One normal night
1284 Words
(Ridge)
My parents' house sat on the edge of town, a sprawling place with too many rooms and a view of the mountains. Growing up here had been good. Dad made his money in real estate before I was born, and Mom spent it decorating every inch of the place like it was a showroom.
I pulled into the driveway and killed the engine. Mira was looking at the house like she was trying to decide if she could still back out.
"It's not as bad as it looks," I said.
"It looks fine."
"Mom's going to ask you a lot of questions. You don't have to answer any of them if you don't want to."
She looked at me. "Is that what you tell all the girls you bring home?"
"I don't bring girls home."
"Ever?"
"Not in a long time."
That seemed to make her more nervous, not less. She got out of the truck before I could say anything else.
The front door opened before we reached it. Mom stood there in an apron, her hair pulled back, smiling like I'd just brought home the girl of my dreams.
"Ridge!" She hugged me, then turned to Mira. "And you must be Mira. Harlow told me all about you."
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Dalton."
"Please, call me Claire." Mom pulled her into a hug too. Mira looked surprised but didn't pull away. "Come in, come in. Dinner's almost ready."
We followed her inside. The house smelled like roasted chicken and garlic. Dad was in the living room watching a football game with Harlow curled up on the couch next to him.
"There he is," Dad said, standing up. He was tall, gray-haired, and still built like he could throw a punch if he needed to. "And this must be the girl causing all the fuss."
"Dad, this is Mira," I said. "Mira, my dad, Victor."
He shook her hand. "Good to meet you. Ridge doesn't bring anyone around, so you must be special."
"Dad."
"What? I'm just saying." He grinned at Mira. "Don't let him intimidate you. He acts tough, but he's a softie."
"I'm standing right here."
"I know." Dad clapped me on the back and headed toward the dining room. "Come on, let's eat before your mother yells at us."
Dinner was exactly what I expected. Mom asked Mira a million questions, most of which Mira answered without really saying anything. Where are you from? Around. Do you have family? Not nearby. What brought you to Crosswell? Car trouble.
Harlow tried to help by changing the subject every time Mom got too nosy, but it didn't work. Mom was relentless when she wanted to know something.
"So how long are you planning to stay?" Mom asked.
"I'm not sure yet," Mira said.
"Well, Crosswell's a good place to settle down. Small, quiet, everyone knows everyone." Mom smiled. "And Ridge is a good man to have in your corner."
"Mom."
"I'm just saying."
Dad laughed. "Leave the girl alone, Claire. She just got here."
"I'm not bothering her. I'm being welcoming."
Mira looked like she wanted to disappear under the table. I caught her eye and she gave me a look that said help me.
"How's the chicken?" I asked, trying to redirect.
"Perfect, as always," Dad said. "Your mother could open a restaurant if she wanted to."
"I don't want to," Mom said. "I like cooking for my family."
The rest of dinner went better. Mom backed off a little, and Dad started telling stories about when Harlow and I were kids. Mira smiled at a few of them, which was more than I'd seen her do since she got to town.
After we ate, Harlow convinced Mira to help her with dessert in the kitchen. Dad poured himself a whiskey and gestured for me to follow him onto the back porch.
"She's pretty," he said once we were outside.
"Yeah."
"You like her."
It wasn't a question. Dad had always been able to read me.
"I don't know her," I said.
"That's not what I asked." He took a sip of his drink. "She seems nice. Quiet, but that's probably because your mother's interrogating her."
"Yeah."
"Harlow says she's working at The Spoke."
"Hank hired her. She needed the job."
Dad nodded. "Well, bring her around again. Your mother already likes her, and you know how rare that is."
"I know."
"Just take it easy. She looks like she's been through something." Dad finished his drink. "Give her time to settle in before you get too involved."
"I'm not involved."
"Sure you're not." Dad grinned. "Come on, let's get back inside before they think we're talking about them."
We went back inside. Harlow and Mira were setting out pie on the table. Mom was pouring coffee.
"Ridge, come sit," Mom said. "Tell us what's going on with the club."
"Nothing worth talking about."
"Come on, humor me. I never hear about what you do anymore."
"Because you don't want to know."
She waved her hand. "I know enough. I just want to make sure you're being safe."
"I'm always safe."
Harlow snorted. "That's a lie."
"You don't know what I do."
"I know enough," she said, echoing Mom. "You're not as sneaky as you think."
Mira was watching us like we were a TV show. I couldn't tell if she was entertained or uncomfortable.
We ate pie and drank coffee. Mom told stories about people in town, most of whom Mira didn't know yet. Dad argued with Harlow about the football game. It was normal. Easy. The kind of night I used to take for granted before I took over the club.
Around nine, I told Mom we needed to get going. She hugged Mira goodbye and made her promise to come back soon.
"Anytime," Mom said. "You're always welcome here."
"Thank you," Mira said. She meant it. I could tell.
Harlow walked us out. "See? I told you it wouldn't be that bad."
"Your mom's intense," Mira said.
"She likes you. That's a good thing. Trust me, if she didn't, you'd know."
We got in the truck and headed back toward town. Mira was quiet, looking out the window.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah. Your family's nice."
"They liked you."
"Your mom asked me a lot of questions."
"That's how she shows affection."
Mira's mouth curved just a little. "Is that what that was?"
"Yeah."
We drove in silence for a few minutes. Then she said, "Thanks for inviting me. I didn't realize how much I missed normal until tonight."
"You can come back anytime. Mom meant that."
"I know."
When we got back to The Spoke, I walked her to the door. She paused before going inside.
"Ridge."
"Yeah?"
"Why are you helping me?"
I'd been waiting for her to ask that. I still didn't have a good answer.
"Because you need it," I said.
"That's not a reason."
"It's the only one I've got."
She looked at me for a long moment, like she was trying to figure out if I was lying. Then she nodded and went inside.
I stood there for a minute after she left, trying to figure out what the hell I was doing. Dad was right. Mira had been through something, and she needed time to settle in before I pushed for more.
The smart thing would be to keep my distance. Let her work at the bar, save some money, and move on when she was ready.
But I'd never been good at doing the smart thing.
I got back in my truck and drove home, already knowing I wasn't going to stay away from her.
Not even close.
- Writer
