needs her mother. I try to help out all I can. I retired from teaching so I could watch her for Joe, but it’s just not the same.”
“I was raised by my aunt,” Reily told her. Sue was right. Her aunt Macie took care of her as best as she could under the circumstances, but it wasn’t like having a mom and a dad. “My parents died when I was little.”
“So you know what I mean.”
“Aunt Sue, could I play outside?”
She turned to see Lily Ann standing in the kitchen doorway. Reily wondered how much she had heard of their conversation, if anything.
“If you stay in the yard,” Sue said. “And turn off the television first.”
Lily Ann darted back into the living room and the television went silent. She skipped past them, flip-flops slapping against the tile floor, letting the back door slam shut behind her as she hopped outside.
Sue sighed and shook her head. “Joe was always the cautious sort. He knew from the time he was a youngster what he wanted to do with his life. Beth was something of a wild child. Restless, you know?” She shook her head sadly. “Joe thought he could settle her, thought that once they got married and had a baby she would be content staying in our tiny little town. But that wasn’t the case. And when she made her mind up to leave, there was no stopping her. Turns out she was just like my brother’s wife.”
“Joe’s mom?”
She nodded. “She left them when Joey was a baby. I don’t know what it is about the Miller men and their fascination with restless women.”
“I can understand being unhappy in a marriage,” Reily said. “But how does a woman leave her child?”
“I’ve asked myself that question about a million times. I could barely stand it when my twin sons left for college out of state. I guess sometimes people do things that don’t make much sense.”
“I guess.” Reily checked the display on her phone and realized that it was getting late. “I better get going. I don’t want to leave Lindy in a lurch on my very first day.”
“How are you getting back?”
“I’m walking.”
“There’s a bike in the garage you could use. It’s just sitting there getting dusty. Lord knows I could probably use the exercise,” she said, chuckling and patting her middle. “But I do better with both my feet on the ground.”
“If it’s not an imposition, that would be great.”
“I guess you were a little hungrier than you thought,” Sue said, nodding to Reily’s bowl. She’d stopped just short of licking it clean.
Reily smiled. “It was delicious. I can see why it’s Joe’s favorite.”
They both stood and Reily grabbed her purse. “Thanks for lunch. It was really nice talking to you.”
“Well, I probably told you more than you ever wanted to know about our family, but I do tend to ramble on sometimes. It used to drive poor Walter batty.”
“I don’t mind at all. I like hearing about other people’s families. It makes mine seem not so unusual, if that makes sense.”
“I think I know just what you mean. And I’m sure it’s no fun being trapped in a place where there isn’t a familiar face. I figured you could use a friend.”
She would be honored to consider Sue her friend.
“In fact, what are you doing Sunday for supper?” Sue asked.
“Honestly, I haven’t thought past five minutes from now.”
“Then you’ll have dinner with us. With Joe’s schedule, and my Monday night poker, it’s the only day we get to eat together as a family.”
“I take it he works a lot.”
“The bar is closed Sunday and he takes Monday off, but the rest of the week he’s pretty much there open to close.”
If he spent so little time with his family, Joe might not be too keen on her infiltrating their Sunday supper. “I don’t want to intrude,” she told Sue.
“Well,” she said, planting her hands on her hips. “Since I’m doing the cooking, I get to choose the guests.”
She probably should have said no. She liked the idea of spending time with Sue and Lily Ann, and maybe even Joe, but what if she got attached? She wouldn’t be hanging around very long. Yet at the same time, the thought of spending the evening alone was a little depressing. She was naturally a social person. She liked to be around people. “If you’re sure it’s okay,” she told Sue.
“Of course I’m sure.”
“In that case, if there’s anything I can bring, let me know. I make a mean gelatin salad.”
Sue grinned. “Then definitely bring that. Gelatin is Lily Ann’s all-time favorite food. Although, due to an unfortunate incident with gelatin shooters in high school, Joe won’t touch the stuff. One of these days I’ll tell you the story.”
Reily smiled. “I’d like to hear it.”
They both got up and Sue stepped out the back door with her into the blazing heat. “Lily Ann!” she called.
After several seconds Lily Ann emerged from the backyard. “Do I gotta come in already?”
“Do me a favor and show Reily here where that extra bike is in the garage. She’s going to use it while she’s in town.”
“Okay, Aunt Sue.”
“If you need anything,” Sue said, “just knock on the door.”
“Thanks, Sue.”
Lily Ann darted for the garage and Reily followed her. Sue must have hit a remote inside the house because as they approached, the door rolled open.
“It’s in here,” Lily Ann said.
The interior was about a million degrees and smelled like fertilizer. On one side were all the normal things you would find in a garage. Bikes, lawn equipment and tools, all neatly arranged. A car sat on the opposite side, but it was covered so she couldn’t tell the make or model. Considering the size and contour she would guess something older with muscle.
She wandered over, thinking that she would take a quick peek underneath the vinyl cover. She was reaching toward it when behind her Lily Ann screeched, “Don’t touch that!”
Reily jerked her hand back and turned to Lily Ann. “I was just going to peek.”
“No one is allowed to touch Daddy’s car,” Lily Ann scolded, her expression so earnest, so serious.
“I just wanted to see what kind it was.”
She propped her hand on her skinny hip. “You have to ask
