get home tonight, I want to hear all about your first day.”
She still felt the need to justify, if not to Brad, to herself. “My first month’s salary will be enough to repair the roof over Ansley’s room.”
“Honey, I’ll take care of that.” He sat down on the bed and put on his socks and shoes. “Use the money you make at your job to buy something for you.”
She’d never spent much money on herself for clothes, shoes, or personal items. Always on the kids or the house. Not to say she’d let herself go—she’d like to think not. But a variety of nice clothes hadn’t seemed essential, even when they were in Houston. “Maybe,” she said as she slipped into a pair of black slacks and a white blouse. All her blue jeans were a little too ragged to feel comfortable wearing to work. Maybe that would be first on her shopping list. New jeans.
Brad stood and smiled at her. “Okay, knock ’em dead. I love you.” He kissed her and hurried out of the room.
A few minutes later, she was downstairs heating up some leftover blueberry muffins.
“Guess this is what we have to look forward to from now on,” Chad said as he eased into a chair at the table. “Leftovers.” He chuckled.
“You look nice, Mom.” Ansley slid in beside her brother, cutting her eyes at him.
“Thank you, Ansley. Where’s Grace?” Darlene put a tub of butter on the table.
“Here I am.” Grace walked into the room and slipped into a chair before reaching for a muffin. Darlene noticed her Capri jeans and brown, long-sleeved shirt but decided not to say anything. When the temperatures hit a hundred degrees in another month or two, she was sure Grace would opt for cooler blouses.
Darlene put her hands on her hips. “Now, listen. I don’t want this house a wreck when I get home. You’re all going to be home almost two hours before me, so pick up after yourselves. And I’ve left a list of weekly chores on the refrigerator, things like running the sweeper, dusting, stripping your beds, and such.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Chad said with his mouth full, his dark wavy hair brushing the top of his shoulders.
Ignoring his comment, Darlene said, “And, Chad, you need a haircut.” She picked up her purse and keys from the counter. “Ansley, don’t forget to feed your chickens when you get home from school.”
“I hope they lay eggs soon!”
Darlene smiled, knowing how happy Ansley was that her father stayed true to his promise and bought her four laying hens over the weekend. And one rooster. “I’m sure they will.”
“Good luck today, Mom.” Ansley stood up and hugged her. Chad ate another muffin.
“Grace, you need anything?”
“No, Mom. I’m fine.” Grace tucked a strand of long hair behind her ear. Unlike Ansley, who liked her hair cropped at the shoulders, Grace’s hair was almost to her waist.
Darlene let out a heavy sigh. “Okay, then, I’m off. See you all after work.” It sounded nice—off to work, but she wished the butterflies in her stomach would take a rest.
Grace carried her lunch to the same table she did every day, the one closest to the band hall, the table designated for popular girls, seating for eight. She’d sat with a similar group when she lived in Houston, although their spot at her old school consisted of two tables pushed together for a group of twenty of her friends, guys and girls. Grace had always sat next to Tristan.
She pushed her tater tots around on her plate as the other girls settled into conversation. Nikki talked about going to the senior prom with Dwayne, Glenda asked to borrow Missy’s homework, and Jill talked about her prizewinning pig. Although there were many similarities between these girls and Grace’s friends in Houston, there were also some distinct differences. Even though Round Top girls got pedicures and enjoyed a trip to the mall, they were also capable of riding horses and raising pigs. Most of them had been on a coyote hunt at some point in their lives and were familiar with the term cow tipping. Grace still didn’t know what that was.
These girls were all pretty, sought after by the jocks, and in some cases, above doing their own homework. Grace didn’t feel like she belonged in the group, but she’d been recruited. Why argue?
Glenda finished copying Missy’s math assignment, then leaned across the table, motioning with her finger for Grace to come closer. Grace leaned over