“I…” I blew out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know. I wanna help her however I can and make her life a little easier, but she’s too damn stubborn to ask for what she needs.”
“You might know another woman like that,” she said dryly, clearly referring to herself. “I hate askin’ for help?—”
“You don’t say.”
“Hush now.” She batted her hand at me. “But even without my askin’, your daddy always knew.”
My interest was piqued now. While we’d never shied away from talking about my father, it’d been nearly two decades sincehe’d died, and as the years had passed, the stories became fewer and fewer.
“He did?”
“Mhmm. It was little things, you know? Like always makin’ sure to schedule house or car maintenance so I didn’t have to deal with callin’ to set up appointments. Or never leavin’ me with an empty tank of gas.
“Even when he was deployed, he found ways. I remember one time—it was right after Lilah was born. He’d gotten leave for a couple weeks, and after he left, I had no idea how I was gonna handle two kids under four all by myself. He hadn’t even been gone for twenty-four hours when the first casserole showed up. Roseanne—you remember her? She used to live across the street when y’all were little. Anyway, she claimed friendliness, but when it happened every night for the next month—a different friend or neighbor deliverin’ food each time—I knew it was all him.”
I couldn’t even fathom how difficult it must’ve been for her to take on one hundred percent of the parenting and household responsibilities while my dad was deployed. And yet she’d done it. Without hesitation—or maybe there was hesitation…I wasn’t sure. But she did it, nonetheless. No doubt because she’d loved my dad.
Would Kenna do the same for me?
I cleared my throat, not yet willing to ask that question aloud. “So you’re sayin’ I should give her food.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’msayin’ you should give her what she needs.”
“That’s the whole problem, Momma. Idon’t knowwhat she needs.”
“Aw, come on now, Hudson. You’re an intelligent man. I’m quite certain you can figure it out.”
No doubt my momma wasn’t suggesting I give Kenna orgasms, but I couldn’t deny that was the first thought that’d popped into my head. Orgasms, I could do. I’d give her five a day if she’d stick around long enough to receive them.
But Kenna needed more than that. I racked my brain for any mention of things she’d said casually since I’d been there—small tasks I could do that might make her life a little bit easier to handle while she dove into this new role. That was when inspiration struck, and I leaned forward to kiss my mom on the cheek.
“You’re a genius, Momma.” I stood and strode toward the back door. “Can I use your kitchen a little later? I’ve got a few things to do, then I have some pies to finish up.”
“Of course, sweetheart. I’ll be home.”
With a nod, I let myself out and headed to my truck. I typed out a quick text to Caleb as I walked.
Hudson:
Change of plans. Bring CB and meet me at Kenna’s place.
I texted Caleb the address, then tossed my phone on the passenger’s seat and started up my truck. The day during which I’d planned to spend shingling the cabin had suddenly taken a detour, though I couldn’t find it in myself to care.
Kenna needed me, whether she vocalized that or not, and I’d be damned if I was going to let her down. While Kenna was busy taking care of everyone else, I’d make sure to take care of her.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
MAC
I didn’t knowhow the hell I was supposed to get anything done and take over for my daddy when everyone kept kicking me out of my damn office. Avery had stormed in a little after seven and demanded I stop working at once.
Naturally, I had bestowed upon my friend the only gesture that seemed appropriate—I’d flipped her off and continued sorting through the piles that I couldn’t make heads or tails of.
“You’re doing a lot better than you’re giving yourself credit for. And you’ve done more work in a week than your daddy usually does in a month,” Avery had said. “And when have you ever known me to blow smoke up your ass?”
Yeah, that’d been never, but still, I hadn’t believed her. Eventually, we’d come to an agreement—Avery would sit with me and help me work through everything, while at the same time giving some impromptu and much-needed training.
While, true, my daddy had been the mayor most of my life—ironically, taking the seat after his daddy had died of a heart attack—I had no idea what that actually entailed.
