Free Welcome To Hickville High (Hickville High Series Book 1) by Mary Karlik

Just in time too. I’m ‘bout to throw the steaks on the grill. Beer’s in the fridge, Tom.”
    Aunt Susan added, “For the girls, I have sweet tea or coke.”
    Not sure which flavor of coke she would get, Kelsey opted for the tea. She watched her aunt get drinks and thought about how different her parents were from her aunt and uncle. It hardly seemed possible that Uncle Jack and Dad were brothers. Uncle Jack wore denim cargo shorts, a Hawaiian shirt that fit loose enough to cover his gut, a straw cowboy hat, and flip-flops. He was laid back and loud. Dad wore plaid shorts, a polo shirt, and leather sandals. He didn’t need to wear a loose fitting shirt because he worked out every day—or at least he had until they moved. And he seldom cracked a joke, probably because he was stressed out all the time. It’s too bad Dad hadn’t inherited at least a little of Uncle Jack’s laid-back attitude.
    Kelsey took the glass of tea and followed her aunt and sisters onto the back patio.
    Twenty minutes later she bit into quite possibly the greatest thing about Texas. It was the juiciest, most tender rib eye she’d ever experienced. That, coupled with a loaded baked potato and Aunt Susan’s sweet tea, gave life to her tired body.
    Uncle Jack told stories about growing up on the farm. He had a way of making everything sound like an adventure. As the family laughed at Uncle Jack, Kelsey watched her dad. At first, his smile was tight, like it was all he could do to force it on his face. But as the evening continued, Kelsey saw him change. He leaned back in his chair, the furrows in his brow relaxed, and he actually let out a laugh or two. And for a moment, she wasn’t angry with him and she didn’t hate Ryan.
    After dinner, Aunt Susan pulled out the 1984 Hornets yearbook and flipped through the pages until she found what she was searching for. She handed the book to Kelsey and her sisters. “This is your dad.”
    Kelsey held the book as Ryan and Mackenzie looked on from either side. She studied the picture labeled Thomas Anthony Quinn. This was her straight-laced, militant dad?
    The girls broke out laughing and Kelsey shook her head. “Seriously, Dad? This is you?” His hair was almost to his shoulders and he wore a lavender T-shirt beneath a white wide-lapelled jacket.
    Her dad peeked over her shoulder. “Hey, I was a stud.”
    The girls broke out in a collective “Ewww.”
    Aunt Susan said, “Here, let me see that.”
    Kelsey handed her the book and she flipped to other pages of Thomas Anthony Quinn: junior class president, quarterback, president of the Latin club, and treasurer of the Future Farmers of America.
    Ryan looked at her dad. “You did all this and you were a junior? What was left over for your senior year?”
    “I didn’t do much after that.”
    Mackenzie asked. “What happened?”
    He took a step back and tugged at his collar before mumbling. “I focused on my studies.” He drew a long swig of beer and walked to the kitchen to toss the bottle.
    Aunt Susan shook her head. “Cassidy Jones is what happened. She was a real piece of work.”
    “Who’s Cassidy Jones?” Kelsey eyed her dad.
    “Nobody.” He leaned over her shoulder and flipped the pages to the senior class. “Look up your uncle. Now, there’s class.”
    Kelsey thumbed through the pictures until she reached the page with the Q’s. She barely recognized the kid staring back at her from the album. He had thick blonde shoulder length hair, oversized horn-rimmed glasses and wore the same wide lapel jacket as her dad only with a giant bow tie.
    Aunt Susan leaned over and looked at the picture. “Lord have mercy. I forgot all about that bow tie. That tie about got Jack suspended from school.”
    Ryan looked up at her aunt. “For a bow tie?”
    “Yes. Jack was always the class clown, bless his heart. He wore that ridiculous tie on picture day and about half the senior boys had their turn at it.”
    Kelsey flipped through the senior class