She ignored it and turned her sharp, curious gaze on me. “I’m Marla Keegan, but everyone calls me Ma. And you are?”
“Emory Morgan. I’m house-sitting for Eunice.”
“Eunice’s place.” Ma nodded slowly, glancing at Kai and back at me. “So you’re neighbors.”
“That’s right.”
“Neighbors having dinner together.”
“Ma,” Kai said, firmer now. “Can we get a table?”
She smiled like she’d already won and led us to a booth in the corner. Kai slid in first, back to the wall, facing the door. I sat across from him.
She set down menus but lingered. “The usual for you, sweetheart? And what’ll you have to drink?”
“Coffee,” I said.
“Coming right up.” She patted Kai’s shoulder. “It’s good to see you out.”
She left before he could respond. He stared at the table like it had personally offended him.
“She seems nice,” I said.
“She’s nosy.”
“Those aren’t mutually exclusive.”
He looked up, and something softened—just barely. “She’s been trying to set me up for three years,” he said. “This isn’t helping.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” he rushed to say.
Ma returned with coffee and took our orders, winking at me. We both ordered burgers. She moved along to the next booth, where she launched into a conversation that left no doubt that anyone who walked through those doors was her friend.
While we waited, I got him talking about Iron Peak. The town. The trails. The hot springs. The old mine ruins locals swore were haunted.
“Some people don’t come back,” he said, voice heavy. “Search and rescue does what they can.”
“Have you ever done it?”
“Helped out? No. I’m not trained for that.”
“What are you trained for?”
The question slipped out. His jaw tightened. Then the food arrived, breaking the moment.
The burger was incredible. Simple and filling and exactly what I needed. Kai watched me eat with undisguised approval.
“Better?” he asked.
“So much better.”
“You need to take care of yourself.”
“I know. I just forget.”
“I noticed.”
