get there, I get to hold that baby first,” Ruby said.
“Why do you get to hold her first?” Irene asked.
“Because I had surgery, and I get to be pampered, and because you held her first on Saturday,” Ruby answered.
“All right, but she’s going to fuss and want me in less than a minute. Babies always love me more than you,” Irene said.
“Y’all argue more than us three cousins,” Taryn muttered as she took the walker to the back and loaded it in.
They were still arguing when she got behind the wheel and started the engine, and they hadn’t stopped by the time they reached the trailer. To Taryn’s way of thinking, the two old gals had been together too much and needed some time apart, even if it was just for an hour or two.
But that doesn’t make sense,the voice in her head argued,because Anna Rose and Jorja can be apart a whole year and start bickering the moment they see each other.
“Okay, ladies, your limousine has arrived.” Taryn parked the car. “From that smoking trash can, I’d say that the hot dogs are ready, and the party has moved inside. As hot as it is this evening, no one is getting an argument from me about not eating on the porch.”
