said as he leaned into the railing at the bottom of the stairs. “Your momma won’t last long. Once she realizes that the old theater is falling down, she’ll be heading back to Baltimore lickety-split.”
“It’s okay,” Todd replied, “you don’t have to worry that I’m gonna get all emo.”
Dash frowned. “What does emo mean?”
“It means all depressed and stuff.”
“Oh. Well, I wasn’t worried that you were going to get depressed. Especially since y’all will be headed home in a week.”
Todd assessed his older cousin. He was pretty tight for a grown-up. And at least Todd and Dash were on the same side.
“I hope you’re right,” Todd said. But just to make sure of it, Todd planned to borrow Mom’s iPhone and call Granny Katie. Granny Katie would tell Mom what was the right thing to do. She always did.
CHAPTER 3
The next morning, Savannah got up early to make cinnamon rolls. They were Todd’s favorite, and she had hoped to get on his good side. But it didn’t work. He’d barely said a word as he scarfed down two rolls and then beat feet out to the porch. He was still ensconced on the swing with his PSP and his earphones.
Dash wasn’t much better. He took his cup of coffee and his bun out to the porch to eat.
It was a little disheartening to have her son and her bad-boy kissing cousin out there sulking. Together.
“You should go out and talk to both of them, sugar,” Miriam said. Her aunt was still wearing her house robe, and her hair was a mess. But at least Miriam had thanked Savannah for the home-baked rolls and had kept her company while she drank her second cup of coffee.
“I sure wish Rocky had kept her mouth shut,” Savannah said on a sigh. “That wasn’t exactly the way I wanted Todd, much less you and Dash, to hear about my plans. The thing is, I’ve been thinking about doing this for a long time. And when Uncle Harry died, I just pulled the trigger. But now that I’m here, I’m, well…”
Miriam laughed. “I know it’s a big step, but everyone in town would be overjoyed if you could revive the theater. Me especially. Earnest loved that place so much.”
“Yeah, he did.” Savannah drained her coffee cup, then took it to the sink to rinse.
When she was finished, she turned and leaned her backside into the counter. “I don’t want you to think we just invited ourselves here. My plan is to move into the apartment above the theater. That way, you and Dash won’t feel like we’ve descended on you without his permission.”
Miriam frowned. “But you’re family, and this house has more rooms than a dog has fleas.”
“I know, but Dash—”
“Hush. You and Dash and that boy of yours are all the family I have left. I want you to stay here. Nothing would please me more. Now do me a favor and go on out to that porch and have an adult conversation with your cousin. I can understand why Todd is sulking—you’re taking him away from his home—but Dash is a grown man and knows better.”
Miriam stood up. “And if you don’t mind, my arthritis is bothering me, so I’m just going to go have a little lay-down.” The old woman shuffled out of the kitchen. It probably wasn’t Miriam’s arthritis that was bothering her. Now that the funeral was over, the reality of Harry’s loss was starting to sink in. Miriam seemed a little depressed this morning.
All the more reason Savannah shouldn’t be rocking any boats.
She squared her shoulders and headed out to the porch. “Dash, do you have a minute?”
Dash looked up without any expression on his face. His swollen lip looked a little better today, and the bruise under his eye had turned green.
“Sure thing, princess.” He gestured toward an adjacent rocker.
“I was thinking maybe inside.” She glanced at Todd.
Dash turned toward the boy. “Hey, kid.”
Todd ignored him.
“Hey, you.” He nudged the boy’s foot, and Todd finally looked up from the screen of his PSP.
“You know how to work a lawn mower?”
Todd gazed at Dash as if he’d spoken in an alien language.
“Uh, no, he doesn’t. We live in an apartment complex and—” Savannah tried to explain, but Dash interrupted.
“Well, shoot, I guess I’ll have to show you. Because if you’re staying here, you’re not going to sit around on your lazy behind. Uncle Harry left a lot of chores.”
Todd’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything. He simply stood