“You know, it’s okay to let yourself be happy.”
“You ever take your own advice?” We were both fucked up. Our time in the military and the shit I went through as a kid had made sure of that. “I’ve got to go. I’m taking Bess over to meet Mama Mae.”
“Keep your head up.”
“You too.” I disconnected just as Bess stepped into the room. She had on a yellow sundress with pink flowers all over. Two thin straps held it up, and it ended just above her knees. “Come here.”
“I’m not in trouble, am I?” She took slow, small steps toward me, a tentative smile teasing the corners of her lips up.
I put my hands on her hips and nuzzled her neck. “You think I can take you to meet my foster mother in this dress?”
“What’s wrong with it?” Bess stepped back and craned her neck in an attempt to check over her dress.
“Nothing’s wrong with it. I’m just going to have a hard-on all night because I’m going to be picturing me sliding up this skirt and taking you from behind.” I twirled her around and pressed my cock into her backside. “You’re going to have me in pain all night, Sugar Pie.”
“Poor baby.” Her hips wriggled.
I gave her a light swat on her perfect ass. “I think I’ve created a monster.”
“I promise, it will be worth the wait.” She turned around and cupped my cheek. “Come on, I can’t wait to meet Mama Mae and hear all about what a stinker you were when you were a kid.”
I’d been a little nervous about taking her home to meet my hodge podge of a family. After talking to Drak, I felt more confident. He was right, it was okay to be happy. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and led her out to the truck.
The trip to Mama Mae’s didn’t take too long. We pulled onto the long drive and memories of the years I spent at the big old farmhouse came back to me like it had only been a few days instead of years since I’d been back to see her.
She stepped onto the porch just as the truck came to a stop. Bess hopped out and we climbed the steps together.
“Let me look at you.” Mama Mae reached up and squashed my cheeks between her hands. “You haven’t changed a bit, Trenton James.”
“Trenton?” Bess’s eyes lit up.
“And you must be Bess.” Mama Mae shifted her attention and held out her arms. “I hope you don’t mind, but we hug around here.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Bess said. The two of them embraced.
“It’s so nice to meet you.” Mama Mae loosened her grip. “You’re the first woman Trenton’s ever thought enough of to bring home to meet me.”
I’d told Mama Mae I was keeping an eye on Bess but left out the details about the cartel. I hadn’t said anything about us being together. She had a sixth sense about those things and could probably tell more about my life by looking at me for a few seconds than she’d ever learned through the phone calls I’d made over the years.
“Come into the house. I hope you’re hungry. I’ve had a brisket cooking all day.” She led the way through the front room and into the kitchen.
Not much had changed since I shared a bedroom on the second floor with Owen, Kane, and Bison. Pictures of all of the boys she’d fostered over the years decorated the walls. The old piano sat up against the wall in the front room. I could still remember sitting on the steps and waiting my turn for my weekly lesson from the woman who played the organ at church.
“Is that Triton when he was younger?” Bess stopped next to my seventh-grade yearbook picture. The one where I was sporting a black eye.
“He was always getting into fights.” Mama Mae shook her head. “I suppose it served him well since he went into the Navy right out of high school.”
“So, he was a troublemaker?” Bess squeezed my arm.
“I was just looking out for my brothers,” I said as I spotted Bison sitting at the kitchen table. He got up and headed our way, tugging a beautiful woman behind him.
The hours flew as Mama Mae filled me in on what had been happening since I’d been away. I worried that Bess would be bored and kept checking in on her. She assured me she hadn’t had so much fun in a long time, especially when a few more of my brothers pulled up and tried to outdo each other by sharing embarrassing stories from my teenage years.
When I caught Bess yawning for the third time in less than five minutes, I told Mama Mae I needed to take her back to the cottage and get her into bed.
“It’s been a lovely evening. Please say you’ll come back on Sunday. We can barbecue out back and Trenton can show you around the farm if you’d like.” Mama Mae had walked us out after Bess insisted on cleaning up the kitchen.
Bess looked to me for an answer. We hadn’t talked about how long we might be in town. “I’d love to if we’re still here.”
