Stud Muffin (Donner Bakery #2) - Jiffy Kate Page 0,34
the market. She thinks it will sell fast, which means I have to finish getting things packed up and figure out what I’m going to do when it sells.
Asher moved his things out months ago, right after the day I walked in on him and Mindy. Except for the things in the garage and a few stragglers, which I took care of in what is now known as the driveway bonfire.
Over the past few months, I’ve slowly thrown out anything that reminded me of Asher or our marriage or anything remotely sentimental. So, basically, all that is left to pack up is the kitchen and the spare bedroom I’ve been sleeping in. As far as the living room furniture is concerned, I don’t want it. Asher picked it out and it can either stay with the house or go down in flames… or the Goodwill.
I guess that’s the safer choice.
As I’m purging the mail holder, my phone rings.
I don’t even have to look at the screen to know it’s my mama. Merle Haggard’s Mama Tried plays on loop a few times before I finally swipe my thumb across the screen and place the phone between my cheek and shoulder. “Hey, Mama.”
“Hey, darlin. Look, I know you have a lot on your plate today but your daddy was telling me he saw that scary looking man take you home from the picnic and I knew that couldn’t be true, so I’m calling to get some answers.”
My mother has never been one to beat around the bush and once she gets going with her twenty questions, it’s hard to stop her.
“Because,” she continues, “I know I raised my girl right and she’d never accept a ride home from a stranger. Let’s be real here, Tempest, your self-preservation skills have been somewhat lacking here lately, but to willingly put yourself in harm’s way, I just don’t know what to think.”
A dramatic sob forces her to take a breath, so I use the opportunity to defend myself. “Mama, calm down.” I have so many things to say, I’m not sure where to start. Closing my eyes tightly while rubbing my forehead, I will myself to bite my tongue and not say anything that will only aggravate the situation.
“First of all, Cage is not scary looking.” I’m not sure why I started there but at least I stopped myself before admitting just how “not scary” I think he looks.
“Well, he’s built like a brick wall, if I ever did see one. The man is huge!”
She’s not wrong, but where my mama may see Cage’s size as a threat, I see it as a safe fortress. I mean, not for myself but just in general, of course.
“Just because the men around here walk hunched over, dragging their knuckles like their Neanderthal forefathers, doesn’t mean it’s wrong to be tall. He can’t help it. Also, he’s not a stranger, not to me anyway.”
“Oh, my heavens, Tempest. Did you meet him when you were in jail?” She whispers in jail even though it’s just the two of us talking on the phone. “And, now he knows where you live? It’s a good thing you’re selling that house. He might’ve been… you know, casing the joint. Isn’t that what they call it?”
“Mama, stop! He wasn’t casing the joint and even if he was, I wouldn’t care. He can have everything in this damn house, if he wants.”
“Tempest June, you don’t mean that!”
“I do, Mama, I really do. Asher and I are over and as much as I love this house, I’m tired of being surrounded by memories of us. This place, and everything in it, only reminds me of how we failed and I don’t want to be here anymore.” I deflate against the counter, feeling unwelcome emotions coming to the surface as the truth spills out of me.
“Oh, honey,” my mama sighs.
I swallow the lump that’s formed in my throat before speaking, the fire in my voice now put out. “I saw Mindy’s ring at the picnic. I know they’re engaged.”
“It’s worse than that. The truth is, they’re already married.” I appreciate how my mother delivers this news. Her words are precise and her voice is steady, but I can hear the underlying tone of disgust. It gives me hope she’s finally seeing Asher for who he really is.
As for what she’s just told me, I’m going to have to reexamine that later. I can’t think about it right now. Compartmentalize. I think that’s what they call it,