My Better Life

I squeeze her close. “Love you too, kid.”

Shay grins up at me, her eyes squinting and her pigtails swinging in the misty wind.

“Can we go finish our build now?” Tanner asks, impatient to be off.

“Go on then.” I wave as they all take off, then I turn to Jamie. “Are you ready to admit you’re just scared?”

She shakes her head, then points down the drive. “Gran’s coming. She’ll tell you.”

I turn, and sure enough, Grandma Allwright is bouncing down the drive in her old, rusted car, banjos ripping from her speakers, and smoke backfiring from her engine.

I shrug and head toward the driveway. When Grandma Allwright turns off the engine and hops out of the front seat, she looks between Jamie and me and frowns. “What now?”

“Gran.” Jamie nods her head and speaks very slowly. “I’ve told Gavin.”

I frown at Jamie.

Gran lifts an eyebrow and crosses her skinny arms. “Who’s Gavin?”

I smile at her. “Exactly.”

“I told him that he’s not my husband, this isn’t his life, that we tricked him so he’d have just desserts for not paying me for the sculpture.”

Gran looks over Jamie like she just said the craziest thing she’s ever heard.

“Jamie Lynn, don’t go telling stories. Why would you do that to your husband? What’s wrong with you?”

I put my thumbs in my pockets and nod.

“That’s what the kids said,” I tell Gran.

“’Course they said that. You’re their dad, aren’t you?”

I level a look on Jamie. She looks like she’s about to explode, her face is red, and she’s working herself up, like Billy right before he lets out a loud crow.

I nod at Gran. “Exactly.”

“Gran. Tell him! This has gone on long enough. It’s not right.”

The wrinkles on Grans face deepen and she steps toward Jamie. “You’re right. It has gone on long enough. It’s time for you to stop hanging on the past and start living in the present. Let go of what happened. Forgive and forget, that’s what the Lord says. From my eyes, you’ve got a husband who loves you, a good life, and there isn’t any reason to toss it aside. Billy here is a good husband. Now what you need to be doing is getting busy making me another grandkid.”

Now that sounds like an excellent idea.

I smile at the old woman, once my greatest detractor, now apparently, my biggest supporter. “Thank you.”

She winks at me and my smile spreads into a wide grin.

Jamie glares at her. “Gran, we’re going to burn in hell for this and you’re just tossing logs on the fire.”

Grandma Allwright scoffs and waves her hand. “Nonsense. Your wood’s been wet too long. It’s about time somebody lit it. What’s wrong with a little baby-making? Besides, me and the Lord are good—”

“Friends.” Jamie finishes, glaring at her grandma.

“Exactly. Now, I came down because I’m old and lonely.”

I lift an eyebrow. The day that Grandma Allwright is actually old or lonely is the day this mountain crumbles. She winks at me.

“I’m going inside to make some chicken and cornbread. Why are we all standing out in this drizzle?” She puts her fingers in her lips and whistles, then, “Come on, kids. Help me make supper.” She points a gnarled finger at Jamie. “Apologize to your husband. Billy doesn’t deserve your nonsense. Then come inside and help me cook.”