Page 21 of Unlikely to Stay
“You guys, this is really great,” she said with a smile.“I’m excited.I still can’t believe you’re doing all this for me.”
“Why?You’re our best friend.It’s what best friends do.”
“Then I definitely picked good ones.”
“You got that right,” Annie agreed.
Sadie got up from the table.“I gotta get back to work.This place won’t feed itself.And my Clyde, God love him, can’t make anything edible to save his life.He better kick the bucket before I do or he’ll starve himself to the grave right after me.Now are you girls ready for your sundae?”
CC’s stomach growled.“More than ready.”
Breckin and Annie nodded their heads.“Extra whip cream,” Breckin said.“I’m in the mood to celebrate.”
Sadie winked.“Coming right up.”
“So, how’s life goin’in that itty bitty town you call home right now?”
Brant was sitting at the same chipped wooden table he’d been sitting at since he was eleven years old, enjoying his mom’s fantastic meatloaf and fried potatoes.It was his favorite meal ever.And Betty Billings, beautiful soul that she was, always made it for him when he came home to visit.
His mom was a tiny little woman, standing no taller than five-three and that was being generous.Her caramel skin was smooth and made her look at least a decade younger than her seventy-two years.Even though she was tiny, she came with a fierce personality that had stood up for him time and again, both in court with social workers and teachers in school.She was the only person who had ever believed in him.
“You’re a good apple, Brant,” she had told him over and over again growing up.“Don’t let anyone tell you no different.God sent you to me.He knew I was lonely and needed someone to watch out for and love.And here you are.I sure was surprised when he decided I needed a gangly white boy with chocolate eyes, but you’re my son even if we don’t have the same blood or even the same color skin.And don’t you forget it.”
Brant was forever grateful God had sent him to Betty’s doorstep.There’s no telling where he would be otherwise.
“Same as usual,” Brant answered her question, taking another bite.“Madge is still coming in for nonexistent illnesses, Burt is still asking for Viagra.Although Martydidcall me Nurse Billings the other day, so I guess that’s progress.”
Betty laughed.“That’s an interesting little place out there.”
“That’s one way to describe it.”
“Found yourself a nice girl yet?It’s about time you quit being a loner.It ain’t healthy.”
An image of CC ran through his mind.He saw her on Thursday in Swanson’s Market.Her hair was still the same shade of maraschino cherry red and pulled up in a messy bun.She had on a pair of black leggings that highlighted her curves and nice butt and was wearing a t-shirt that pictured Dwight Shrute’s hair and glasses, a character fromThe Office, with the wordFalseunderneath.She looked adorable.
She took one look at him, immediately turned her basket one hundred and eighty degrees, and ran around the corner of the aisle.
“No,” he said evasively.
His mom pushed her empty plate back and placed her elbows on the table, her eyes twinkling with mischief.“Oh, I sensed something more than a maybe in that sentence.”
Brant rolled his eyes She could always read him like a book.“Fine.There’s this woman.”
“Go on.”
“She’s the town’s hair stylist.I swear every time I see her, her hair is a different color.One time, it was lavender with dark purple streaks.One time, it was platinum blonde with pink tips.Currently, it’s maraschino cherry red.She’s not my type at all.”
“Well, maybe you’re branching out.Finding a new type.She sounds interesting.Marches to her own beat.I think I’d like her.”
“You probably would.There’s only one problem.”
“What’s that?”
“I think she hates me.”
His mom frowned.“What?Why?Who would hate you?Do I need to come to that tiny town and give her a stern talkin’ to?I can.Just tell me her name and where to find her.”
Brant shook his head.He’d gotten one of his mom’sstern talking tosgrowing up more times than he could count.They werenotfun and would definitely not win him any points with CC.