“We will.” My head starts tothrob.
We talk a little longer. She wants to know about what’s going on with everyone and everything who didn’t call or email her about Ebie. She wants to make sure Honeycrisp knows she misses her. I get an earful about how they should have been able to bring her to Edinburgh with them. She tells me to call Scott. We hang up after that. I don’t call Scott, but I texthim.
Any updates on the timelinehere?
Mom’s been alerted to herpresence.
Good thing mom is on the otherside
of the planet and can’t do shit aboutit.
I’ll let you know when Iknow.
No one wants her there,dude.
Just fuckingchill.
Iconsider throwingmy phone through my windshield and head back to thebarn.
* * *
Igiveup trying to make anything of this bullshit day and head over to get Ebie at the cannery around five thirty. I’m busy thinking about how I left Art to deal with the mothers who showed up with nine kids between them, determined to get access to our petting zoo animals even though it says the petting zoo is closed due to weather right on the front page of ourwebsite.
I’m not in the mood to deal with Ginny and Maya’s shit, but when I walk through the kitchen doors all I see is the smile on Ebie’s face. Too bad I can’t share herenthusiasm.
“There he is,” Maya says. She’s wiping down the center countertop. They must have finished a while ago because the place isspotless.
“Hey,” Ebie says cheerfully. “I made. So. Much. Jam.” She gestures to the jars and jars of blueberry and Family Jam lining the rear counter with a dramatic sweep of herarm.
“Screw being a lawyer. Your girl has a future in jam,” Mayasays.
“Do you want to take any of it with you?” Iask.
“Oh, uh sure. Can I?” she asksGinny.
“Of course. Take as many as youlike.”
“Thanks!”
“Where’s her coat?” I ask as Ginny helps her pile a few jars into one of our McInroy paperbags.
“Where we usually keep our coats?” she says, giving me a look like she knows I can’t be thatstupid.
I walk into the small office space off the back of the kitchen and find her raincoat on the rack. I head back into the kitchen and wait by the door while they keep talking about how Ebie should come hang out again and how Ebie is welcome in their kitchen anytime. I don’t bother telling them that she’ll be gone in a few days. I’ll wait a few weeks until I tell them she’s never comingback.
“Ready?” she asks me with this bright smile on her face like I haven’t been standing there with her coat in my hand for tenminutes.
“Here.” I take the paper bag from her and hand her thecoat.
“Yikes, girl. He’s still in a mood. Have fun with that shit tonight,” Maya says before she sticks her tongue out at me. I give her the finger, then usher Ebie out of the door. Once we’re back in the truck, she turns tome.
“Holdon.”
I take my hand off the gear shift and turn to her. “What?”
“I had a great fucking time with Maya and Ginny. Are you still tired or are you in a shitty mood? Do I need to settle in for a night of you being cranky as fuck? ‘’Cause I’d rather skip the movies if that’s thecase.”
“I’m in a shitty mood because you’re here, but not for the reasons youthink.”