“No. Never.”
“And that’s why I call you Grumpy Griffin. Anyway,” she continues with a grin, “she’s here, and she’s a lovely one.”
Excellent.
I don’t have the patience for this.
“I’m not cutting her grass,” I state.
“Who said you have to do anything for her?” Nan laughs, and I don’t miss the crinkle that forms around her eyes when she does.
“So, what’s she here for?”
Nan rolls her eyes. “I just told you, she moved here. Clean your ears, boy.”
Now it’s my turn to mimic her. “I get that, but why here?”
She shrugs. “Hell if I know. I didn’t ask too many questions.But I asked if she was a felon. She said no.” She shrugs before taking another sip of her beer.
“Anyone can tell you no and still be a felon.”
“I went clearly off of vibes,” she says, bringing her hand up the side of her like she’s meditating.
“And hold on, rewind for a second. Youdidn’t ask too many questions? Do I need to drive you to the hospital?”
“Fine. I’ll tell you why she’s here.” She points a scolding finger in my direction. “But only because I don’t want to sit in the car with your grumpy ass for over an hour to get to the nearest hospital.”
“I’d get us there in fifty-five minutes,” I state matter-of-factly.
“Do you want to know or not?”
“Proceed.”
“She’s here to start a new life.”
My head falls back on the rocking chair, and I avert my gaze from Nan to the lake in my backyard. Do you know what’s worse than someone taking away the quiet on my road? One who claims she wants a new beginning. One who’s running from her so-called “hard life” to start over here. My last encounter with a female who wanted to start a new life was here in town. And she left me.
Did she do the same to someone back home?
I shake the thoughts from my head because I don’t give a damn.
“This should be loads of fun,” I say sarcastically.
“You’re right, it should be,” Nan confirms, not picking up on my tone. “And like I said, she seems like a lovely girl. So don’t go scaring her away with all that negative energy you have floating around you. I’m going to get sick just sitting here with you.”
My eyebrows furrow.
This woman really is certifiably insane.
I stand from the chair. “I’m heading to the bar for the lunch shift. Need a ride or not?”
“Well, since you asked so nicely.”
With that, I move inside to grab the Chevy keys and head out the door. Right before I hop into my truck, I catch a glimpse of the tiny home out of the corner of my eye.Mytiny home I’ve kept up all these years and was waiting for the right moment to put it on the market. A home that I love more than anything.
And that’s when I see it.
A white Mercedes Benz in the driveway.
