Chapter 45

Shelly also got up and went over to the exploded geranium extravaganza.

“Are you sure you want to marry into this family, Jackson?” Mrs. Ledbetter asked, glancing around and speaking very softly.

“Mom, please don’t,” Jackson whispered.

“They remind me of some of your father’s clients,” she offered.

“Insanity doesn’t run in our family,” I said. “It strolls along, takes its time, and gets to know you personally. Papaw has his ways.”

“Obviously,” she said. “Are there no nursing homes?”

Papaw fixed his old, rheumy eyes on her as silence settled over the table.

“What did you say?” Papaw asked very quietly.

“I said, are there no nursing homes?” She spoke in a loud, aggressive voice, not at all embarrassed. “You’re a danger to yourself and everyone else. You almost killed us. This is not normal behavior. Something should be done.”

“Perhaps you could take me to the vet and have me put down,” Papaw suggested. “We could call the vet right now, if you’d like.”