A Magnolia Friendship - Anne-Marie Meyer Page 0,21

to say triumphantly that I was born to be mayor. That this was the path I had chosen and doing anything else would make me feel unsatisfied.

And for the most part, that was true. Except when I saw Maggie in the inn or heard Clementine talk about the dance studio. They both seemed to be moving forward in their lives, doing what was truly in their heart. And I? I was stuck in this box with no way to get out.

“Uh huh,” Danny said as he leaned forward and poked me in the ribs. “You can lie to Mom and Dad. You can even lie to yourself. But I know you, sis. I know you question what you want to do.”

Despite my best efforts, tears clung to the edges of my eyelids. I wanted to shoot back that I was happy and that he didn’t really know, but I knew that would be a lie. A lie that I was pretty sure he could see through. And I didn’t need him calling me out on my deception even more.

Not wanting to delve into my mind or my happiness, I decided to turn my focus back on him. I took another bite of my food and studied him. “So how long are you home for?”

Danny’s smile faltered, and suddenly, the scene being played out on the TV took his attention. I swatted his arm, slightly happy that I’d made him just as uncomfortable as he’d made me.

We should probably make that the Holt family slogan: Born to Make Each Other Uncomfortable. We all seemed to be experts at it.

Danny shrugged as he shifted on the bed once more. “I dunno. I’m sure once Mom discovers that I’m back, she’ll have a list for me.” He flopped his bent leg onto the bed. “Like she always does.”

I nodded. Truer words had never been spoken. “Yeah. Good luck with that. With my election, I get to follow Dad around, which leaves Mom…” I clicked my tongue and nodded toward him.

He glowered at me and then took a long swig of his beer. He rested his hands on his chest and closed his eyes. “I’ll survive.” His voice sounded just as unsure as I’d expected.

“Uh huh,” I replied as I leaned back against the headboard and brought the container up to rest on my stomach while I ate. Sure, it wasn’t ladylike, and I’d die if any reporter caught me like this, but there were times when I needed to just lean back and relax. And that time was now.

We fell silent as we watched Friends. I finished my food and set my garbage on the floor—I’d get to it tomorrow—and curled up with my pillows and soft, fuzzy blanket. Just as my body began to relax like it’d been wanting to do all night, two sets of footsteps could be heard in the hallway. Mom was complaining to Dad that he’d stayed out too late and smelled like booze.

My entire body tensed—along with Danny’s—as we sat up and stared at the door. It sounded as if they were headed straight to my room, but they could also be going to their room farther down the hall.

Before either of us could jump up and run to the closet to hide, my door swung open, and Dad’s pinched lips and irritated gaze swept over me. Thankfully, he only lingered on me for a moment until Mom shrieked, “Daniel!” and came barreling into my room, pushing Dad to the side.

“Hey, Mom,” Danny said as he slipped off the bed and met Mom’s hug with one of his own.

Dad flicked his gaze from me to Danny, and I began to realize that I might be covered with noodles and lo mein sauce. Not wanting to look the mess that I felt, I stood, brushed off my clothes, grabbed my garbage, and shoved it into the nearby plastic bag.

Thankfully, Dad didn’t say anything, and a few seconds later, he focused solely on Danny. My brother had pulled back from Mom’s clutches and was nodding at whatever she was saying as she blubbered on. I could only pick out bits and pieces about how she was so grateful that he was home and why did he look so skinny.

“Hey, Dad,” Danny said as he extended his hand, and they shook.

“Welcome home,” Dad said. His voice was deep and tense. He didn’t agree with Danny’s chosen lifestyle, but I knew he worried that if he was too hard on him,