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he’s
getting up there in age. I won’t be too long.”
    “That’s okay. Take your time. I’ll order the pizza.”
    As soon as he was out the door, I rushed to find my cell
phone. I texted my mom first to let her know I wasn’t feeling well and to ask
if we could reschedule dinner. Thankfully she didn’t ask any questions or give
me a hard time. Next, I called the local pizza joint and ordered two large
pizzas. I forgot to ask Hudson what he liked, so I went with the standard
cheese and pepperoni.
    “Jamie!” I shouted up the stairs.
    “What?” he hollered back.
    It stopped me in my tracks. Normally he ignored me. “I
ordered pizza for dinner. Our neighbor will be joining us.”
    “I’m not hungry.”
    I sighed. He was always hungry, but he was probably angry at
me over something again. He was always angry lately. “You can eat in your room
if you want.”
    “Fine.”
    Then I heard the sound of him turning up the radio. I had
half a mind to march up there and throw that damn radio out the window.
Instead, I turned and walked away, trying to remember he was struggling with
this change just as much as I was. Hopefully, with time, he’d come around and
realize it wasn’t so bad around here. With a resigned sigh, I headed down to
the basement. On top of everything else she did and was, Grandma was a wine
connoisseur, and she had an impressive stock of wine. I thought a nice red wine
would taste perfect with the pizza. I stopped halfway down the stairs. Wine?
What in the hell was I thinking? If I brought out a bottle of wine, Hudson
might think I thought this was some sort of date. And I didn’t think that. I
mean, it would be nice if it was, but it wasn’t.
    I turned and went back upstairs just in time to hear a
pickup truck pulling into the driveway. I peeked out the front window. Hudson
was getting out of a rugged looking black Dodge Ram. It its better days, it was
probably a pretty sweet looking truck. But it had certainly seen better days. I
went to the door and opened it. “That didn’t take long at all.”
    “Told you it wouldn’t.” He laughed and held up a brown paper
bag. “I brought a bottle of wine. Hope that’s okay. It was given to me as a
gift, and I’m generally not a big drinker…”
    It was my turn to laugh. Apparently Hudson and I thought the
same way. I nodded. “That’s perfect.” I stepped aside to let him enter, and
took the bottle of wine. “I’ll chill this in the fridge until the pizza
arrives. Would you like something to drink in the meantime?”
    “Another glass of that sweet tea would be nice,” he said,
pulling out the same chair he’d sat in earlier.
    “Coming right up.” I poured him another glass and set it in
front of him. “I’m glad you came over today,” I said before I could filter my
thoughts and stop myself.
    “I am, too. I’d heard around town that someone had taken
over the property, but I had no idea it was Noreen’s granddaughter.”
    “Yeah, she left the house and all the property to me in her
will. It was a shock to say the least.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “She and I didn’t exactly part on good terms. The last we
spoke, we had a bit of a disagreement.” I frowned, remembering how heated that
discussion had been, how mean and inconsiderate I’d been toward her.
    “I’m sorry to hear that. Families can be complicated.” His
tone implied he had some firsthand knowledge of that. I wanted to pry, but that
would be rude, so I just nodded in agreement.
    There was a knock on the door, and I jumped up. “That’s
probably the pizza.” By the time she got the door opened, Hudson was beside
her.
    “Two large pizzas? One cheese, one pepperoni,” the delivery
guy said.
    “That’s me,” I said, taking the two boxes from him. I turned
to set them on the nearest counter so I could grab the money I’d set there, but
before I had the chance, Hudson was pulling bills out of his wallet.
    “Keep the change,” Hudson said to the delivery guy.