painful, escaped from Vanessa’s gaping mouth. She dashed into the kitchen still holding the wine bottle.
Miss Rose, Lilene’s momma, gave him a was-that-really-necessary look.
Mike felt scolded, but only for a half second when Norman snickered from his recliner. “I didn’t have anything to do with this.”
But you knew, Mike mouthed. “You couldn’t text me a warning?”
Norman lifted his hands in the air. “I’ve been married to Lilene a long time. I pick my battles with her. This one ain’t mine.” He leaned over and flipped the lid back on the cooler next to him, snagging a beer.
“Thanks a lot.” Mike started to join him until he heard his name mentioned in the kitchen. He leaned in toward their voices.
“Mike was born and raised in this town,” Lilene said. “He’s such a great guy.”
“I don’t think he’s my biggest fan right now.”
“Well, I’m sure you had your reasons for what you did to poor Edna. I have to admit, I wasn’t too happy when I realized what was going on either. Laying off the poor woman right at Thanksgiving?”
Mike admired Lilene’s spunk. More so when she was using it against Vanessa on his behalf. He’d been on the other end of Lilene’s lectures before. It wasn’t always pleasant.
“It wasn’t a layoff. They had a choice, and they accepted the offer. Edna and Bill both.”
“You don’t need to explain to me. I know you’re just doing your job. The people in this town are close. Word travels fast, and sometimes it’s not exactly as it happened. It’s better if you have complete transparency.”
“People knew before I got down the block.”
“Sure, sometimes it’s a pain to have everyone know your business, but at the end of the day you’ve got the support of the whole town. Let me help you with how to communicate around here.”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss some things.”
“I see. Well, you have to trust someone. You know, Mike was married to my very best friend’s daughter. She worked at Porter’s too. When she died this whole town felt the loss. Their daughter wasn’t even in school yet. I’m sure Mike didn’t want everyone rushing in to help while he was grieving, but he let them. Sometimes you just have to let things happen the way they are meant to.”
“That’s got to be hard. Raising a daughter by yourself.”
“Mike would’ve done fine raising her on his own. They have a very special relationship, but folks around here like to be a part of the solution.”
Is she going to tell my whole life history to that woman?
He wanted to walk in and put a stop to the conversation, but Lilene meant well. Everything she’d said was true, and he wasn’t ashamed of it. He’d have never gotten through losing Olivia had they not rallied like they had. This village really did raise his girl, and he was grateful for the help.
“Be nice to him, Vanessa. I’m sorry it might be a little awkward for you. When I invited you both I had no idea that things were going to go all kaphlooey at the office.”
“Will Edna be coming too?” Vanessa sounded worried.
Mike was half tempted to text his mom to tell her to come over right now. Instead, he pulled himself away from their private conversation and joined Norman, who had just hollered like a buck in rut as the Panthers fumbled again, leaving Washington in a really good position to pull out a win.
The doorbell rang and Lilene’s family flooded into the small house. The men all hunkered around the television, and the women overflowed the kitchen, talking and cackling louder than his hens at feeding time.
Kids played on the floor in the living room, while a group of others went outside to throw a football.
Mike was thankful that the house had filled up, making it less awkward to be in the same space with Vanessa.
Vanessa walked out of the kitchen with a tray of piping-hot sausage balls. Carrying the tray, she introduced herself and distributed the tasty snacks. “We’ve got more in the kitchen. Take a couple,” she’d say. Everyone in the room seemed captivated by the Chicago woman. That had been his first impression too, but he wouldn’t fall for those misleading cues again—the sweet smile and the way she lowered her lashes when she spoke. She wasn’t as nice as she looked.
She set the half-empty tray on the table behind the sofa. “Can you reach these, Norman?”
“Oh yeah. I’ve got my eye on them. Thanks.”
She patted