Page 90 of Rise After Fall

“I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night,” I begin.

Mom holds her hand up. “Nothing fancy, just us and some burgers in town.”

I slide my eyes to Tobias. “I guess I could eat.”

“Why venture into town? There’s a burger place in the Village Shoppes here at the resort,” Tobias interjects.

“Because I want to have a nice, quiet dinner in town with my daughter,” Mom snaps.

Dad gives her a quizzical look.

“And if you don’t mind, Tobias, I think the three of us need a little family bonding time.”

“Tobias is family, Christine,” Dad says, smacking Tobias on the back.

“I want time with just us and Zoey. One dinner. Surely, Tobias can entertain himself for the evening.”

“It’s fine, PJ. I’ll grab a bite at the Cantina, and you guys can find me when you return.”

Relieved but confused, I turn to Mom.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Yes, sweetheart. I just want some quality time with you before we have to leave. We have an early flight on Sunday, so we’ll probably head to Knoxville tomorrow night, and it’s approaching so fast.”

Dad puts his arm around her. “Oh no, kiddo. Here come the waterworks again.”

I place my hand on hers. “I’ll ask Morris if we can borrow his truck so we can go into town. Meet me at the staff cabanas in an hour?”

She smiles and nods. “We’ll be there.”

I text Morris as I walk home and ask if I can borrow his truck for the evening.

By the time I make it to the cabanas, he is standing on the porch with his keys in hand.

“Thank you. I’ll be right over to return them when we get back,” I tell him before planting a kiss on his lips.

I quickly shower and change into a warm cream cable-knit dress and a pair of knee-high dark brown leather boots.

I swipe on light makeup and blow my hair dry. Then, I toss on a gold chain-link belt and grab my purse just as Mom and Dad knock on the door.

The three of us walk out to Morris’s truck, and I hand the keys over to Dad.

“What a lucky man I am to be escorting the two prettiest girls in Balsam Ridge tonight,” he says as he helps Mom into the passenger side.

We drive in silence down the mountain, and then I navigate Dad into town to The Cheesy Cow.

We take a seat at a booth in the back of the restaurant and order three cheeseburgers and large fries to share.

Once the waitress takes the menus and places our drinks in front of us, Mom beckons our attention.

“Zoey, sweetheart, I want us to have a pleasant dinner, and then I want us to go back to your office, where we can have some privacy.”

I take a deep breath.

I knew this couldn’t be just a nice, casual family dinner. It’s an ambush.

“Mom,” I start.