Read Online Diners, Dives & Dead Ends by Terri L. Austin - Free Book Online

“I’ll go help your mother.”
    Left alone with Jacks, I
grinned.  “I ran into one of my old classmates yesterday.”
    We walked slowly toward the
dining room.  “Oh really?”  She linked her arm in mine.  “Who?”
    “Dane Harker.” 
    “I’ve seen him around the
club.  He’s a hottie.”
    “I didn’t remember him at
first.  But the dimples—”
    “Oh, those dimples.”  She
gave a little sigh. 
    “Apparently he had a crush
on me in sixth grade.”
    “Where did you meet him and
is he still pining away?”
    “The police station and nope,
I’m pretty sure he got over his crush a long time ago.”
    “Just think about how
romantic it would be if you married your childhood sweetheart.” 
    “We weren’t sweethearts and
nobody’s said anything about marriage.”
    “You never know.”  She
turned to me and frowned.  “Were you at the police station because of Axton?”
    “Yeah, I’ll give you the
details later.”  And I would have to give her the abbreviated version, because
there was no way I’d tell Jacks about seeing BJ in the park.  I didn’t want her
to worry about leaving Scotty in my care.  He would always be safe with me—I’d
take a bullet for that kid.
     “Tell me now.”
    Barbara popped her head out
of the kitchen.  “Rosalyn, are you going to sit down?  Or should we continue to
wait on you?”
    Grinding my teeth, I sat
next to Scotty.
    “Look, Aunt Rose,” he said
with a wide grin.  There was a hole where his front tooth should have been.
    I ruffled his hair.  “Hey,
Sport, where’d it go?”
    “I lost it,” he said.  “And
I got five whole dollars when the tooth fairy took it.  So I’m trying to make
this one come out too.”  He wiggled another tooth.
    “Well, good luck with
that.”  I unfolded my beige linen napkin and placed it on my lap.
    My mom and dad brought
platters of food from the kitchen and took their seats at the table.  On the
menu: salmon.  I hated salmon.  My mother knew I hated salmon.  She was
definitely bringing her A-game.   
    Everyone settled in and
began passing the food.  I piled my plate with rice and grilled vegetables, but
passed the salmon off to my dad.
    Barbara noticed and
attempted to raise an eyebrow.  Since she had regular Botox injections, she was
not entirely successful.  “Is there something wrong, Rosalyn?”  She delicately
wiped the corner of her mouth. 
    I blinked and tried to look
serene.  “No, I don’t think so.”  I took a small bite of rice.
    “Was there something wrong
with the salmon, dear?  I noticed you didn’t have any.  You’re not turning into
a vegan, are you?”
    “No, of course not, mother.”
    She pursed her lips.  “Then
why won’t you try the salmon?”
    “Barbara,” my father cut in,
“if she doesn’t want salmon…” he trailed off with a shrug.
    Taking a deep breath through
her nose, she sucked in her cheeks.  “But the salmon is delicious.”
    “Mmm.  It is delicious,
Barb,” Allen said.   Suck up .
    “And the wine is great. 
What is this wine, Dad?” Jacks asked.
    “It’s—”
    “Salmon is good for the
heart.  Isn’t that right, darling?” she asked my father.  Well, since he was a
podiatrist, he should know.
    “Yes, dear, it is,” he said,
before lapsing into silence.
    “Did you hear that,
Rosalyn?” 
    “Yes, I heard.  Salmon—it’s
all the rage with the kids these days.” 
    Barbara set her fork on the
side of her plate.  “Why must you be so contrary?”
    “She hates salmon.  She said
that the last time she was here, Grandma,” Scotty said.  “And I don’t like it
either.”
    I bit my lip to smother a
grin. 
    My mother picked up her fork
and continued to eat.  She didn’t say another word.
    I winked at Scotty.  He
smiled back.  Darn, that kid was cute.
    “So,” Jacks said with a
little too much enthusiasm.  “How’s school, Rose?  You’re taking ethics now,
right?” 
    I opened my mouth to answer,
but wasn’t