Page 32 of Contentious

“Ew. That was a rhetorical question.”

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to. Did you see Mattie on the way out? She just left.”

“I didn’t. Hope you had a nice visit.”

“Always do. She’s a sweetheart to keep visiting every week.”

“She loves you.” Carson pulled up a chair to the kitchen table, where Spencer had set up their usual gin rummy game. “What’s the latest score?”

Spencer took a greedy sip of the milkshake and moaned in pleasure. “I’m up by twelve hundred and eighty-two points.”

“Jeez. You’re supposed to let the kids win.”

His snort of laughter was exactly what Carson expected. “Not in this lifetime, chump. Shuffle and deal so you can’t accuse me of cheating again.”

“You do cheat. That’s the only possible explanation for that score.”

“It’s skill and experience, boyo. Skill and experience. I spoke to your father earlier.”

Carson finished dealing and flipped up the top card to reveal a king of hearts. “What’d he have to say for himself?”

“He was mopey about you kids giving him the brush-off.”

“What’d he expect?”

“That’s what I said. You got any twos?”

Carson handed over two cards, and Spence put down his first book of four with a triumphant smile.

“Damn it.”

Spencer’s low chuckle made him smile. Getting his ass kicked by his grandfather was the most fun he’d ever have.

“What about queens?”

“Nope.”

Spencer picked up a card off the deck and discarded one from his hand. “How’re you feeling about it all?”

“I’m fine. I’ve barely given it a thought today.”

“You’re a goddamned liar.”

“That’s rude.”

“Truth hurts. It’s all you’ve thought about, so don’t bullshit a bullshitter.”

“Fine, then I won’t tell you it makes me sick to have the whole world talking about our family—again.”

“I hate it for you kids, and I told Corbin that. I also told him to leave you guys alone about it. I reminded him you’re grown adults, and even if you guys work for him and Kate, they can’t tell you what to do.”

“Thank you for going to bat for us.”

“I want to take a bat to his head, but the law says I can’t.”

Carson cracked up at the face Spence made as he said that. “You’re the best, Gramps. You can’t ever leave us to fend for ourselves, you hear?”

“What the hell do you think I’m still doing here at almost ninety-five?”