He glanced at me. “Eventually.”
The front door of the house opened, and a wiry woman with a silver braid stepped out onto the porch, her hands on her hips.
“Oh man,” I murmured. “Why do I feel like a lecture is coming on?”
Brooks laughed. “Yeah, definitely a lecture.”
“You’re gonna come with me, right?” I asked him.
“No. I’m the help. I don’t go into the house.”
My brow furrowed.
Was that Brooks’ decision, or Muddy’s?
I unclasped my seat belt and climbed out of the truck. And then I walked up the steps toward Salem and Hadley’s grandmother.
“Come here, sugar,” Muddy said, her brow creased with age and sun. “Let me get a look at you.”
I stopped where I was and let her peruse me from head to toe.
“You look good,” she stated. “Now give me a hug.”
With a laugh, I embraced the woman who felt like everyone’s grandmother.
She pulled back and then stared over my shoulder at Brooks. Her eyebrows rose. “Well, this is interesting. Brooks, you want something to drink?”
“Oh, no thank you, ma’am,” Brooks said. “I’ll be in the barn. Poet, come find me when you’re done.”
I nodded and then let Muddy lead me into the house.
She closed the door behind us, and I followed her into the kitchen.
“Sit,” she commanded, pointing to the table. “I’m making us tea, and we’re going to have a talk.”
CHAPTER NINE
The Ranch
Muddy moved around the honey-oaked kitchen with red and white checkered curtains. It smelled like nutmeg and strong coffee.
“Okay, sugar, start talking.” She went to the stove to grab the old copper tea kettle.
“Oh, where should I start?” I asked. “There’s so much.”
“Well, let’s start with the fact that I wasn’t supposed to see you until Labor Day weekend for Hadley and Salem’s joint baby shower. Not that I’m not glad to see you, but I’m guessing this was an impromptu visit?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Well, I guess I should start at the beginning then.”
“Yeah, you should. Also explain why you decided not to call me.”
“One thing at a time.” I laughed, but then immediately sobered. “I quit my job a few days ago. And Wyn suggested I fly out to Huckleberry Hill.”
Muddy filled the tea kettle at the sink. “Go on.”
“My grandfather is on sabbatical in England for the semester and he’s renting his house in Bay Ridge to the professor who took over his class schedule, so there was no way I could hole up there and wallow. And the Russian models in the New York apartment that are subletting Hadley and Salem’s room are lovely, but they party like rockstars. Not the best environment for wallowing, either. So I decided to come out here early.”
“You know you’re always welcome. Any time.”
