Nostalgia, Nuisances, and Necessary Niceties: Southern Shenanigans, #2

By Winnie Reed

Annie Jordan's new lease on life has taken a turn. With a new brother on the scene—one that everyone she knows is practically accusing of being a criminal element—she's also found herself with a new roommate. It goes without saying that Bogart's not happy about the roommate sitch. Of course, neither is Sam, and especially not Melanie.

 

But hey, she's got Mildred, and it seems she's the only one who doesn't hate Annie's newly found brother.

 

Prompted by curiosity—it killed the cat, right? Not humans?—Annie and Tyler submit their saliva for some DNA testing. They have questions. They want to know more about their father.

 

They don't exactly get the results they thought they'd get. In fact, the tests seem to have opened up a whole new can of worms. So much for nostalgia. Now, nuisances are becoming something akin to threats.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WinReed
• Release date: Apr 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201723804

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

A re you sure this is a good idea, Mom?

Annie rolled her eyes at her daughter’s question. Melanie had a tendency to think she knew everything, to the point where there were times when she sounded a lot more like the mother in their relationship. It was cute… in small doses.

This was not one of those times. Mel, I have things under control.

I’ve heard that before.

Right, and don’t I always land on my feet?

If you consider getting cracked on the back of the head, then shot, landing on your feet…

Annie used a trick she’d picked up years earlier, smiling as wide as she could so her voice would sound more cheerful. But I’m fine now, aren’t I? This is a good thing, Mel. Tyler needs family. I happen to be family.

But you don’t know him. And what if we’re not related? What if he isn’t actually your half-brother?

Annie wrapped an arm around herself, standing at the window overlooking the front of the house. Tyler was out there, gathering the last of his meager possessions before bringing them into the house.

She was willing to admit to herself that this was a big move, a very big one. She was willing to further admit that perhaps a little more time could have been taken, a little more consideration.

It was just that the more she visited Tyler in that rundown little rental of his, the more ridiculous it seemed that she had so much extra space that never got used. Melanie wouldn’t be in a position to pay a visit for months, far too busy with her schoolwork up at NYU. The spare room would sit empty, just like the house did all day long while Annie managed A New Chapter.

As if he read her thoughts, Bogart leapt up onto the windowsill to watch who he could only have regarded as an intruder. All right, so the house isn’t entirely empty. Annie reached down to stroke his head, noting the slow back-and-forth of his bushy tail. He was not a happy camper.

He wasn’t alone, apparently.

When did you become so cynical? Annie tried to laugh it off, but Melanie didn’t join her. Is this what I sent you to college for? So you could adopt a cynical attitude?

Maybe I’m realistic.

Annie’s hackles raised at this, and she reminded herself it wasn’t her daughter’s fault. Of course, she would adopt some of Ed’s sayings, his attitudes toward certain things. That had always been one of his favorites whenever he’d talk down one of his wife’s ideas or suggestions. And maybe I’m a grown woman, fully capable of making her own choices. And it wouldn’t be a bad thing to have someone around the house during the day, either, until Tyler finds a job.

Melanie was quiet for a long time, finally replying only moments before Tyler entered the house. I hope you know what you’re doing. With that, she ended the call, leaving Annie staring at her phone in wonder.

Maybe it was time for the two of them to sit down and have a serious talk, face to face. Annie wondered if she could score some time away from the store, maybe a weekend. It was roughly an eight-hour drive from her new home in Morrisville, North Carolina, to New York. Not unthinkable.

And worthwhile if they could work out whatever unspoken tension existed between them.

Is everything okay? Tyler paused on his way to the bedroom that would now be his. You look upset.

She forced a wide grin. Just fine. You finding everything okay? Is there anything I can help you with?

He offered a dry chuckle, shifting the box from one hip to the other. I’d be pretty ashamed of myself if I did need help. I didn’t exactly pack much when I came out here—not that I had much to pack to begin with. With that, he continued to his room, and Annie reminded herself this was a good idea.

Even if nobody in her life agreed.

No, that wasn’t exactly true. Mildred Asquith saw the sense in it. That, if nothing else, told Annie she was in the right. Mildred didn’t strike her as someone who would offer empty platitudes. She was a sweet lady, kind and warm, but no-nonsense.

And when she had met Tyler and learned about the search for his birth mother, she’d taken an instant liking to him. Tyler found this funny since, as he put it, little old ladies didn’t usually like him much.

Don’t worry about that. Mildred had offered a wise, knowing sort of smile. There are all kinds of ways for so-called polite society to exclude the people they feel fall short in some way or another. Considering Mildred had been Hattie Deacon’s partner for decades, Annie guessed the woman knew what she was talking about. Society wasn’t always as accepting of relationships like theirs.

It was nearing lunchtime, and while Annie had promised to stop by the store in the early afternoon, there was still time to spare. She fixed a pair of turkey sandwiches and was in the middle of putting together a salad when Tyler joined her in the kitchen.

This still doesn’t feel quite real. He offered an awkward smile before taking one of the sandwiches. Do you know what I mean?

What? You mean you’re having a hard time wrapping your head around suddenly finding the half-sibling you didn’t know existed until a few weeks ago? Is there anything strange about that?

