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.Joan looked up and swallowed quickly.“’Bout choked on that, didn’t you?” Austin said.“You look worse now than before,” Clydia said.Austin opened the refrigerator and took out a can of cold Coors.“Yeah, but I don’t stink now.You got something to say, Mother? If so, go ahead and spit it out because then it’s my turn.”“I can’t bear to see you like this,” Barbara said.“Didn’t you bring anything decent from Tulsa to shop in?”“I’m not going shopping.I usually spend my weekends in Dallas with Rye at the rodeo, but it’s harvest time and I’m working all weekend.And I’m happy in my new skin so get used to seeing me like this.”“What do you mean, harvest? Don’t you have hired hands that do that work?” Clydia asked.“Six of them, but I work too.It’s my farm and I want to know what goes on.”Clydia downed the rest of her wine and poured another.She was dressed in navy slacks and an ecru top.Her necklace was a two-carat diamond solitaire on a thick gold chain with earrings to match.“This is good stuff.And you are planning to make it just like Verline did?”“I’ve already got two batches in the refrigerator with plans to put another two in there tomorrow.”“Well, save me a couple of bottles.It’s damn good.”Barbara looked around the kitchen.“God, this place hasn’t changed in thirty years but it’s changed you.”“Thank you.I wish Rye hadn’t already left.I’d love for you to meet him.”Austin looked out the front window.“Oh, Mother, you’ve rented a Caddy and not a Chevrolet.Saint Peter is going to give you demerit marks for that.”“He’s going to tell you to go straight to hell, do not pass go or collect any money at all for moving down here,” Barbara snapped.“Maybe so, but if it’s like Terral, I reckon I’ll feel right at home,” Austin shot back.“Why are y’all really here?”Clydia set her wine glass down and said, “Your mother wanted us to come help rescue you.She’s given you long enough to come to your senses.She thought if we came down here and took you to the city, did some shopping, and saw a play or a concert, you’d see the difference and change your mind.”“It ain’t happenin’,” Austin said.Joan frowned.“Even your language is different.You talk like these people.Barbara is right.This place changed you.”“Thank you for noticing,” Austin said.Barbara whined, “You really aren’t coming back to Tulsa, are you?”“No, Mother, I’m not.I’ll visit in the winter probably since that’s my slow time, but from Easter until after July 4 there’s no way I can get away.”“You really are happy down here.I hate that.”“I am and I’m sorry that you don’t like it.”“I’m not coming down here very often,” she declared.“You are welcome any time.When I get around to cleaning out the house I’ll even fix up Granny’s old room for you.”“I’ll stay in a motel.I’m not staying in Verline’s bedroom.She’d haunt me,” Barbara said.“She might at that,” Austin agreed, remembering all the times when she could swear Verline was meddling in her life.She sat down, reached across the table, and touched her mother’s hand.“It’s good to see you, Mother.I’ve missed you but not Tulsa so much.”Chapter 21Rye swaggered into the Hyatt Regency in his starched jeans, freshly polished cowboy boots, silver belt buckle, and a crisp yellow and green plaid western-cut shirt.His black hair was combed straight back and he carried his best Stetson hat in his hands.He crossed the lobby and went straight for the restaurant on the other side of the bar.Everything was quiet for a Saturday morning, but then it was only ten o’clock.He’d called for brunch reservations and ordered a pot of coffee and waited.Being early gave him the advantage.He’d finished off one cup of coffee and had just poured another when he saw them step out of the elevator.He’d recognize them anywhere because they looked like older models of Austin, but which one was the mother and which were the aunts was a toss-up.They were all dressed in black slacks and muted colored tops.Their hair was cut in different styles and two of them had a few more wrinkles around their eyes.Austin had mentioned that her mother was the youngest one by several years, so he took a chance when the waitress led them to his table.He stood up, shook his jeans legs down to stack over his boots, and stuck out his hand.“Miz Lanier, I’m Rye O’Donnell.It’s right nice to meet y’all.”Barbara admired his firm shake and appreciated his manners in holding the chair for each of them before he sat back down.“It’s nice to meet you, also.I’ve heard a lot about you from my daughter.”He picked up the pot.“Coffee?”“Yes, please.We’re all coffee drinkers and I haven’t had any at all today,” Clydia said.“I can see why Austin is attracted to you.”“You’d be Clydia?” he asked.“Yes she is and I’m Joan.Fill it to the brim.I’m not a pansy like these other two.I drink it black.”Rye filled it up.“You sound like my kind of woman.”“I could be if I was thirty years younger.Now tell us why we are here?”“I wanted to meet you all.I’m lonesome for Austin and she’s dog tired with the harvest, but it won’t be but a few weeks until she can play with her wine making all fall [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]