Page 107 of On the Rocks

An uncomfortable hush fell over the family, and Mom glanced at me and Jordan before she smiled at her youngest son. “I was going to get the pie.”

“I don’t want any.”

Mom nodded, her eyes worried and sad. “Oh. Okay, then. Yes, you’re excused.”

Mikey didn’t say another word, just shoved back from the table, the legs of his chair scraping against the wood before he stood and pushed it back in. He was down the hall and shutting the door to his bedroom before any of us even looked up again, and he didn’t say a word to any of us — not even Ruby Grace, who he knew was leaving.

He hadn’t said a word all day.

I sighed, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “Forgive him. He’s still not okay after the whole Bailey thing…”

“It’s okay,” she assured me, squeezing my hand back.

Just like we had all feared, Bailey ended up taking the record label in Nashville up on their offer earlier than she’d promised. And, along with that change, she’d also broken up with Mikey. She’d told them it wasn’t forever, it was just for a while, so she could focus on her music.

But to Mikey, it was the ultimate betrayal.

He hadn’t been the same since then, and where he usually showed his emotions willingly, opened up to us and let us help, he had shut down completely at this. Since that cold, rainy day in October when she landed the blow, my little brother had been a zombie version of the kid who existed before.

I hoped we’d get him back soon.

Jordan and Logan finished clearing the table as Ruby Grace and I did the dishes, and once the chores were done, we all gathered one last time for pie and wine. The time passed too quickly, and before I was ready, we were all standing on the porch saying our goodbyes to the woman I loved.

Jordan gave Ruby Grace the first hug — along with a AAA card he’d set up without telling any of us. “For emergencies,” he told her gruffly. She smiled and thanked him, giving him one last hug before he moved out of the way to let Logan in next.

“Stay safe, and have fun,” he said, wrapping her up in a hug. “And for God’s sake, try to call home at least once a day so I don’t have to watch my brother mope around without you here.”

I punched his arm.

Ruby Grace chuckled, giving me a knowing smirk. “I promise, I’ll text him an annoying amount in an effort to avoid that very thing.”

“Thank you,” Logan said, pressing his hands together in mock prayer as his eyes floated up.

“And you have fun with your new trainee,” she said, lifting one brow at Logan. “I heard she’s quite the firecracker.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” Logan murmured. “The only reason she got the job atallis because of her father.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that you’re responsible for her now,” I pointed out.

“Who knows, maybe they’ll have you train her just so she can take your place as the lead tour guide,” Jordan chimed in.

Logan paled at that, mouth gaping like a fish as he looked at Mom first, then at me and Ruby Grace, and finally back at Jordan. “Don’t even joke about that.”

We all chuckled, but I knew there was a part of Logan that might actually be scared that could happen. After all, Mallory Scooter was the black sheep of the Scooter family. She had tattoos and piercings and purple hair and a bad attitude that had tainted her family’s image for years. It seemed her father had finally put his foot down, forcing her to be the distillery’s latest tour guide addition. It was an extremely valued job, and one that other employees fought hard for. No one was happy she’d been the one to be hired — least of all her.

Her first day was Monday, and Logan had just found out he would be her trainer.

“You’ll be alright, little bro,” I assured him, clapping him hard on the shoulder.

Mom stepped up next, her eyes glossy as she folded her arms around Ruby Grace. She held her tight, swaying a little. “I know I said it before, but we are all so proud of you,” she said, pulling back and holding Ruby Grace’s arms in her hands. “I know you’ll call Noah, but don’t forget to call me from time to time, too. Okay?”

“Of course. And you promise to check in on Betty from time to time?”

Mom waved her off with a smile. “Are you kidding? Visiting that wild old woman is the highlight of my week, now.”

We all laughed at that. Mom had started volunteering at the nursing home with Ruby Grace to get to know her better, and in the process, she’d fallen under the same magical spell Betty weaved on all of us. Now that Ruby Grace was leaving, I had a feeling they’d become even closer.

“Alright,” Mom said, dabbing at the corner of her eyes. “Come on, boys. Let’s leave these two alone. Drive safe, dear, and let us know when you make it. Okay?”