They shared a laugh as she divided salad between two plates and slid one his way.

Bogart darted past, his tail straight up in the air. I don’t think he approves. Tyler looked rueful as he followed the cat’s progress down the hall, into Annie’s office.

Just like any other cat. He’ll warm up to you in his own time. She followed the direction of his gaze. Then again, there are times when I’m not sure he ever warmed up to me, so what do I know?

It was nice, having someone to talk to, even if things were still a little awkward between them. It was natural, all things considered. They’d met thanks to their shared interest in local history, even if that interest had stemmed from very different places.

In the end, they’d both wanted to know what happened to Doris Cornell—Annie because she’d been curious, Tyler because Doris was the birth mother he’d never met.

Who just happened to have had an affair with Annie’s father during one of the few times he’d rolled through town to bug his Aunt Hattie for money.

Life was funny that way. Annie still couldn’t quite believe how things unfolded. There she’d been, fresh off her divorce, considering selling the house she’d been awarded if only to avoid facing memories around every corner. The next thing she’d known, there was word of a great aunt she hadn’t known existed thanks to her nonexistent relationship with her deadbeat father, a man she couldn’t remember a thing about.

New Jersey might as well have been the moon, life was so different now. She owned a business and a cute, modest ranch house on a quiet street in North Carolina, where undoubtedly there would be questions as to the identity of the man now living in her guest room.

They finished their meal in companionable silence. Annie washed her plates and set them in the rack, then dried her hands on a dishtowel as Tyler followed suit. Do you mind if I head out for a little bit? I promised to stop in at the store.

Go ahead. I might do a little work out in the yard, if you don’t mind. I could use the exercise, and the vitamin D.

With that in mind, Annie took a detour to the garden shed, where she showed Tyler the lay of the land and shared a few ideas she had for the yard.

There hasn’t been any time to really dig in and get things moving in the right direction. She gestured toward the tomato plants that had already been there when she moved in. They were doing nicely, at least she thought they were, even if they hadn’t developed fruit yet. Tyler promised to be careful with them, offering to weed the bed along the back of the house, where insidious little runners grew in all directions from the bushes beneath her office window. Since she had in no way been looking forward to rooting them out, she left him to it and hoped Bogart wouldn’t pee anywhere he wasn’t supposed to in silent protest of this new invader.

I only hope nobody decides to pay a visit while I’m gone.

She didn’t doubt Tyler could handle himself—even for all his tattoos and his standoffish manner, he knew how to handle himself graciously when need be. What worried her was the questions he would surely face from women like Terry Smith, who lived across the street and had a habit of both oversharing and over-asking.

Then again, Tyler had been raised in the South, where such openness was the rule rather than the exception. The opposite had been true for Annie, who’d developed a habit of keeping things close to the vest. It might not seem as invasive to him as it had to her when Terry had pumped her for information while sharing too much of her own.

It was a beautiful late September day, roughly as warm as she was used to at this time of year. The nights didn’t get as cool as they did in New Jersey, though, which was something she suspected she’d miss before long. Sitting around the firepit in the backyard, wearing a thick sweater, enjoying a glass of wine. A simple pleasure, but one she now realized she’d miss at her new home.

That was how things would be for the first year, she supposed. The first time decorating for the holidays in her new home. Her first birthday spent hundreds of miles away from old friends. Her first winter with no snow. It wouldn’t seem right, not seeing a single snowflake.

At least she wouldn’t have to worry about who’d shovel the driveway.

Where would Melanie go for the holidays?

That question hit Annie as she turned onto South Scales Street, where A New Chapter sat among other small businesses in Morrisville’s downtown area. Would her daughter want to come all the way down to Morrisville, or would she rather spend winter break with Edwin and his new family?

Concern must have etched itself onto her face, since Rose Jackson placed a hand over her heart when Annie entered the store. Is everything all right?

Everything’s fine. Annie stopped short, confused. Why do you ask?

You looked… never mind. Rose went back to organizing a rack of used books, laughing softly as she did. I’m still jumpy, I guess.

It had been weeks since the excitement had died down and life had returned to normal—at least, normal by most standards. Annie’s life was nothing close to normal but was beginning to settle into something she felt comfortable with.

Regardless, there’d been no more drama. No break-ins, no attacks, nothing of the sort. Yet Rose still behaved like the other shoe was about to drop at any moment, always on her guard.

I had something on my mind, is all. Lyle was behind the counter, ringing up a customer. Once he finished, Annie gestured for him to join her and Rose. There’s something I want to mention to you two, just for the sake of you knowing.

I knew it. Something’s wrong. Ruth set aside the cardboard box of paperbacks.

Annie silently counted to five before continuing. Nothing is wrong, I promise. But you might as well know why I had to take the morning off. There might be questions or speculations. I didn’t want you to be caught off-guard.

The concern in Rose’s eyes was replaced by a sly twinkle. Does this have anything to do with that tall drink of water, Sam?

Lyle looked like he wanted to melt into the floor, and Annie could relate. No, no, you have the wrong idea. But I did help a man move in with me today. My brother, Tyler. He’s sharing the house with me for a while.