Page 6 of The Write Stuff

“Exactly.” I bobbed my head. “I’m glad she’s still writing and doing well. I don’t read any of her books because my mother would melt down if she ever found one in my possession, but I honestly don’t hold any ill will toward her.”

“Does your mother?”

“Oh, most definitely.” I shrugged. “I can’t help you, Bree. I don’t know what the fight was about.”

Instead of dissuading her, that only seemed to rev her up. “Man, that’s how you know it was a good fight. Now I want to know even more than before.”

“Well, I can’t help you.”

“Can you hook me up with your mother?” she asked. “I’ll go directly to the source.”

“I’m pretty sure she won’t tell you.”

“I can be very charming,” she wheedled.

Laughter bubbled up, and I shook my head. “I can’t help you. I’m sorry.”

Clearly desperate to redirect the conversation, Brody took control. “Just out of curiosity, how did you end up moving here? We’re glad to have you,” he added quickly. “Our author community is strong and getting stronger every year. Your mother lives in New York, last time I checked.”

“And Agnes lives in Los Angeles,” Bree mused, refusing to let it go. “It’s as if they each claimed a coast.”

Brody shot her an exasperated look that still managed to be full of love and devotion. “Bree, let it go.”

Bree grumbled something else, but I could tell from the look on her face that she wasn’t going to do as he asked.

“I don’t know how I ended up here,” I admitted. “I guess I was just looking for a change of pace. I saw a video on you guys — well, you guys, Nathan Cooper, and Bella Oakley — and you looked like you were having a great time.”

What I didn’t say was that my life had been devoid of a great time for years at this point. I needed a change of pace, and the more research I did on Savannah, the better it sounded.

“Well, we’re glad to have you here.” When Brody smiled, it lit up his entire face. “Don’t be nervous about the reader event tonight. We’re going to have dinner as a group before it starts — apparently, there are a few other new authors in the area that we’re going to be introduced to — and it will be a relaxing setting. I promise.”

“I’m glad, but I normally don’t get nervous at events,” I assured him.

“Because you grew up with them,” Bree guessed. “A lot of authors are introverts. Even if you were, your mother made it so you couldn’t be that way when you were a kid. You’re uniquely prepared for these things.”

“I guess that’s fair.” I shrugged. “I’m looking forward to it.” What I wasn’t looking forward to was the next conversation we had to have. “So, about the naked statue,” I started.

“Her name is Gertrude, and you can’t get rid of her,” Bree hissed. “She likes it here. She’ll be sad if you try to remove her from the gazebo. That’s her home.”

“I hate her,” I admitted.

“I told you,” Bree growled at her husband. “I told you that Gertrude wouldn’t be safe. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Brody looked resigned as his eyes moved to me. “She’s never going to let this go. I hope you’re happy.”

I wasn’t unhappy. I wasn’t happy either. I didn’t know what it would take to get me there, but I was open to suggestions. “Gertrude freaks me out, man. I can’t help it.”

“She freaked me out, too, but I learned to live with her.”

“Well, I’m not you. I can’t learn to live with her. She’s just … way too much.”

Bree reacted as if I’d said she was too much and started ranting. For some reason, I found it funny.

I was going to like Savannah. I could already tell. Nothing was going to ruin this for me.

Absolutely nothing.

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