“Everything okay at home?”
Tamarind shrugged, calling attention to her dangling snowflake earrings that twinkled with her every move. “Sort of, maybe not? I don't live there anymore. Rented an apartment downtown upon returning to Braxton. I want to be around my family but not that close.”
“I totally get that!” We traded war stories about our reentry into small town home life and realized we had a lot in common. “What's up with Dermot?”
“My dad's been drinking a lot more these days. The farm hasn't been as profitable as it used to be. Smaller businesses can't earn as much now, and all the new production guidelines and safety measures make it more expensive to operate.” Tamarind explained they'd instituted significant changes to keep up, but it wasn't enough to reverse the damages.
“I he
