“The Birds?”
Her face screws up in confusion. “The seagulls?”
“No, the Alfred Hitchcock movie. They filmed it close by.”
She turns in her seat again to face me. “Really? I’ve never heard of it.”
“How? It’s a classic.”
“For locals, maybe.”
I shake my head. “A Hitchcock classic,” I repeat. “It has good suspense. The town they used is down the road. Bodega.”
“That’s not confusing at all.”
I chuckle. “They’re named after the same guy, but one’s inland. The other is…” I gesture out the window.
“On the bay,” Bree says. “Still, that would mean more if I’d seen the movie.” She tilts her head to the side and looks at me. “Maybe I’ll watch it.”
“Alone in your doll house?”
She squeals. “Don’t remind me!”
I laugh, unable to help it. “It’s one of my grandma’s favorites. Probably a proximity thing. She also remembers when they were filming, though, which might have something to do with it.” My phone rings, and my truck is too old to have Bluetooth, so I flip it over. “Speak of the devil. Do you care if I answer this?”
“No, of course not.”
I swipe the phone on and hit the speakerphone button. “I’m not alone in the car, so be careful what you say.”
“Wouldn’t want to divulge my latest murder, you mean?” she asks, her familiar voice scratchy with age.
“I like this woman already,” Bree says.
There’s a beat of silence before Grandma speaks. “Who’s with you, Benny?”
Bree’s head whips toward me. She noticed my grandma didn’t sayBen, and now she’s grinning with glee.
For some reason, it doesn’t bother me. “Just a friend. She’s staying at Colby’s.”
“That boy needs to get home. It isn’t good for him to live out of hotels. He needs steadiness. Stability.”
“Is that why you haven’t been answering his calls?”
Grandma snorts dismissively. “That’s just bad timing.”
“Do you want to come to the community BBQ? We’re headed that way. I can swing by and pick you up.”
“Not today. I need toilet paper.”
“Immediately?”
She cackles. “No, I’m not stranded in the bathroom calling for help. I’m down to my last roll.”
Way to push it to the last minute.“I need to go to Costco, anyway. Will you write up a list for me?”
“Sure thing. I’ll email it to you now. And Benny? None of that cheap store brand stuff. I want the plush kind.”
“Got it.” I fight a laugh. “You sure about the BBQ? Rose will be there.”