Free Lost Bird by Tymber Dalton Page B

throws at me.
    Oscar had just returned home when John arrived. John grabbed a quick shower before they made the turnaround to go to his aunt’s house. When he emerged from the bathroom, he walked out to the living room.
    “We only have a couple of months left on the lease before we’re due for renewal,” John said.
    “Yeah?”
    “What we were talking about the other night. You mean it?”
    “Moving in with her?”
    John nodded.
    “Well, sure. I love Aunt Tammy.”
    “You wouldn’t have a problem living there with her if we have to start caring for her more?” John asked.
    “No. Why would I? I told you, I’m in. If she wants me there, I’m happy to be there. You thinking about it again?”
    “Yeah. I stopped by my mom and dad’s on the way home.”
    “Ah. Well, there’s the problem. Your mom will be up our asses about it nonstop if we do.”
    “I know.” He leaned against the wall. “We’ll see if Aunt Tammy brings it up again tonight. If she does, I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.”
    “Sure. And we are.”
    When they let themselves in the front door at Tammy’s house, the delicious aroma of beef stew hit them.
    “Oh, man,” Oscar said as he lead the way to the kitchen, where they found her at the stove. “That smells great!” He kissed her on the cheek before stepping out of the way so John could kiss her other cheek.
    “Glad you think so. Haven’t made stew in a while.” She turned from the stove and stared at them. “You’re going to think I’m nuts, but Herbert told me you two are thinking about finally taking me up on my offer.”
    The men shared a guilty look. “What?” John asked when he found his voice first.
    She wore a smile. “No, I’m not crazy. Let me prove it. You boys discussed signing a lease with me and everything.”
    Oscar fumbled the plastic cup he’d been pulling down from the cabinet next to the sink. Despite his best efforts, it tumbled out of his hands and into the stainless steel sink, where it bounced around until he finally got his fingers wrapped around it.
    The look of shock on Oscar’s face had to mirror the one John knew he now wore. “How did you—”
    “I told you. Herbert told me.” She smiled. “I dreamed it last night. He comes to me in my dreams and we sit and talk. So yes, if that’s the only way I can convince you two boys to give up that horrible little apartment you’re living in and move in with me, fine, we’ll do a lease and you can pay me rent.” She turned back to the stove.
    Wide-eyed, Oscar shrugged and shook his head, his meaning clear. I didn’t say anything to her.
    “Will you boys please set the table?” she called over her shoulder, effectively ending the conversation.
    “Yes, ma’am,” they parroted back with a final glance at each other.
     
    * * * *
     
    The rest of dinner went relatively normally. Oscar thought they were going to get out of there without any additional weirdness.
    Until just after dessert.
    That was when Aunt Tammy lobbed another oddball at them.
    “Sachi seems like a very nice woman. Very sweet.”
    Oscar glanced to John for guidance. Seeing none, he stumbled forward. “She seems like it.”
    She stood and picked up her now empty dessert plate. “That nice young man, Brad? He said she’s single. I think you boys should consider asking her out.” With that, she turned and walked into the kitchen.
    John sat there, his fork frozen midbite, and stared at Oscar.
    Oscar stared back. After a long, uncomfortable moment, Oscar gave up trying to figure out a response to her comment and shoved another bite of red velvet cake into his piehole.
    John did the same.
    On the ride home that night, they didn’t talk about it. It wasn’t until Oscar pulled in and parked that John finally spoke.
    “That was weird, right?”
    “Um, yeah, kind of.”
    “You know, if it turns out she really is losing it…”
    Oscar couldn’t blame him for not wanting to finish that statement. “Dude, I’m