Figure of Speech

She was relieved. Having to rely on her family to get around was beginning to wear on her. “Thanks, Doc.”

“You’re welcome.” The doctor stood and helped her off the examination table. “I’ll see you again in about six months to reevaluate. If you have any trouble with the meds, call me and I’ll see you sooner than that.”

“Okay.” Chloe picked up her purse, ready to join Glory in the waiting room.

The doctor waved as he left, and Chloe followed, going left into the waiting room. “Hey, all done.”

Glory put down her magazine and stood, her bangles jingling merrily. “How did it go?”

Chloe shrugged and went to the window where the receptionist sat. “I need an appointment for six months from now, and the doc is printing me out a prescription.” Chloe set up the appointment and took her prescription, thanking the receptionist as they left. “I’ve got some nerve damage that’s affecting my right side.”

“And the hits just keep on coming,” Glory sighed. “Let me know if there’s anything you need.”

Chloe hugged her soon-to-be sister-in-law. “Thanks.”

“We’re family, right?” Glory hugged her back. “Come on. I’m thinking this calls for a burger and a big-ass fudge sundae, am I right?”

Chloe whined deep in the back of her throat, earning a grin from Glory.

Glory plucked both her keys and her cell phone from her woven straw purse. “Ryan? Chloe and I are going to Frank’s.” She paused, then laughed. “Yes, I’ll pick you up some pie. What are you boys doing for lunch?” Her eyes rounded, and she laughed. “Well then. Have fun. Bye.”

“What is my brother cup to?” Chloe settled into the passenger seat of Glory’s small hybrid coupe. The car was quirky-looking yet practical, just like its owner.

“Minding the store while the parental units visit Jimmy.”

Chloe blinked, her spider senses tingling. “Oh?”

“Yup.” Glory pulled out of the parking lot of the doctor’s office and headed toward Main Street and Frank’s. “Uncle Will and Aunt Barb, your mom and dad, Uncle Ray and Aunt Stacey—”

“Oh, Jeebus.” Chloe put her head in her hands, laughing hysterically as Glory pulled into Frank’s parking lot. “They’re nailing his ass to the wall, aren’t they?”

Glory nodded gleefully. “Damn straight. And about time too.”

“Didn’t Alex and Ryan already do that?”

“Yeah, but rumor has it the rest of the family isn’t satisfied and want to hear it from Jimbo himself.” Glory parked the car and turned it off. “Don’t worry. They won’t hurt him. Much.”

“Uh-huh.” Chloe and Glory got out of the car and headed into the wonderful, beautiful air conditioning of Frank’s. “Oh my God, it’s like nine bazillion degrees out there.”

“Wait. You’re not worried about your whole family ganging up on Jim?” Glory slid onto a bench at one of the retro tables. Frank’s was set up like one of those old-time fifties diners, with laminate and metal tables, big vinyl benches with padded backs, and a soda fountain counter. He even had a pie display set up, filled with his famous pies. Chloe’s mouth watered just looking at the lemon meringue.

“Nope. They won’t hurt him. They’re just going to talk really loudly at him.” At least that’s what she hoped. Alex and Ryan had already confronted Jim, so no doubt the others would take their cues from them.

All right. Eric scared her a little bit. He was crazy protective, and if he thought for even one moment that Jim wasn’t acting up to his expectations Eric would maim him in a heartbeat. But he wasn’t going to be there…right? “Maybe I should call Uncle Will and tell him to leave Eric at home.”

“Already taken care of. I told Ryan to keep an eye on his cray-cray cousin.” Glory grinned and took the menus the waitress held out. “Can I have a mocha milkshake?”

“I’ll have Spite.” Chloe waited for the waitress to ask, but she just wrote it down and left them with their menus. Chloe opened hers, ready and willing to pig out. “Ooh, cheese fries.”

“A girl after my own heart attack.” Glory winked. “So. About my wedding.”

Chloe hid behind her menu.

“Now, now. You know you’re in my wedding party.” Glory patted the menu until Chloe lowered it. “And I promise not to put you in anything that will embarrass you too much.”

Chloe banged her head on the table. “Kill me now.”

Glory bopped her on the back of her head.

“Hey, now. Brain damaged, remember?” Chloe rubbed the back of her head and glared at Glory.

“You’ll love the dresses I picked out.” Glory reached into her purse and pulled out her tablet, swiping and tapping like a crazy woman. In a few moments she was showing Chloe an absolute horror of tulle and peach.

“I knew it. Your theme is hippie goth gets axe murdered by banjo-wielding redneck aliens in tights.”

Glory stared down at the dress and bit her lip. “You don’t like it?”

Chloe stared at her in disbelief.

“Fine. What about this one?” Glory picked up the tablet, did the tap-swipe-tap thing, and set it back down to—

“Oh hell no,” Chloe gagged.

“What’s wrong with it?”

Chloe shuddered. “It looks like an episode of When Sister-Wives Attack.”

“Don’t like florals, huh?”

Chloe was fine with florals, but florals mixed with poufy sleeves and high necks? “Where have you been shopping, eBay?”

Glory yanked the tablet out of Chloe’s hands, practically snarling her order at the poor waitress who had the bad timing to arrive at just that moment. “Fine. What about this?”

Chloe took a moment to give her own order, smiling sympathetically at the waitress as the poor girl practically ran from the table and the unstable hippie sitting across from Chloe. “This what?”

She turned back to see…

Huh. It wasn’t the worst dress Glory had shown her, that was sure. “Retro Minnie Mouse.”

Glory’s brows rose. “You don’t hate that?”

“It’s different, and for someone else it would be perfect, but I’m not sure it’s you.” Chloe took the tablet and began her own search. “You want retro and floral, I want not hideous…Ah-hah! What about this?”