Right On The Money Honey - Michael Hardy

SIX

"I missed your stupid face." Liz's sweet, sweet younger sister, Evelyn, says, wrapping her in a hug.

"My stupid face looks just like your stupid face." Liz shoots back, grinning at her twin. She's the more put together sibling while Liz does whatever the hell she wants.

"Oh shut up." Liz follows Lyn into their childhood home in Plano, Texas. She hasn't been home since she left for Texarkana with her ex-boyfriend, Hank. He had gotten a job he couldn't pass up out there working on an oil rig and she moved with him.

That was three years ago.

Lyn links her arm with her older sister as they walk to the door. "Mamaw's real pissed at you for not comin' home in a few years."

"Well, I'm here now." She mumbles, tossing her purse on the door side table, her boots underneath it before she heads to the heart of the house; the kitchen. "Hey y'all!"

"Elizabeth!" Her father, Walter, says, standing to give his oldest daughter a hug.

Liz and Walt have a special relationship. Some would say she's a daddy's girl but who needs a label. He's the kind of dad that would rip off his arm if that meant his kids would be okay. Walt keeps saying he doesn't have a favorite but it's apparent that Liz fits the bill.

"Hey Daddy." She smiles, sinking against her father's embrace. "I missed you."

The two make their way out to the back deck where Lyn and their grandmother, Queenie, are sat at the patio table. "Hey baby!" Queenie grins.

"Mamaw." Liz smiles back, leaning over to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "You look so beautiful, mamaw."

"You can't butter me up, sweetheart. I'm still mad at you for ignorin' me." There's a tease laced in her words. "You hungry? I'm sure it was a long drive in." She doesn't wait for a response as she gets to her bare feet and hobbles her way inside, Liz and Lyn trailing behind. 

"How's Hank doin'?" Mamaw asks, cooking up some chili.

"They broke up a while ago, Mamaw." Lyn answers, helping chop up some onions and celery.

"Really? I'm sorry to hear that. I liked him."

"Yeah, it is what it is."

"I also liked that Dylan fella, God rest his soul." Liz nods, the conversation she had with Michael still somewhat fresh in her mind. "What've you been up to? I feel like we ain't see ya in years."

"Three years." Lyn comments, looking over at her twin. "We missed you. You should think 'bout movin' back home."

"Lyn-"

"What? You got some fella waitin' for you in Texarkana?" There's a blush that colors her face. "Ooh!" Lyn giggles. "Who?"

"I met him in Nashville and we've been talkin' ever since." She shrugs, snapping the tips off some fresh homegrown green beans.

"What's his name?" Mamaw asks, the same smile her mom had on her face.

"Michael." She shakes her head, trying to hide another blush. "Long distance is really killin' me."

"Me and your Papaw was long distance when he was servin' in Vietnam. We got married as soon as he stepped foot back in the states." Mamaw smiles.

"Really? How old were you?"

"I was sixteen and he was eighteen. When he got back, I was eighteen and we got hitched."

"Awe." Lyn giggles. "I know love because of you and papaw."