Ava bit her lip, but after a brief hesitation, she strode toward the back staircase, and I exhaled. I pulled out my phone and sent a group text to Rory and Will.
Group text with Rory, Will, and Mac
5:17 p.m.
Mac:
Either of y’all have anything on hand you can bring over for supper?
Rory:
I’ve got a casserole in the freezer.
Will:
Wait…why do we need to bring supper? Is Momma okay?
I glanced toward the kitchen where my parents continued bickering, still in hushed tones so I couldn’t make out what they were saying.
Mac:
Momma’s fine, but something’s up with Daddy. Idk details yet. Hurry up so we can discuss.
Rory:
Grabbing the food and heading out right now.
Will:
Be there in 5
I pocketed my phone, tiptoed toward the kitchen, then stood just out of sight, hoping to glean something from my parents’ conversation.
“Dr. Snyder said a heart healthy diet, Richard, and that doesnotinclude fried chicken,” Momma said, her tone firm and exasperated.
“Well, certainly he doesn’t mean that for the rest of my life! I can’t go without fried chicken forever, Caroline.”
“You’re gonna go without it until I tell you otherwise. And no more of those damn cigars either.”
“You can’t take those away too!”
“I can and I did. I already threw them away.”
“What?” Daddy nearly shouted. “Do you have any idea how much those cost?”
“Do you have any idea how little Icare?”
I barely held in my laughter. It wasn’t often my momma got this feisty—that I heard, anyway—but I absolutely loved it when she did.
“No more fried food. No more cigars. And tomorrow, you’re gonna start using the country club’s gym and do some light cardio like suggested.”
Daddy groaned, long and loud, sounding not much older than his granddaughters. “Sweetheart, this whole mess today doesn’t constitute all that. The EKG was all right. They’re just puttin’ me on Lasix as a preventative. I hardly think all this is necess?—”
A loud cracking noise made me jump, and I peered around the corner to see my momma’s hand firmly on the island as she leaned over Daddy. “Dammit, Richard, you’re gonna take this seriously, or so help me God, I will make your life a livin’hell. Do you understand? You think no fried chicken is the worst thing I can do to you? How about plain salads with no dressin’ for every meal?”
“Now, don’t go?—”
“And if you think I can’t make it so no restaurant will serve you, you’ve underestimated me. I know the name and birth weight of every restaurant owner in town.Try me.”
