Free The Family Plot by Cherie Priest

armoires, one desk, several cabinets, the skeletal remains of an Indian motorcycle, a couple of tables, half a dozen wooden wheels, a proper old sleigh with some of its decorative paint intact, some children’s sleds, and one stove that wasn’t original, but was close enough to make Dahlia happy.
    By noon, the crew members had stripped off sweaters and flannels, and were down to T-shirts and gloves. Bobby wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and announced, “I’m starving. Let’s see about lunch.”
    Gabe looked at Dahlia like he was half afraid she’d argue, just because his dad had been the one who proposed it.
    But she didn’t. “I’m getting there, myself. All right, let’s wrap it up here and drive into town—or walk into town, whatever.”
    â€œI’m driving,” her cousin declared. “Out past the railroad overpass, they’ve got a whole string of fast food places. I hear the Taco Bell calling my name.”
    Dahlia mumbled something about Taco Bell being gross, and Gabe halfheartedly agreed. She knew that he loved Taco Bell, but he was tired of taking his dad’s jabs about how he was getting big and soft, instead of just big. He suggested Subway instead.
    Dahlia liked that idea better. “No reason you can’t do both. Pick me up a sandwich, would you? I’ll write down what I want, and while you’re out making a food run, I can start unloading our camping gear.”
    â€œI could give you a hand,” Gabe suggested. “I’ll write down my order, too.”
    Brad considered his options. Apparently he’d rather ride with Bobby than unload gear. “All right,” he said. “It’s me and you, man—and tacos are fine with me.”
    â€œSee? Even the bookworm likes tacos, Gabe. Nothing wrong with tacos.”
    â€œI know. I just don’t want any right now,” the kid protested. Dahlia suspected that he’d jump in front of a bus for a taco, so it was either sweet or sad how he chose to stick with her instead. Avoiding even the appearance of evil. Or temptation. Whichever.
    â€œBookworm?”
    Bobby smacked Brad on the back, a little harder than he needed to. “Don’t take it the wrong way.”
    â€œIt’s not much of an insult.”
    â€œThen I’ll have to come up with something better on the way.”
    Brad shrugged, and Dahlia realized that a lazy shrug was his submissive response to almost everything. “Whatever makes you happy, man.”
    â€œTacos make me happy.”
    They wandered back to Bobby’s truck together, while Gabe and Dahlia went to hers. “Thanks for staying,” she told him. “These coolers are heavy.”
    â€œI’ve spent enough time in a truck with Dad today.” He whipped the vehicle’s back door open with a jerk of his elbow. “I like Brad all right, and I wasn’t trying to throw him under the bus … but it’s someone else’s turn to hear Dad rattle on about Marlene.”
    â€œBrad made his own damn choice. And who’s Marlene?”
    â€œSome girl he met on the Internet. She’s not, like, a kid, I mean. She’s your age, or something. He found her on a dating site.”
    Dahlia looked away to hide a smirk. “I’m sure she’s lovely.”
    â€œThat’s what you always say about people when you think they’re probably awful.”
    â€œWell, all I said out loud is, ‘I’m sure she’s lovely.’ You can’t prove anything else.” She drew one of the coolers out from the truck, and only barely kept its back end from crashing to the ground. She caught it with her foot, and a grunt. “Besides, you shouldn’t listen too hard to anything I say. That’s what your dad would tell you.”
    â€œHe ain’t never said that.” Gabe picked up the end of the cooler on Dahlia’s foot, then got a grip on the other