Page 27 of A Little Luck
She smiles at me. “I’d love to have dinner with you.”
For the first time in a long time, we feel like a family. The suspicion and disapproval have left her expression. She’s almost like someone I could talk to about my problems.
* * *
Fall is setting in,and the nights are growing cooler. Mom builds a small fire in the chiminea, and I turn three hamburger patties on the small charcoal grill.
My house only has two bedrooms, which doesn’t work for overnight guests, but it’s perfect for Ryan and me. We’ve lived here since he was a baby, and it’s all we need. If anything breaks, I figure out how to fix it, and it’s right behind the newspaper office. I could stagger into work in my pajamas if I wanted to.
I have never done that.
“Look at him!” Ryan has a feather on a small fishing pole, and he’s using it to taunt Fudge and entertain us. “Look how high he can jump!”
He swings the feather, and Fudge does a triple back axle in the air. Mom cheers, and I shake my head as I drop potato sticks into the air fryer.
“That’s pretty good. Maybe cats can learn tricks.”
“I can’t wait for Uncle Adam to see him!” Ryan yells, and my stomach pinches.
“Have you heard from Adam?” Mom’s eyes are on me, studying my expression.
Controlling my face, I make my voice light. “I haven’t.”
I don’t know why everyone keeps asking me this today. I need to get back in to see Drew. It’s starting to hurt again.
“That’s odd. He was so involved with Ryan… with all the kids. He had them playing tee ball, working in the community garden. Something must have happened for him to withdraw that way.”
“He’s flying people back and forth to the mainland from Moloka’i!” Ryan walks into the kitchen. “He sent me a picture last week, see?”
He hands his phone to my mother, and I watch stunned. “Adam sent you a video?”
“Yeah, we text every day. You don’t?” Ryan’s brow is furrowed, and he seems genuinely confused.
I’m genuinely hurt.
“I guess I thought he wanted space.” My voice is quiet, and I feel my mother’s eyes on me again.
Looks like I showed my hand just then.Good work, Piper.
“Dinner’s ready,” I announce brightly.
“I’ll set our places at the picnic table!” Ryan grabs napkins and utensils and charges out the door. “Uncle Adam said being a good helper makes people glad to have you around.”
“Everyone must love having Adam Stone around, then.” Mom’s voice has a note, but I don’t let the conversation lag.
“Three cheeseburgers…” I put slices of cheese on the hot patties before plating them along with the buns, and handing them to my mom.
She takes them as I grab the big bowl of fries, and Fudge follows us outside. Ryan pours him a bowl of dry cat food, and we all take our seats around the small table. Purple and orange twinkle lights are strung along the top of our fence. An oversized jack-o-lantern is on the side of the house, and I’ve got a flattened, fabric witch tacked to a tree.
Ryan is on his knees, bobbing side to side as he dips his fries in ketchup before eating them. Mom cuts her burger in half, and I dive into mine. Half of my burger is gone when I lean back in my chair checking out Fudge lying long and shiny on the grass, watching us with bright yellow eyes.
“You think a mysterious black cat showing up at Halloween is good luck?” I squint at the satisfied-looking feline.
“Absolutely.” Mom nods, taking a sip of her beer. “The Scottish people believe black cats bring good fortune.”
“We’re not Scottish.”
“We can still believe.”