The Liar

“You’ve got pretty white tulips up in your room,” Ada Mae said.

“Oh, Mama, my favorite! Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. They came about an hour ago. From Griffin.” Ada Mae slid her gaze and smile over. “I think you have a beau, Shelby Anne.”

“No, I— That was awful nice of him. Sweet of him.”

“He’s got a sweetness, and not so sugary it makes your teeth ache. Such a nice young man.”

“I’m not looking for a beau, Mama, or a young man.”

“It’s always seemed to me things are more exciting when you’re not looking and you find them.”

“Mama, I’ve not only got Callie to think about, and what’s already in my lap, but what just fell into it this morning.”

“Life’s still got to be lived, baby girl. And a nice young man who thinks to send flowers adds a pretty touch.”

•   •   •

IT DID. She couldn’t deny it as she glanced over at the white tulips. Her favorite flower, she mused, so he’d obviously asked someone who knew her. She thought about it while she changed into a simple, classic-cut black dress.

Whether she looked for it or not, Griffin was giving her some romance, and it had been a very, very long time since anyone had.

And she bet he knew the flowers made her think of the way he’d kissed her—twice now. She couldn’t blame him for that—and found she didn’t blame herself for thinking she wouldn’t mind being kissed again.

Soon.

She put on earrings. She’d thought to find something stage-flashy, but had opted for simple, like the dress, and pinned her hair back at the sides, let it fall in mad curls down her back.

“What do you think, Callie?” She did a model’s turn for her daughter. “How do I look?”

“Bee-utiful Mama.”

“Bee-utiful Callie.”

“I wanna go with you. Please, please!”

“Oh, I wish you could.” She crouched down, stroked Callie’s hair as her daughter pouted. “But they don’t let kids come.”

“Why?”

“It’s like the law.”

“Uncle Forrest is a lawman.”

Laughing, Shelby cuddled her girl. “A lawman.”

“Uh-huh. He said. He can take me.”

“Not tonight, baby, but I’ll tell you what. I’ll bring you with me to a rehearsal next week sometime. It’ll be like a special show just for you.”

“Can I wear my party dress?”

“I don’t see why not. Tonight, Granny and Grandpa are coming to be with you, and won’t you have fun?” And after the first set, her parents would come back, switch off.

It was good to know her family would be there.

“Let’s go down now. I’ve got to get going.”

•   •   •

THE PLACE WAS PACKED. She’d expected a crowd this first night as people were curious, or in the case of family and friends, supportive. Whatever brought them in, it felt good, damn good, to know she’d earned her keep this first time out.

She’d said hey and thanks for the good wishes countless times before she made it to the table, right in the front, where Griff sat.

“You look amazing.”

“Thanks, that was the aim.”

“Dead on.”

“Thank you for the flowers, Griffin. They’re just beautiful.”

“Glad you liked them. Emma Kate and Matt are on their way, or nearly, and I had to fight off a dozen people to keep their chairs. That’s close to literal with some giant Tansy called Big Bud.”

“Big Bud? Is he here?” She did a quick scan, spotted him with his mighty bulk squeezed into a side booth chowing down on ribs while a skinny girl she didn’t recognize sat across from him poking at whatever was on her plate and looking bored.

“We went to high school together. I heard he’s a long-haul trucker these days, but . . .”

She trailed off as her gaze passed over Arlo Kattery, then backtracked to meet his eyes.

He hadn’t changed much, she thought, and those pale eyes of his still had the power to give her the creeps when they stared.

He kicked back in a chair at a table shared with a couple of men she thought she recognized as the same two he’d always hung out with.

She hoped they wouldn’t stay long, and take Arlo and his snake-stare around to Shady’s, where they usually spent their beer money.

“What’s the matter?” Griff asked.

“Oh, nothing, just somebody else from back some years. I expected some would come in tonight, curious to see if I rise or fall.”

“Sensation,” Griff said. “That’s the word of the day, since you’ll be one.”

She turned back to him, forgetting Arlo. “Aren’t you clever with your words?”

“The word of the day has to fit. This one does. I was supposed to let you know Tansy’s got your parents, Clay and Gilly there.” He gestured to a table at his right with a big RESERVED card on it. “Nobody argued with her on that one. Not even Big Bud.”

“Oh, Big Bud always did idolize Clay. He’s all right, Griff, just . . . insistent now and then. Daddy’s just waiting on Mama to finish primping, so they’ll be here soon. I’m really glad you’re here now.”

“Where else would I be?”

She hesitated, then sat. She had plenty of time. “Griffin, you’re really not going to pay any mind to what I said about my life being a hot mess and all the rest?”

“It doesn’t look like such a mess to me.”

“You’re not in it. And I found out more today, worse today. I can’t talk about it right now, but it’s twisted up something terrible.”