Green eyes, fried rice, I could cook an egg on you

 

Jay thought everything was as normal as could be on the Fourth. Sure there was a lot of smoked meat thanks to Slater and his dad-in-law Frank. Oh, it was a potluck you could savor for days. And there was Hope and all the other little ones around. It was fun for the whole family.

And this year, it felt as if Lindy fit right in with Bom and Minnie. She had plenty to chat with. He felt good about a lot of things. Even Ivy and Dan visited for a little while. He got to hold Angel who looked a year old or more already. Yes, it was all civil. Everyone with a smile. Of course, Ivy and Dan didn't stay long and they didn't take Hope with them, either.

 Really, it was an easy-going day. The sun was shining. It was hot and humid. Just the way Nebraska was on a Fourth of July. Jay was with the bros, drinking a few beers, talking about nothing. It stayed that way as the sunset. Firecrackers cracked ever so often. A random Roman candle in the distance.

Yes, all Jay wanted was to come back into Minnie's house, pick up the girls, and head home. But Hope and Lindy were not alone. A guy with dreds with playing with Hope. 

Jay was ready to let in to the stranger, but Lindy pulled him away. "That's just Axton." Lindy shrugged.

"Axton?" He winced a frown. He wondered where he was from. Hopefully, not the mental ward. He tensed a smile. "What's he doing here?"

"We got a mural to do," she shrugged.

"A what?" He looked at her funny as if it must be code for something else.

"Oh, I know him from the University," she nodded. "He's Indigenous."

"Indigenous?" Was that a trending word?

She laughed at Jay and gave him a pat on the back. "It's just for the weekend. Only I don't know how many weekends it might take. You know, it'll be on the square in our old hometown."

Jay shook his head, he didn't like this at all. 

"Don't worry, Axe needs the cash," Lindy told him. "He's got a baby on the way."

Jay nodded as if he understood. "Well, I'll be there to help. Can't let you alone, all by yourself." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and he put his arm around her. "It might take you two forever to get that mural done."

Lindy laughed as if she liked the idea that Jay would be her assistant.