Page 355 of On A Manhunt: Complete Series

GEORGIA

Sassy was over for dinner. Since the weather was nice, we were eating on the patio.

Momma’s house was a large old house in the original part of Calhan.

The houses were stately, set back from the road that was lined with live oaks, Spanish moss dangling from the branches.

Thick lilac bushes separated back yards, although it was typical southern nature to be in everyone else’s business.

Tommy and Sally Ann were in their bathing suits, running through the sprinkler.

Joining them were Keely’s boys, hooting and hollering and having a grand time.

When I found out Sassy was coming, I’d texted Keely for some BFF support.

Her husband, Johnny, was at the bowling alley for league night and Troy, Sassy’s husband, was at work still.

Dinner was over but we hadn’t yet brought out the sliced fruit and sherbet.

Ever since my little chat with Momma the day before, she’d been quieter. Perhaps that was because she was practicing the if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Which only proved she never said much that was nice.

But she was trying and I appreciated that. But it was stifling–and not just because of the heat–staying with her. I was too old to live at home. I was eager to get my half of the money from the house sale and move out. I felt as if I was stuck waiting.

For what, I didn’t know. I’d gone to Montana to move on, to escape my life, but it only got me right back where I started.

The doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” Momma said. “I saw the marching band going door to door earlier and I’ll give them a donation. Then we’ll have dessert.”

“Is that a new lipstick color?” Sassy asked when Momma had gone inside. Her blonde hair was in perfect curls over her shoulders. Her Lily Pulitzer outfit was a striking pink and green and the pearls at her ears matched the choker around her neck.

I licked my top lip as if that helped me remember. “Oh, um. No. It’s clear lip gloss.”

“Clear?” she asked. She looked so stunned by the concept. This, to her, was one step up from lip balm.

I nodded. “Yes, I think the shine is nice, don’t you?”

Keely, sitting next to me, grabbed my chin and turned my face toward her. Studied my lips. “You’ll have to tell me the brand. It looks good.”

“Um, Georgia,” Momma said from the doorway. She, too, looked picture perfect, also wearing a dress, although she skipped the green. It wasn’t a good color on her and she knew it. “There’s someone here to see you.”

I looked to Keely and being best friends since we were six, we didn’t have to say out loud that we both thought it might be Art.

I stood. If I was going to confront him, I’d do it out front, although Momma probably wouldn’t want me to air my dirty laundry on the walkway for the neighbors to witness.

But it wasn’t Art and he wasn’t on the front porch.

It was Mac. And he was here.

“Miss GG!”

With Andy.

Oh my sweet Lord.