Page 56 of Draft Pick
Hilary tosses her bag on the kitchen island and stands with both amusement and excitement in her eyes. “Let’s get started then, lover boy.”
17
JUNIPER
Sorry for running out. I panicked.
Suburban Daddy
No need to apologize. You made Addie’s day. Enjoy the rest of yours, Doc.
I lovewhen he calls me that. Maybe too much, I fear.
And lord have mercy, do I ever fear. I couldn’t get out of that house fast enough. The house that, upon arrival, felt much too big for just the two of them. But after clearly overstaying my welcome, I learned it feels just right. The love between Crew and Addie bounces off the walls, forcing you to acknowledge what only they can feel but is still so easily seen.
Since I have no plans for the rest of the day, I absentmindedly found myself driving to see Wynonna and Jed. Surprising even me, House of Bread is rather busy today. It’s nearing lunchtime already, and two steps through the rusted double doors shows me just how lively my new home away from home can be during the daytime.
I guess that makes sense. Doors can’t stay open without customers, reminding me how I only ever visit while most of the world is still sleeping. I can blame my sleep apnea for that.
“Junie, darlin’.” I stop my scoping, only to find Jed’s head hanging out the kitchen window, calling my name.
I wave. “Hi, Jed. Place is busy this morning.”
“That’s the way we like it. Better tell those friends of yours to stop being strangers and stop by for some pie. Nonna might call in the reinforcements if she has to bake for another group of rowdy truck drivers.”
“Reinforcements?” I laugh.
“AKA frozen grocery.” He winks.
“Ah,” I quip. “Wouldn’t want that when fresh-baked is the best. I’ll see what I can do.”
I search the diner for my usual booth, finding it occupied by a group of older women with their Bibles laid out across the table. Jeez. I underestimated how busy a diner smack-dab in the middle of nowhere could be. The food here is delish, so I don’t know why I doubted it. Pride fills me knowing all of these people here are helping support a dream for Wynonna and Jed.
From the many conversations Wynonna and I have had over the past couple months, I learned they have a son together, whom they lost tragically in a car accident years back. Pictures of their son cover a designated corner of the diner in his honor. It’s evident he’s the foundation of why they work so hard.
From my understanding, they have family in town, but I suppose nothing could ever be the same after losing a child.
There’s an unfamiliar tinge of joy that sparks inside of me, knowing Wynonna and Jed chose to take their grief and turn it into something their son would be proud of. It’d be dishonest of me to say I also didn’t feel jealousy toward a person I never met.
What would it be like to have parents who chose me and made something productive of themselves through their grief?It’s up toushow we handle losing something or someone we love. I just don’t think mine realized they lost me in the process. Or at least the part of me that held onto hope they’d come around.
“There’s my favorite town doctor,” Wynonna greets me just as I find myself an empty table. “I think we’ve still got some batter made up in the kitchen. I can have Jed throw a few cakes on the griddle for ya if you’d like?”
I smile, loving how she knows my usual order without having to ask. “That’s okay, Mrs. Nonna. I actually just ate.”
“Well, alright. How about a hot chocolate then? We can pretend these scorching temperatures outside don’t exist. I’ll even throw in some marshmallows for you. What do you say about that?”
It’s been years since I’ve had hot chocolate, and I’m not sure anything sounds better at the moment. “I think that sounds like just what I need.”
Wynonna nods, winking to Jed at the window, who seems to have been listening in all this time. “One hot chocolate with marshmallows, coming right up.”
“Make that two, please.”
I pause. The deep voice I’ve come to recognize amidst a crowded room filters my ears. Wynonna turns at the sound of Crew’s voice behind her, a wide smile cresting her aged face. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Crew Landon Briggs. We’ve been missing you around here, superstar. Get over here and hug me now, would ya?”
“Hi, Grams.”
Grams? Wait, seriously?
