Unless – was this for Lawton's benefit? Was this my dad's way of trying to sound tough? It might've made sense, except for one thing. Lawton wasn't a cowboy.
Lawton grinned at me. He leaned back and rubbed his stomach. "It shore is, ma'am. Mighty thanks."
I glanced at his plate. It was empty. Oh my God. He'd actually eaten all of it. The man deserved a medal. Or a stomach pump.
Loretta pursed her lips and made no response.
"Gee Mom," Lauren Jane said, "aren't you gonna say 'you're welcome?'" Lauren Jane leaned her head close to Lawton's and said in a loud whisper. "Parents can be so rude."
Loretta was looking daggers at her daughter. "So can daughters," she said.
Lauren Jane smirked. "Well at least I say you're welcome when someone thanks me."
Loretta cleared her throat. "Lawton, I apologize. Of course, you are quite welcome.'"
"See?" my dad said. "Now honey-bun, was that so hard?" He pounded his fist on the table. "Now what do you say we rustle up some dessert?"
I stood. "I'll get it."
And then, remembering what happened last time, I froze in mid-motion. I looked toward Loretta. "Unless you'd rather?"
She waved her hand loosely toward the sideboard. "Go ahead. Whatever." She reached up to rub her temples with both index fingers. "I give up."
I retrieved the dessert dishes and started to serve everyone a slice of cheesecake and a piece of apple cobbler.
Lawton waved the dessert away. "None for me, thanks."
"You sure?" I said. Didn't he want something to wash away the taste of fish barf?
He nodded and reached for his nearly full water glass. He downed it in one long, gulp. Concerned, I reached for the pitcher of ice water and refilled his glass. He looked up, meeting my gaze. "Thanks, dumplin'."
I snickered and then caught myself, turning it into a poor imitation of throat-clearing.
"Oh you," Lauren Jane said, giving Lawton another playful swat to his arm. "How come you never call me dumpling?"
"Stop it!" Loretta said from her end of the table. "I don't know what's gotten in to all of you, but I've just about had it."
My dad's brow wrinkled. "What's wrong, Sugar Cube?"
Loretta glared at him. "I. Am. Not. Your. Sugar. Cube." And then, as if remembering herself, she gave him a stiff smile. "Alright?"
My dad held up his hands in mock surrender. "Woah. Hear ya loud and clear, chief. No more sugar cubes." He looked around the table. "Got that, everyone?"
"Oh for Heaven's sake," Loretta muttered, reaching for her wine glass.
"So," Lauren Jane said to Lawton, "you and my sister are just friends, right?"
Her sister? Just friends?
Although Lauren Jane and I had been stepsisters for years, I barely knew her. Funny too. The more I knew her, the less I liked her.
Across the table, Lawton grinned at me. "Chloe? You wanna answer that one?"
I smiled back. "Not particularly."
Lauren Jane's brow wrinkled. Again, she turned to Lawton. "So how'd you two meet? Was she your waitress or something?"
Lawton leaned back in his chair. "Nope."
