I didn’t know if Barry had gone to Asheville by himself or not. All I knew was he wasn’t at Mama’s house when we got there. Right away Matt went to his room and shut the door.
I sat in the family room with Mama and we watched some singing show that she had taped. I leaned up against her and she scratched my head the way she always does. Her phone dinged a few times, telling her she had texts, but she didn’t look at them. Once I said, “If you want to talk to Barry, go ahead, don’t worry about me,” but she just shook her head.
At one point, Matt trooped down the stairs and went in the kitchen to get a snack, making a bunch of noise. He was on the phone arguing with a friend about whether the greatest quarterback of all time was John Elway or Tom Brady. Then, he surprised me by coming out into the family room to eat his bowl of cereal.
“I know a guy who auditioned in Charlotte for American Idol,” he said in between mouthfuls.
“Really?” Mama said. Using the remote, she paused the show while we talked.
“Yeah. He said he had to wait in line for hours,” he said. “And his audition lasted about fifteen seconds. He didn’t make it.”
“Oh, too bad. What did he sing?” Mama asked.
“Um … some song by John Mayer, I think.”
“Did any of the judges say mean things to him?” I asked.
“No, he said they were nice. They said to keep practicing and come back next year.”
“It must’ve been an amazing experience,” Mama said.
“A lot of waiting,” Matt said. “But he said everyone waiting in line started singing together, which was cool. And they had people with cameras coming around and you were supposed to shout ‘I’m the next American Idol!’ ”
“That sounds fun,” I said.
Mama pressed the remote, and the show started again.
Matt sat with us and watched a girl sing, and then joked, “Well, you know, that was a little pitchy,” imitating one of the judges. He started laughing.
I laughed, too. Matt was making an effort to talk to us, and he never used to do that before.
“So, I have to be at the carwash tomorrow by nine,” he said to Mama. Because of his accident, Matt lost his driver’s license for six months, and Barry and Mama and some of his friends have had to drive him around.
“Okay,” she said.
“Okay. Later.” And then he went back upstairs, leaving his empty bowl sitting on the coffee table.
After the show was over, I thought Mama would want to sit and talk. I had planned to tell her about trying to kneeboard. But she yawned and stretched and told me she was tired, so we went to bed.
I had a hard time getting to sleep. I texted Diana.
R u ok after the deer?
I guess. How’s Matt?
Being nice! Can u believe it?
Mama is acting weird. Not talking as much.
What’s up with that?
Don’t know. What do u think is going on with Daddy and Lynn?
Don’t know.
Should we call or text them?
No.
Wonder what they’ve told Jon and Olivia?
No idea. Remember when Norm got mad at the ranch when I refused to go rafting?
And how mad Daddy was when we had the fight in the car over ur phone? Do u think they’re telling Jon and Olivia stuff like that?
I hope not! It’s so embarrassing!
I think it’s about Daddy not going to Florida. And Lynn having to chaperone my cheerleading competition.
I was always feeling guilty about things, and I told myself I wasn’t going to feel guilty about that.
If they split up, where would you live?
Goose bumps ran from my backbone up to my skull and spread all over my scalp, prickling. I started to feel like I had to throw up. It was obvious that Diana would still be with Lynn. I couldn’t answer. After a minute, Diana texted me again.
Mr. Goose never lets me pick the place for the nest.
I smiled. She could tell that I was upset and was trying to joke around a little.
With relief, I answered.
Mrs. Goose always has to be first when we swim with the babies.
Diana texted back.
If the baby geese hatch u’ll miss it.
I know.
She was so predictable. I was sitting here worrying about Daddy and Lynn, but there was Diana, thinking about what was happening with the animals.