Carolina Moon

J.R. could pop it. They stood, hands on hips, admiring the engine.
    “Loaded, too.” Cade nodded in admiration. “What’ll she do?”
    “Between you, me, and the gatepost, I had her up to ninety-five and she stays smooth as glass. Handles the curves like a champ, too. I went on over to Broderick’s yesterday. Time to trade in my sedan. Planned to get another one, then I saw this baby on the lot.” J.R. grinned and ran his fingers over his thick silver mustache. “Love at first sight.”
    “Four-speed?” Cade strolled around to peer into the cockpit.
    “Bet your ass. Four on the floor. Haven’t had me one of them since, hell, since I was younger than you. Didn’t know until I popped the clutch how much I’ve missed it. Hated having to put the top up when the rain started.”
    “You pop the clutch and drive around at ninety, you’re going to be stacking up tickets like cordwood.”
    “It’ll be worth it.” J.R. gave the car another affectionate pat, then glanced toward the house. “You stopping by to see Tory?”
    “Thought I might.”
    “Good. I got some news to give her she might not take well. Just as soon she have a friend around when I do.”
    “What’s wrong, what’s happened?”
    “It’s nothing dire, Cade, but it’ll trouble her. Let’s just get it said all at once.” He stepped up on the porch, knocked. “Feels funny knocking on family’s door, but I got into the habit with my sister. She wasn’t one for leaving the door open for company. There’s my girl!” He said it heartily when Tory opened the door.
    “Uncle Jimmy. Cade.” Though her stomach did a quick pitch and jolt at seeing both of them on her porch, she stepped back. “Come in out of the wet.”
    “Ran into Cade here, seeing as both of us had in mind to stop by. I was just showing off my new car.”
    Obligingly, Tory looked out. “That’s quite a …” She started to say toy, and realized that was likely to hurt his feelings. “A machine.”
    “Purrs like a big old cat. I’ll take you for a spin first fine day.”
    “I’d like that.” But just now she had two big wet men in her living room, one chair, and a nagging headache. “Why don’t y’all come out to the kitchen. There’s a place to sit, and I just made some hot tea to chase the damp away.”
    “Sounds good, but I don’t want to track through the house.”
    “Don’t worry about it.” She led the way, hoping the aspirin she’d taken would kick in without the ten-minute nap she’d planned to go with it. The house smelled of the rain, of the ripe, wet scent of the marsh. Any other time, she would have enjoyed it, but now it made her feel closed in.
    “I’ve got some cookies. They’re store-bought, but better than I could make.”
    “Don’t you go to any trouble now, honey. I’ve got to get back home here directly.” But since she was already putting cookies on a plate, he reached for one. “Boots won’t buy sweets these days. She’s on a diet, and that means I am, too.”
    “Aunt Boots looks wonderful.” Tory got out cups. “So do you.”
    “Now, that’s what I tell her, but she fusses over the scale every blessed morning. You’d think gaining a pound here and there was the end of the world. Till she’s satisfied, I’ll be on rabbit food.” He took another cookie. “Surprised my nose doesn’t start to twitch.”
    He waited while she poured the tea, sat. “Heard your store’s coming right along. Haven’t had a minute to get down and see for myself.”
    “I hope you’ll make it in on Saturday.”
    “Wouldn’t miss that on a bet.” He sipped his tea, shifted in his chair, sighed. “Tory, I hate coming over here with something that might upset you, but seems to me you ought to know what’s what.”
    “It’ll be easier if you tell me straight out.”
    “I’m not sure I can, exactly. I had a call from your mother just a bit ago. Just as Boots and I were finishing up our supper. She’s in a state, or I guess you know she wouldn’t have called me. We don’t telephone regular.”
    “Is she ill?”
    “No, not as what you’d call sick.” He blew out a breath.
    “It has to do with your father. Seems like he got in some trouble a little while back. Damn it.” J.R. pushed his cup around its saucer, then raised his eyes to Tory’s. “Appears he assaulted a woman.”
    In her mind, Tory heard the snake-slither of the thick leather belt. The three harsh snaps. Her fingers jerked once, then settled steady.