Raising Rain by Debbie Fuller Thomas Read Free Book Online Page A

that Bobby told him.
    When Neil returned from the barn with her father, she went outside, pulled him aside, and told him about Bobby. They stood looking down the rows of vines heavy with grapes, but saw no sign of Bobby or the boys.
    She nodded over her shoulder toward the barn. “What did Dad want?”
    Neil shifted his feet and shrugged. “Mazie’s got some hoof problems. He just wanted me to have a look. I checked it out and told him to let the farrier handle it.”
    â€œNaturally, he didn’t ask me.”
    Neil draped his arm around her shoulders. “He knows I do big animals at the clinic. It was nothing.” He turned her around to face the barn. “But there’s a litter of feral kittens out there, if you want to doctor something.” He playfully pulled her toward the barn.
    â€œMore kittens? No, stop. It’s too hot.”
    Neil stopped and together they walked back toward the vineyard. She wove her fingers into his. “Dad would never ask me to take a look at Mazie, even if you weren’t here.” She kicked a rock. “We went to the same school. My GPA was even higher than yours.”
    â€œOuch. No need to get nasty,” he said. “I’m only trying to help.”
    â€œYou know what I’m getting at. It’s simple. He doesn’t respect me as a doctor. He never asks me for any advice. He has never asked me to check out an animal.”
    â€œI think your dad’s the type to compartmentalize things. He sees me as a farm animal doctor and you as a pet doctor.”
    â€œAnd he has no use for pets.”
    Bebe fell silent, tendrils of hurt wrapping her in sadness. Neil pulled her to him.
    â€œI don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she said into his shirt. Theystood in the vast rows of green vines with the powdery dirt dusting their shoes and the bugs humming and chirping around them. “After all these years, why do I still care what he thinks?”
    â€œCompared to his dad’s generation, he’s probably downright liberated.”
    â€œ
He’s
not from the old country. His father was.”
    â€œWell, personally, I think you’re the best doctor at the clinic.” He kissed her on the forehead. “But maybe this isn’t only about your dad.”
    She shrugged. “Probably not.”
    â€œScotty will be all right, Bebe. He’s been ready for a long time.”
    â€œI know, but I just don’t know what Bobby’s telling him. And Dylan’s leaving next month, too.” Her eyes filled, standing there with his strong arms holding her tightly.
    â€œI’ll talk to Scotty,” he said. “He knows about some of Bobby’s problems and he loves his mom, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about.” He pulled back to look Bebe in the face, giving her that crooked smile that had made her fall in love with him. “Maybe we should get away somewhere after Dylan leaves for school.” He leaned in and spoke into her ear. “Just the two of us. We’ll go to Napa. Doctor’s orders.”
    She smiled, wiping her eyes. “You’re just what the doctor ordered.”
    â€œReally?” They turned and headed back toward the house and Neil slipped his arm around her waist. “Well, I have a plan of treatment that I think you’re going to like.”

    It was late afternoon, and the room air conditioner was blowing hard in the front parlor where the adults had gathered to enjoy their kuchen. The conversation touched on Bebe and Neil’s soon-to-be empty nest, and skirted anything controversial, including Bobby’s last stint in rehab. Her dad looked tired and older than his seventy-eight years. Her brother Paul talked about the consolidation of two large wine producers in the area, and how it would affect their business. Hermom pursed her lips and picked at a thread on the arm of the sofa while he talked. She got up and began