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“I delivered a calf that was stuck, using chains.”
“We’re eating,” Loretta complained.
Reba shrugged and went back to her potatoes.
“You should come with us for a season,” LeAnn said.
“Someone has to stay home with the ’rents,” Loretta said.
“Why?” Reba asked. “They’re fine. Don’t let them fool you.”
Loretta shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “What would I even do? I’m not an athlete.” She gestured to LeAnn. “Or good with animals.” She inclined her head at Reba. “Or into social media like Dolly.”
“You could learn. I mean, I’m sure Reba could use an assistant,” Dolly said.
“No,” Reba said. “Loretta has delicate sensibilities.”
“I do not,” Loretta said.
“What would you do if you stepped in cow manure?”
“Ew, I’d throw my shoes out.”
Reba nodded. “See? Why don’t you have her work with you?”
“If she doesn’t like bullshit, she’s not going to like working in public relations.” Dolly clinked glasses with LeAnn.
“I think I can handle hypothetical bullshit,” Loretta said.
“It’s not hypothetical, but if hanging out with Mom and Dad is giving you cabin fever, you’re welcome to bunk with me in Dallas.”
“Let me think about it. I still play around with the idea that I’m going to go back for my art history degree.”
Reba shot her a hard stare. “Just not at Paris Community College, right?”
“Right,” Loretta said. “Although, Professor Singer is getting a divorce.”
“No, he’s not,” Dolly said, and with a few taps of her fingers brought up Loretta’s former professor—and boyfriend’s—Instagram page. There were several shots of him laughing with his wife and two kids.
“I didn’t know he had a family. I had just wanted to forget about Derek.”
Derek was her jerk of an ex-husband.
“I know, honey,” Dolly said. “Singer was a rebound and a fling. You deserve better than both Derek and him.”
“That’s what Mom and Dad say.” Loretta scowled into her plate.
“Well, just because they say things over and over again doesn’t mean they’re wrong,” Dolly said.
“Maybe I do need a change of scene.”
Reba felt bad for Loretta. She was the oldest and Mom and Dad had such high hopes for her. But she quit college to marry Derek who was an aspiring rock star. Only to dump him when he knocked up one of his groupies. His Instagram was a party page, too. Reba made Dolly check on him every so often. Reba kept hoping to see that he’d had all of his guitars stolen or that he’d come down with a raging case of syphilis or something.
Then Loretta had gone back to college and had a torrid affair with her professor. Loretta had found out at a school event that the asshat was married and had kids. So Loretta had quit college and was living with their parents until she figured out what her next move was going to be. But at least she had her art. She drew caricatures at local events and took commissions for artwork on Etsy.
“Maybe you could paint rodeo scenes and sell them at all of the venues we go to?” LeAnn said.
“I’d have to get started now to build up inventory,” Loretta said, but she perked up and, for the first time in a long while, seemed really happy about something.
