That Thing You Do (Crystal Lake 2)

“Where on earth would you hear something like that?”

“His wife, Mrs. Whitlow, told me when she brought her budgie in to be sexed.”

Molly could tell her mother was trying real hard to figure out if she was being serious—which she was—but then decided to ignore the conversation altogether. She smoothed out her skirt and pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose.

“Well, they’ll get you all fixed up and looking spiffy. Jessica told me we’re all to get the same color. Blush pink, you know, like from Steel Magnolias? She’s such a doll. I’m so happy to have another daughter in the family.” Millie sighed and settled back in her seat. “I’m not going to lie. I’m looking forward to relaxing for a few hours without your father breathing down my neck and your Aunt Sally right behind him. I swear I’ve been run ragged these last few days. Weddings are exhausting.” She angled a look toward Molly. “And you’ve been no help. In fact, it’s been days since I saw you last.”

“I’ve been busy, Mom. And if you needed me for something, all you had to do was ask.”

“Oh, Molly-bean, I’m glad you said that.”

Molly-bean? That was only pulled out in an emergency. Alarmed, Molly glanced at her mother, who was staring back at her with a look she knew all too well. Dammit. She’d walked right into something, held the door wide open even, and she had no idea what it was.

“Okay. Spill. What do you need or want, exactly?” Whatever it was couldn’t be that bad considering they were in the final stages of this wedding that had eaten up so much of her time. With the rehearsal at the church and then the ceremony and reception tomorrow, there wasn’t much left to do.

“You don’t have to sound so hard done by, Molly. Most kids jump at the chance to help out their parents.”

“I have no problem helping you out. It’s the use of Molly-bean that makes me nervous.”

“I need somewhere for your cousin Janelle to stay, and I’m hoping you can let her use your spare bedroom.”

“I don’t have a spare bedroom.”

Her mother frowned. “That room is still empty?” When Molly nodded, her mother shrugged. “Well, she can sleep on your sofa, then.”

“No.”

“What do you mean, no? Why on earth can’t Janelle stay at your house?”

“Because….”

Because she only had two nights left with Nathan.

Because she barely knew Janelle.

Because she only had two nights left with Nathan.

“You know how I feel about strangers, Mom.” Okay. That sounded weak, even to Molly.

“What has gotten into you? Janelle is not a stranger. You’ve known her your entire life.”

“Well, I haven’t seen her in at least ten years.”

“What does that matter? She’s still family.”

Molly maneuvered her truck through an intersection. “Why can’t she stay with Nana or at your place?”

“My house is full up, and your Aunt Sally brought her python.”

“What?”

“Don’t ask.”

“But—”

“Janelle asked to stay with you.”

Molly tapped her fingers along the steering wheel while she waited for the traffic light to change from red to green. “If it were me, I’d want to stay in a hotel is all I’m saying.”