decompressed. Slept every afternoon for a week,” Diana whispered. “Then one day I woke up and the anger had set in. This is pretty normal.”
Joanie nodded. “I know depression is one of the steps to healing, but I can never remember the order.”
“It’s right before acceptance. I think that’s where Tootsie is. Talking to her friend tonight will be good for her. Want a glass of tea? I’m going to make one for myself.” Diana got up from the table and in a couple of strides was at the refrigerator.
“I’d take one,” Luke called out from the driver’s seat.
Diana instantly blushed. “Coming right up.” Then she turned back to Joanie and mouthed, “How much did he hear?”
Joanie raised a shoulder in a shrug. Diana was so much in control that she never blushed, so what was really going on between her and Luke?
Diana poured a disposable cup of tea, put a lid on it, and carried it to him. “There you go.”
“So you think Aunt Tootsie is depressed?” Luke asked.
“It’s all part of the process,” she said.
He motioned toward the passenger chair. “Sit with me. I got tired of music about the time y’all started talking about depression. I’m bored. I need someone to talk to me so I don’t fall asleep at the wheel.”
Yeah, right, Joanie thought as she opened her Kindle to read. There is nothing between them. Seven years’ age difference might be a problem at thirteen and twenty, but they’re both over thirty now, so the issue isn’t there anymore.
“Well, we can’t have our driver falling asleep, can we? Would you rather have some strong coffee?” Diana asked as she went back to the kitchen area to pour glasses of tea for herself and Joanie.
“No, this has enough caffeine to keep me awake for another hour,” he said.
She set her glass in the cup holder, then sat down, adjusted the seat so that her long legs had more room, and buckled herself into the passenger seat. “You ever wonder why you can get a ticket if both parties sitting in these chairs aren’t strapped in, and yet, all four of us can wander around back there without a seat belt?”
“There are definitely strange laws on the books,” Luke answered.
“I’ve noticed that you’ve been listening to country music most of the time. Why did you turn it off?”
“They were starting to play more alternative rather than classic country. I like Strait, Jones, and Travis Tritt. Guess Uncle Smokey kind of marked me in that area, too. I like to cook, like his kind of music, and love spending time outside when I get the chance.” Luke put on the blinker to get off at the next exit, then turned it off.
“Why’d you do that?” Diana asked.
“What?”
“Almost get off the highway on that last exit?”
“Aunt Tootsie,” Luke answered. “She needs to rest. I was camped out right below her window last night, and she spent most of it talking to Uncle Smokey. If I stop, she’ll wake up.”
Cold chills chased down Diana’s spine. “Is she all right? You don’t think she needs to see a psychiatrist, do you?”
“She’s fine,” Luke answered. “I talk to him, too, sometimes, just not out loud. It’s all part of her healing process. Go back to music for a moment—what kind do you like?”
“Hard metal rock,” she said.
“For real?” Luke’s blue eyes widened out as big as saucers.
“No, I’m joking,” Diana laughed. “I like country music, mostly the old stuff like you mentioned, but I do like some new artists like Midland, Blake Shelton, and Luke Bryan.”
“Blake isn’t exactly new. He’s been around for years now. Remember when he had a mullet?”
“Oh, yeah, he’s always been a pretty boy,” Diana answered.
“You go for the pretty boys, do you?” Luke slowed down and checked the GPS on the dash. “It’s only a few more miles before we turn off to go to the campground.”
“How far off the road is it?” Diana suddenly realized that she’d put her entire life in Tootsie’s and Luke’s hands. Now that was trust she didn’t even realize she had after her divorce.
“Another five miles, but it’s got an indoor heated pool if y’all want to do a few laps. Believe me, when we get to the old house, there won’t be any swimming this time of year.”
“Just how big is Scrap, Texas?” Diana asked.
Luke chuckled and then laughed out loud. “There is no more Scrap, Texas. It’s not even on the map and doesn’t have a city-limits sign anymore.