“Ask me what she said next.”
“I’m asking.”
“She said, ‘I do.’”
“Is it crazy, Sayl?”
“She asked that too.”
—:—
Ava saw Tabon and his sister sitting on the front steps, and the girls and their grandmother walking up from the lake in the back. She slipped out the door by the kitchen and waved at them.
“Aunt Ava!” Both girls shouted and ran toward her.
“Well, hello,” said Tabon’s mother. “I’m Sally.”
“I’m Ava, and it’s so nice to meet you. I’m sorry I wasn’t out front when you arrived.”
Sally tucked Ava’s arm in hers. “Did he apologize?”
Ava laughed. “So you know?”
“I know that you only call him Razor when you’re mad at him, otherwise you call him Tabon.”
“I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. I think it’s adorable.”
“Grandpa’s name was Tabon, too,” Sierra told her, coming up to take her hand. “Why don’t we call Uncle Razor ‘Tabon?’”
“When your Grandpa was still alive, it was confusing calling him and your uncle the same name.”
Sally leaned closer to Ava. “Not that ‘Grandpa’ would’ve been thrilled with that name either.”
“I told Saylor my mother won’t even let my sister and I call her ‘Mom.’”
“No?” Sally laughed.
“We have to call her Peggy. If we don’t, she doesn’t acknowledge we’ve spoken.”
“Goodness. Well, that’s…different.”
“You don’t have to be so nice. It’s weird. And really awkward.”
“What about your father?”
“He’s good with ‘Dad,’ thankfully. He has other issues, though.”
“Is it rude of me to ask what?”
“No,” laughed Ava. “His thing is wives. With each divorce, they get younger. My sister and I are a year older than wife number four, who is the current one. Well, she was last week. It’s hard to keep up.”
Sally laughed. “Oh, sweet girl. How did you turn out so lovely and…normal?”
“My sister and I kind of raised ourselves,” she answered, blinking away her tears.
“Did I say the wrong thing? I’m so sorry.”