“Youcould stay at our place,” Devin tossed in.
Momshook her head adamantly. “No, no. The last time I slept on that couch ofyours, I was making an appointment with the chiropractor the next day,remember?”
“Youdon’t have to sleep on the couch. You could take—”
“Iwillnotkick one of you out of bed,” she insisted, shooting him a hardstare. “I’ll just stay at that cute little bed and breakfast.That’s still there,isn’t it?”
Inodded, ignoring the way Devin had his eyes narrowed at me. “Well, it’s been theresince the 1800s, so yeah, I can’t imagine they’d tear it down now,” I saidsarcastically.
Sherolled her eyes with a light laugh as she shoveled more food into her mouth,then she gasped and dropped her fork, causing us to both look at her with alarm.“Oh my God! I forgot the biscuits!” She bolted up from the chair and hurriedinto the kitchen.
Devinleaned against my chair. “Perfect timing. So, are we not telling her for areason, or what?”
Isighed, putting my fork down on my plate. “I’m not reallyhidingit. I’mjust—"
Aloud clunk came from the kitchen and I whipped my head toward the doorway.“Mom? You okay?”
“Damnthis cabinet! This fucking door has been hanging by one hinge for the past weekand it chose this moment to break off entirely.”
Devinpushed from the table and stood up. “I’ll fix it,” he said, wiping his hands onhis jeans as he walked into the kitchen.
“No,you sit and eat. I’ll call some—”
“Thehell, you are,” he cut her off. “If you call someone in here to fix this,they’re going to charge you an arm and a leg for something I’ll do right nowfor free.”
Shehuffed through her nose. “Are you sure? I don’t want to be a pain—”
“Stop,”he said gently. “It’ll take me five minutes and I actually have some hinges inthe truck right now that I think will fit.”
Momsighed, resigning. “You’re a sweetheart, you know that?”
“Itry. I’ll just do this quick.” And before Mom and I could protest, he walkedthrough the house to the front door.
Hewas leaving us alone on purpose.
Mymom walked back into the dining room, wielding a basket of buttermilk biscuits.“I feel bad. He didn’thaveto fix that stupid door now.”
Ishifted in my seat. “I know.”
“Well,anyway,” she tapped the tips of her fingers together like some maniacal villainas a small smile spread on her lips, “I have some news.”
Iswallowed. This was it. Whatever weird phenomenon was going on, she was goingto tell me what it was all about. The whole reason for the impromptu dinnergathering, no doubt. And to quell my own anxiety, I countered with a grin as Isaid, “So do I. You go first.”
Anervous version of my mother took over. Her hand fluttered to her hair,sweeping several strands off her forehead. She tapped her manicured nailstogether. I couldn’t remember the last time she had her nails done—had sheever?Had she ever put this much of an effort into herself when my father was alive?
Wasshe even able to?
OhGod, the pain seared through my heart.
“I,uh … God, Kylie, I don’t know how to tell you this.”
Sheheld her hands together, pressed to her lips, and I heard the front door open,the clanging of tools in a metal box. Devin entered the kitchen and dropped thetoolbox to the floor. I turned around to see him kneel, he looked up to catchmy eye and I grimaced. He responded with a slight raising of his eyebrows.
“Kylie?”Mom asked.
Iflashed him my “help me” eyes. He smiled encouragingly, and I turned back to mymom. “Yeah?”
“I’vebeen seeing someone for a few months.”
