Page 23 of Tangled Emotions

“Gary?” I took a drink of my beer.

“My husband.” She lifted her beer up. “He died.”

“Ah.” I smiled. “I hear what you’re not saying, ma’am.”

She laughed. “A smart Marine.”

I choked on my mouthful of beer as I joined her in laughter.

“Welcome to Port Stella.”

“Thanks.”

“Where all have you been?” Miss Cora reached for a cookie.

“The pub and the diner.”

“Best craft beer hands down comes from the Bearded Barrel.” Jean lifted her bottle up. “And the diner has some of the best food.”

“Oh my yes!” Miss Cora smiled. “They built that place and as the children got old enough, they all began working there. Did you get to meet them all?”

“Depends. How many are there?”

“Well, Enoch is the oldest. He always hung around with Paulie and my Wallace. Let’s see and then came Eugene, Edith, and Evelyn.”

“Yes. I met them all.” I chuckled and snagged a cookie. “These are delicious!”

“Thank you.”

Not as good as Edie’s, but still good.

“Now, Francis, tell me. Why haven’t you found a nice girl or guy whichever you like, no judgements here as my Andrew prefers men, and married them?”

I choked on my cookie and reached for my beer.

Christ, lady, you just met me!

“You know if you were settled down then maybe Wally would consider settling down too.”

Ah. There it is. The hook.

“Was Romeo, I’m sorry, Wally, dating someone seriously?”

Miss Jean laughed. “Cora, you need to let the boys find their other half.”

“Pish, I want grandbabies. I’m jealous of yours!” She tapped the table with her index finger. “You get married, show him how wonderful it can be and then he follows suit. That sounds like a nice plan, doesn’t it? And he looks up to you.”

“Ah, hmm.” I cleared my throat and pulled my phone from my vest pocket. “Excuse me, I need to take this call.”

“Of course. You do that, and I’ll consider this matter settled then. Now, take a cookie with you.”

I made my way to my room, still chuckling, and I shot off a text to Edie.

Sweet dreams Edie

who is this?

Frank