Down Home and Deadly

“When did he die?”
    “Four years ago.”
    Zac recoiled , and I could see him doing the math, calculating where he was and how old he’d been when his dad died. “How?”
    Carly hesitated , and I could tell by the rapid blinking that she was fighting tears.
    “We have a right to know,” Zac said harshly.
    I glanced at the twins. They were quiet, but their expressions were more curious than upset.
    Carly’s brows drew together. “You don’t have to demand information, Zac. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
    “That’ll be a switch,” he muttered.
    “Zac. I just found this out.”
    “They didn’t notify you when he died?” he said in a disbelieving tone.
    Carly shook her head. “I hired a private investigator a few weeks ago to try to find him. And this is what he found out.” Her voice quivered.
    Zac pulled a pillow off the floor and clutched it to his chest. “So how did he die?”
    “He was shot in a little border town in Mexico ,” Carly said.
    I could see Zac’s brain working. He really is an intelligent young man. A variety of emotions flitted across his face.
    “Shot? Was he into drugs? Or something else illegal?” His voice was thin.
    “Honey, we don’t know what happened. Just that he was found in a seedy part of town and had been seen with a known dealer. I’m sorry.”
    Zac shrugged. “Does Elliott know?”
    Carly shot me a look of panic.
    “Why?” I asked.
    Zac’s mouth was a straight , tight line. Finally , he spoke. “I just figured if he found out that was the kind of dad we had, he might not want anything to do with us.”
    Carly put her hand to her mouth. The tears she’d been fighting filled her eyes. “Zac, Elliott loves you.”
    “And us,” Rachel said firmly.
    “And you girls, too,” Carly agreed. “And he knows that no one is all good or all bad.”
    “Remember that story I used to tell y’all?” Daddy spoke up. “How there are two wolves inside of you all the time fighting to win?”
    The twins nodded quickly. Zac hesitated , but he nodded , too.
    “A good wolf and a bad wolf,” Hayley said.
    “And which one is going to win?” Daddy asked softly.
    “The one you feed,” Zac muttered.
    “Your daddy fed the wrong one, honey,” Mama said. “But that has nothing to do with who you are.”
    Carly gave me a questioning look , and I nodded. We could all use some good news.
    “I have one more thing to tell you all,” Carly said.
    “More about Da—him?” Zac asked.
    She shook her head. “This is about us. All of us.” She smiled at her kids. “Elliott and I are getting married.”
    “Married?” Rachel said, her voice high. “Whoo -hoo !” She jumped up and tackled her mama. Her sister was right behind her. They danced around Carly. Mama and Daddy stood and each reached over the top of the twins to hug her. When they stepped back, Carly looked at Zac. “It’s a lot to take in all at once,” she said. I knew she was giving him a chance to retreat quietly.
    He stood and nodded. “It is. But it’ll be cool not to be the only guy around this house.” A hint of a smile touched his solemn expression. “Maybe I won’t be so outnumbered anymore.”
    And just like that, he was gone to play basketball, the twins hot on his heels. Carly smiled at Mama and me. “Who wants to see my ring?”
    “Now I’m the one who’s outnumbered,” Daddy said, but he did stay to admire his daughter’s engagement ring.
    *****
    The only comfort I had was that Mama looked as disconcerted as I felt. She gave me a weak smile and placed the paper plate on her head. I did the same.
    Carly giggled. “I wish I had a camera.”
    “Hush and put your own plate on,” I growled.
    “Now use these markers , and without taking the plate off your head, draw your idea of Tiffany’s dream house. When we’re done, she’ll choose her favorite drawing , and the winner will get a prize.” The tanned blond beamed at us as if she were giving us all a wonderful opportunity.
    “The prize had better be a house in Florida ,” I muttered to Carly.
    “Right on the beach,” she agreed.
    Tiffany, sitting next to me, snickered. “Y’all do look ridiculous.”
    “I think the bride should have to play , too,” Denise said loudly from the other side of Tiffany. “And I don’t think John would want me reaching up. Didn’t they used to say that wasn’t good for the baby?”
    “That’s an old wives’ tale,” one of the Anderson sisters said from across the circle,