Page 105 of Rise After Fall

She rolls into me and throws an arm over my chest.

I bring my lips to her forehead. “Sweet dreams, Zoey.”

Zoey

“This place is charming,” Mom says as we are seated at a table tucked into the corner.

“Wait until you taste their sawmill gravy,” I tell her.

We enjoy a hearty breakfast while Patrick fills us in on his love life.

“She’s excited to meet you all at the end of the month,” he says.

“Morris, do you have any New Year’s plans?” Dad asks.

“New Year’s Eve usually consists of us gathering at the brewery and drinking ten-dollar champagne while watching the ball drop in Times Square on the television. On New Year’s Day, Mom makes black-eyed peas and collard greens, seasoned with hog jowls.”

“Hog jowls?”

I glance at Christine. “Yeah, it’s an old Southern tradition,” I explain.

“Sounds interesting,” she muses.

“You should come out to Denver and let us show you how we celebrate,” Dad invites.

“I’d love to, sir, but Langford is going to need me here, especially with Zoey leaving for the week,” he says.

“I didn’t think about that. Makes sense,” Dad notes.

“We could always meet here,” Mom suggests.

“Here?” I ask.

She shrugs. “Sure. It’s just as easy for Patrick and Kelly to fly here, and I’d really like to find out what black-eyed peas and collard greens, cooked in hog jowls, tastes like.”

“Mom, that’s a lot to ask,” I begin.

“Mom would love to have you guys. The more, the merrier in her book,” Morris interrupts.

“Wonderful. I’ll talk to Langford when we return,” Mom states.

“Are you sure you don’t need to talk to Sara-Beth first?” I whisper to him as the waitress brings Dad a second helping of biscuits.

“I’m sure.”

Patrick clears his throat, bringing our attention to him.

“I’ve been talking to Grant—you remember him, right?” he asks, his eyes focusing on me.

“Yeah. Wasn’t he in your fraternity?” I recall.

“That’s him. He was the one in law school. He’s a partner at a firm in California that specializes in criminal, entertainment, and corporate law.”

“Wow, he already made partner? He must be good,” I note.

“He is. Very good. I, uh … I discussed what happened with Tobias with him,” he says.

I drop my fork, and my eyes snap to him. “You did what?”