Page 62

“Exactly,” Willow said, pointing her fork for emphasis. “Because he is a performative snake. He probably saw an audience and decided it was time to audition for somebody’s grandson-of-the-year award.”

“Willow.”

“What? I’m serious.”

Granny shook her head, though I could see the amusement she was trying to hide. “I raised y’all better than to act ugly in public just because you don’t like somebody. I spoke, thanked him, and kept it moving. That’s called manners.”

Willow leaned back in her chair. “That’s called giving a snake enough room to slither.”

“Baby, everything does not need one of your little sayings.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.

Granny turned back to me. “Anyway, he asked about you.”

That wiped the humor right out of the room.

“What did he want, Granny?” I asked quietly, closing my laptop.

“Asked how you were doing,” Granny said. “Said he heard talk around town that you might be coming back for a while. Wanted to know if you were staying.”

“And what did you say?”

“Told him you were an adult with a child and a career, and whatever your business was in Hallowridge was between you and the Lord.”

Willow let out a loud snort. “Translation: Mind your damn business, Chalis.”

Granny gave a small, unbothered sip of her coffee. “I used more Christian words than that, but the boy got the message.”

I chuckled.

“Well, if he comes around here,” Willow said, her voice dropping into that protective, vicious tone she only used for people who had hurt me, “I’m calling the police and telling them he’s trespassing. I cannot stand his narcissistic, cheating behind.”

I knew Willow wanted to probably say ass, but out of respect for Granny she refrained from doing so.

“He won’t come here,” I said firmly, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “Chalis knows better.”

“Men who think with their egos don't know better,” Granny pointed out gently, setting her napkin beside her plate. “Just keep your distance from him when you run your errands in town. You’ve got enough on your shoulders without dredging up old dirt.”

“Believe me. Chalis is the very last thing on my mind,” I whispered, looking toward the window where the morning sun was finally breaking through the gray clouds.

Later that afternoon, while Kaidence was downstairs in the living room helping Granny put together a giant dinosaur floor puzzle, I finally started the real work of unpacking.

My bedroom hadn't changed much over the years. The light yellow walls were still the same, the white wooden dresser still had a tiny scratch on the top corner from where Willow had dropped an iron when we were teenagers, and the afternoon breeze pushed through the open window, carrying the scent of damp grass and pine needles.

I stood by the open closet, hanging up my cardigans and blazers before turning back to the large suitcase sitting open on the floral duvet.

I grabbed a stack of folded sweaters and walked over to the dresser, sliding the top drawer open and placing them neatly inside.

A quiet knock sounded against the open door.

I looked over my shoulder.

Willow was leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed over her chest. She had finally traded her bonnet for a slicked-back ponytail, though she had stubbornly kept the fuzzy pink slipper on her foot.

“You know what’s weird?” she asked softly.

I placed another sweater into the drawer. “What?”