“Seems like she found one,” Mrs. Gamble murmured.
Chris rolled his eyes. I guess he hadn’t shared about my tragic circumstances. My nose scrunched. I shouldn’t think of my life that way, but that’s exactly how it felt. I kept waking up each morning hoping I would find out it had all been a dream.
“Mom, Erykah is a friend.”
“He’s right, Mrs. Gamble. I don’t date.” Though Chris certainly had me entertaining the idea more and more.
“Ever?” she asked, as if to say,Yeah right.
“Ever,” I replied firmly.
“Auntie!” Cheyenne yelled at the top of her lungs as she stormed up the stairs. “Auntie, come quick.”
“What?” I rushed over to her, eyes already scanning her for injuries.
“Charlie found a spider. It’s as big as his face.”
“What color is it?” Chris asked.
“Brown.”
Chris took on a pallor that had my nerves ratcheting up. “I’ll go check everything out. Is Ash still down there?” he asked.
“Yes, should I be worried?” I whispered.
“I’m sure it’s okay.” He tromped down the stairs. I leaned over the rail, watching him go, but Cheyenne tugged on my hoodie hem to get my attention.
“Yes?”
“Who’s that?” She pointed right at Chris’s mom.
I guided Cheyenne over to his mother. “Mrs. Gamble, this is my niece Cheyenne. Cheye, this is Chris’s mom.”
“Whoa. How old are you? You have gray hair!” Cheye pointed.
Kill me now.“Cheye!” I snapped. I knew kids said the darndest things, but could they be a little less embarrassing? At what age could I expect her filter to kick in?
“Well, Cheyenne, I’m sixty-five. Is that ancient?”
Cheye’s eyes bugged, and her head bobbed up and down. “But I like your hair. It’s straight and shiny. Mine’s not.” Her bottom lip poked out.
“Oh, this ol’ thing isn’t my real hair.” Chris’s mom patted her bob. “But I love your braids. You look beautiful.”
“How do you have fake hair?”
I wanted to clamp a hand over Cheyenne’s mouth before she could utter another word. Fortunately, Chris came up the stairs with Charlie bounding behind his heels and Ashlynn in his arms.
“What was it?” I whispered.
“Hobo spider. I’ll check and make sure there’s no more in a bit.”
Weren’t those ...venomous?
“A baby,” Mrs. Gamble gasped, holding her clasped hands underneath her chin. “Isn’t she utterly precious.” She glanced at me. “May I?”
I nodded, but Ash would have none of it. She curled under Chris, shrinking her body away from his mom.
“Oh, okay. Perhaps not. I don’t want you to feel shy with me, sweetie.” Mrs. Gamble looked at Ash, then me. “Your niece as well?”
