Her grandmother turned and took the few steps to the refrigerator. “I don’t remember why I called,” she said.
“Jet said you sounded pretty upset.”
Cash really wanted Lark to just let this go, but he didn’t think she would. He also didn’t get to decide what was important and what wasn’t. So he simply stooped to pick up the cat purring and rubbing along his legs.
“Have you eaten, Grammy?” Lark asked as Cash moved into the living room.
“Yes, I called you to get that recipe for creamy chicken noodle soup,” she said. “I couldn’t find mine.”
“Your recipes are right here, Grammy.” Something slid and then slapped closed as Lark helped her grandmother in the kitchen.
A few minutes later, she joined him in the living room. “We can go,” she said. “She won’t come with me, and she seems fine now.”
Cash set the cat aside and got to his feet. “All right.” He looked toward the kitchen to say good-bye to Lark’s grandmother, but he found it and the small dining room in the alcove opposite it empty.
“She’s okay.” Lark threw a dark look down the hallway. “She’s right back to her stubborn self.”
Cash wanted to quip something like,I wonder where you got it from, but decided now wasn’t the time. He liked Lark’s stubbornness, besides, and he didn’t want to tease her about it.
He waited for her to bundle herself up in her coat, loop the scarf around her neck, and pull her hat on. Then she turnedtoward the rest of the condo. “We’re leaving, Grammy,” she called.
She didn’t get a response, and Lark huffed her way out of the condo. Cash followed, pulling the door closed behind them before pausing. “Can she lock it?” he asked.
“Yeah, she always makes a round before she goes to bed for good,” Lark said.
“She wasn’t going to bed?” Cash asked, lengthening his stride to keep up with Lark’s angry steps.
“She said she was going to take a bath and put on her pajamas.”
Cash let her storm through her feelings on the way back to the truck, where he helped her up and then got behind the wheel. He started the vehicle, which immediately began to blow warm air.
“Are we done down here in town?” he asked quietly. “Do you want to get dinner?”
Lark shook her head. “I don’t want to sit down somewhere, but we can drive through.”
Cash reached over and took her hand in his. “She came around, and she really seemed okay.”
Lark nodded. “There was food in the fridge, and she’d fed the cats.” She looked at him with bright, hopeful eyes, and he really wanted her to be happy. He’d do anything for it.
“See?” Cash smiled, reached out, and ran his thumb along her bottom lip. “Nothing to be worried about.”
Lark nodded, though she didn’t seem convinced, and Cash slid his hand around to the back of her neck and pulled her closer. She met him over the console for a kiss, and Cash’s whole body lit up with her touch.
“I’m sorry she stresses you out.” He kissed her again, aware of the aching need that existed inside of him. “If I could make it better, I would.” Another kiss. “Please don’t be sad.”
She kissed him back each time his lips touched hers, and finally, Cash dropped his chin and rested his forehead against Lark’s.
“I’m not sad,” she whispered. “I’mfrustrated. I just don’t know what to do.”
Cash hadn’t known what to do in the situation inside the condo either, so he could relate on that count.
“Well, my momma and aunts taught me that food fixes everything.” He offered her a small smile as he pulled away. “So, what do you want? Fried chicken, burgers, pizza, barbecue, Chinese? Coral Canyon has grown a lot. We can get almost anything.”
She reached up and pushed her hair off the sides of her face, a long sigh following. “Can we go get those bacon cheese fries from Westinghouse?”
“Absolutely we can.” Cash put his truck in reverse and backed out, and while he knew cheese fries couldn’t fix everything, he prayed on the way to the fast-casual restaurant that potatoes, cheese, bacon, and the hand of God could soothe Lark for tonight.
CHAPTER
