Part 35 (2/2)
I shook my head. Talk about rewriting history. 'Gammy Gad About' was on the go night and day. And PawPaw Will? When he wasn't working, he was hunting, fis.h.i.+ng, or playing in the garden.
”About Rick,” Joe said, as they were taking their leave. ”Avoidance? Not the best way to go. Just ask your pop.”
I thanked the duo for my gift and waved goodbye, wondering how bad the situation was between my mom and dad and how on earth couples kept the magic alive.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX.
”I still don't get why we can't have food in here,” my gammy asked. ”Where's the harm in a box of Raisinets?”
”It's a new facility, Gram. They want to keep it tidy.”
”I don't plan on spilling anything.”
Bless her heart. She never did.
I sighed. Gram had insisted on having the aisle seat for the No-Talent Talent Show. I'd ended up beside her. Rick came next, then Joe.
”I've never seen so many lame acts in my life,” Gram said.
”They're supposed to be lame, Gram. They're parodies.”
”None of these acts would get past Simon.”
”Exactly. They're bad on purpose.”
”Well, I coulda done that,” she said.
”You could, Gram. You really could.”
Tap! Tap!
I frowned and s.h.i.+fted in my seat.
Rap! Tap! Tap!
Some jacka.s.s was kicking my seat. I turned around.
”If you don't mind-” I began, and then stopped. ”Jax? Jax Whitver! What are you doing here?”
”Taking in the show. So far, I'd say Grandville doesn't have much talent.”
That one got my gammy turning in her seat.
”Don't you know anything? These acts are pear-a-dees. They're supposed to be c.r.a.p.”
”Mission accomplished,” Jax said.
”What happened to you the other night?” I asked.
”I had places to go. Things to do. People to see.”
”You were drunk! You could hardly keep your eyes open!”
”Shhh! Please! There's a performance going on!”
I glanced over at the shusher and winced. What were the odds that my former high school princ.i.p.al would be the one to shoosh me?
I thought back to my school days.
Pretty good.
”Who's this?” Rick turned in his seat.
”Jax Whitver, Rick Townsend. Rick Townsend, Jax Whitver.” I made the surreal intros.
Rick reached back and shook Jax's hand.
”You're the country pop star,” Rick said.
Jax nodded. ”Guilty as charged.”
”How do you know Tressa?” Rick asked.
”We've shared some, shall we say, ups and downs on TribRide,” he said, with a grin. ”Our paths seem destined to cross.”
”And here you are again,” Rick said, turning to give me a ”this ought to be good” look.
”I'm not sure it's a good idea for you to be here, Jax,” I said. ”Especially after last night.”
”Last night?” Rick's expression went from ”this ought to be good” to ”this better be good” quicker than my gammy changes her mind about what she wants to order for lunch.
”Then this will probably be an even worse idea,” Jax said. ”But d.a.m.ned if I give a s.h.i.+t.”
”Ladies and gentlemen.” Our community choir director, Jerald Harcourt, took the stage, microphone in hand. ”Grandville's Got Talent is honored to announce a special surprise performance from number one country and pop performer, Jax Whitver! Ladies and gentlemen, Jax Whitver!”
Jax moved from the seat behind me to the aisle. Before I knew what was happening, he reached across Gram and grabbed my hand, pulling me into the aisle with him. He dragged me along with him in the direction of the stage.
”What are you doing? Are you insane? Keelie's here! She mentioned a restraining order.”
”Not to worry, Tressa, dear. I haven't been served so we're good to go,” he said, raising his hand and acknowledging the audience with a wave and a mega-buck grin.
”We?”
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