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"Come on over for lunch," Charles said. "Your mother's been asking after you."
    Wyatt didn't really feel it was a request so much as a polite order. So he led Tornado by the reins and walked with them home.
    Liza had sandwiches and vegetables on the table when they got there. She smiled at Wyatt and poured another glass of iced tea. Wyatt kissed her on the cheek and sat at the table.
    Liza was one of those elegant women of a certain age who seemed to carry all of her life experiences as badges of honor. She was wise. Lovely. Kind. Today she wore loose, linen pants and a white shirt with sleeves that belled out at the cuffs. There was just a hint of hippie in her, left over from her youth. Quite a contrast to Charles' severe, military shape and bearing. But they were perfect for each other. They'd served as wonderful role models for marriage. Wyatt and Amberlee often discussed all the ways that that marriage worked and how they could model their own after it. Or they used to discuss it.
    Liza sat across from him at the picnic table on the back, covered porch. "So I got a visit from your son, this morning."
    Wyatt shook his head. "That boy is the biggest gossip I know."
    "Mm-hmm. So. Who is she?"
    "Nobody. She's not from around here. I've never seen her before."
    "Wait. What?" Stan asked.
    Liza angled her head to Stan. "Your brother had a romantic encounter last night."
    "It wasn't romantic." It had been so, so very romantic.
    "Well what did she look like, at least?" Liza asked.
    "Mom," Wyatt grumbled.
    She arched a brow.
    Wyatt sighed. "Blond. Average height. Built. Beautiful."
    "Name?"
    "Don't remember. We were drunk. It really was nothing, Mom. Really."
    Liza sighed. "Well be that as it may, I'm glad you had fun. I want you to know that feelings of guilt are perfectly natural..."
    How could she see into his soul like this? He leaned his forehead on his palm.
    "...But you mustn't let them hold you back. You deserve to be happy. You need to give yourself permission to live again."
    He sighed. "Okay, Mom. I'll try."
    "Don't placate me, son. I see right through you and I'm watching. You understand?"
    "Yeah. I understand."
    "Have you thought about therapy like I asked you to? You know, Diane says she'd be more than happy to invite her psychiatrist friend for dinner so you can meet him."
    Wyatt met her gaze this time. "No. I've told you before. No. I'm not crazy. I'm sad that my wife died. Don't I have a right to be sad about that?"
    Liza cocked her head. "You're being purposely obtuse."
    "Yeah, well, I'm not going to therapy. There's nothing wrong with me."
    Liza sighed, but thankfully didn't pursue it.
    Wyatt enjoyed the rest of his lunch with his family. It was a comfortable day. He was probably still buzzing from the hormones of the night before. He kept himself busy outside until close to six. Then he ran in and showered, even though he was going swimming. He could not wait to get his hands on this girl again. He was sickened by this newly reawakened need. He owed Amberlee so much and he was deliberately betraying her. But Ettie...
    She'd come on to him last night, so brazenly, but with this light about her that made her seem so pure. Even while he was fucking her, he felt clean and alive and new. She made him want to give her things. He just wanted to get to know her so he could figure out the best gifts to give her, the best places to take her, the best things to do with her. He was looking forward as much to the conversation tonight, as he was to the sex. Well, almost.
    He was headed out the door when Blake pulled in the driveway. Blake climbed out of his car and looked at him. "Where are you going?"
    "Um...I'm going to camp out at Cal's. He's making moonshine. We're going to get shit-faced and reminisce about our childhoods."
    Blake stared him down. "You're going on a date."
    Wyatt held the stare for a long moment. Then he gave up and climbed in his truck. "Don't wait up," he said, slamming the door shut.
    He beat Ettie to