Momma waved a hand and pulled him into her arms. “Oh, it’s fine,” she said. “It’s dinner. We eat it every night.”
“That’s what I told her, but she still feels bad.”
“She get going okay?” Momma asked.
Ty hugged her tighter, his emotions storming through him. “Yeah,” he said, his voice breaking.
She held him and waited him out; no questions, just Momma’s strong, steady heart.
“Is Daddy here?” Ty asked when he’d found his center.
“He’s on his way,” Momma said as Ty stepped out of her arms. “We ran into some trouble with Molly.”
“That can’t be true.” Ty kicked her a grin. “That horse is a saint.”
“Yeah, well, she was,” Momma said dryly, her gaze sharpening the longer she looked at him.
He’d come to ask Daddy about a few projects on the property he’d be buying tomorrow, but he realized he had a few questions for his Momma too. “Momma, you know I don’t like it when you look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“With all those questions in your eyes.”
“I’m not doing it on purpose,” she said.
“I know.” He breathed in the comforting scent of home and faced her. “I’m going to be staying at Winnie’s while she’s out of town,” he said. “It’s just easier with the cats.”
“Of course.”
He blinked, then raised his chin. “Momma, how do you know when you’re in love?”
Her eyes widened, and her chest rose sharply.
“Wasn’t expecting that, were you?” he asked, a smile tugging at his lips.
“You think you’re in love with Winnie?”
“I don’t know,” Ty said. “But it hurt letting her go, and I don’t like that I won’t see her tomorrow, even though I know she’ll call me tonight and tell me everything. It just feels…like too much distance.”
Momma nodded. “Well, she might be a keeper then, Ty.”
Before she could say more, the back door opened and Carolina’s voice came inside. “Is Ty here, Momma? His truck is out front.”
Momma’s eyes flew toward the kitchen. “Yeah, he’s right here,” she called.
Ty gave Momma a nod that said he was fine. Then he turned as his sister came in. “I’m right here, Carolina.”
“I thought we’d watch a movie tonight.” Her brows went up, asking him if he’d stay and do that. Ty never wanted to watch movies, but his sister always did when she was sad and needed to be surrounded by people who loved her.
“Yeah, sure,” he said. “I’m always up for a movie.”
She moved in and hugged him. “What are you sad about, brother?”
“I’m just feeling anxious about a few things right now is all.”
“And Winnie left today,” Momma said.
Carolina gasped and pulled back. “Oh, of course. I’m sorry I’m here, Ty. I can go?—”
