PRESLEY
Iwasn’t lying when I told Lila my house was a wreck.
It truly was a mess, but I’d been busy trying to get things back in order. I’d already done two loads of laundry. I’d swept, vacuumed, and dusted. I’d also put things back where they belonged, and it was actually starting to resemble a home again.
From time to time, I would check my phone, hoping to find a message from Luke. He usually messaged several times throughout his shift, but I hadn’t heard anything from him in hours. It gave me an uneasy feeling, but I tried not to think much of it and kept my focus on cleaning.
Once I finished up in the kitchen, I tossed the rag in the sink and made my way down the hall to the laundry room. I pulled the clothes from the dryer and tossed them in the laundry basket before switching out the clothes from the washer.
I carried the basket into the living room and had just started folding them when headlights flashed across the living room window. I glanced up at the clock and was surprised to see that it was after nine.
It was pretty late. I didn’t usually have people stop by, and I certainly didn’t have them stop by at this hour. Curious, I got up and looked out the window just in time to see my mother and father step up to the front door.
One of them knocked, and I shouted, “Coming!”
I stepped over and opened the door, and Dad gave me a warm smile. “Surprise!”
“Hey there, honey.” Mom reached out and hugged me. “We were on our way home from dinner and saw your lights on.”
“You can’t pass my place without checking in?”
“Absolutely not,” Dad answered. “No way I’d miss an opportunity to say hi to my girl.”
“Well, I’m glad you stopped by.”
I shut the door behind them, and they settled into their usual spots on the couch. I went back over to my laundry and continued folding as I asked, “So, where did you guys eat?”
“We tried that new little bistro down by the square. It’s calledMalonesor something like that.”
“What did you think?”
“It was overpriced, and the food was mediocre,” Dad answered for her. “They’d do good to add a few things to the menu. Like a good steak or a hearty pasta.”
“They just opened,” Mom argued. “I’m sure they’ll add to the menu as they go, and I thought it was quite good. I was thinking I might take Vicky and Sue Ellen to have lunch there one day next week.”
“That would be nice.”
“You should take them to Dixie’s Café,” Dad suggested. “They’ve got better options, and they aren’t so damn high.”
“We eat there all the time.” Mom rolled her eyes in frustration. “I think they’d appreciate the change.”
“I’m sure they will.” Hoping to change the subject, I asked, “So, what’s been going on with you two? Any new projects at the house or family drama I should know about?”
“You and your sister are the only drama I know about.” Mom gave me one of her looks. “Has there been any other developments with Lila?”
“No. She’s been behaving.” I smiled as I told them, “I actually went by her work earlier. She’s a little stressed about her classes, but overall, she seems to be doing really well.”
“Well, that’s good to hear,” Dad answered, sounding relieved. “She’s a smart girl with a good head on her shoulders. It’s time she used it.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Mom sighed. “I worry about that girl every single day. I really wish she would find a good man and settle down.”
I continued folding clothes as I told her, “He’ll come around sooner or later.”
“And what about you?” Mom settled back on the sofa. “Do you have new prospects we should know about?”
“Maybe.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
