“I’m not shaving yet, Bax.”
“That don’t mean you won’t.” He liked Jason with the stubble, but he wanted to help do the shaving, too.
“Yeah. Okay.” They headed back and ran smack dab into Momma, who was all teary and red-faced and mad. “Jason. We need to talk.”
“We do, Momma. I’m going. I need to. Period.”
“But Jason, what do you think you’re going to accomplish?” She was mad enough to use the big words, which always meant bad things.
“I’m going to work out how to piss standing up. I’m going to learn how to shave, how to eat, how to fucking function, Momma. I can’t do that here.”
“Why not? Who the hell taught you the first time?”
“Momma.” Bax stepped in, frowning. “This is different. He doesn’t need mothering. He needs a kick in the ass.”
“He needs someone to take care of him, Bax. Until he gets back on his feet.” She looked right into his eyes. “Bax. Please.”
“I’ll take care of him, Momma. I will. Hell, you know I’ll call every other day.” He did that anyway.
“Momma. I love you, God knows I do, but I have to go. I have to.”
Jack appeared out of nowhere, weathered like the best pair of chaps, and he wrapped his gnarled roper’s hand around Momma’s arm. “Brenda. Honey, let the boys pack.”
She backed up, her face screwing up a little when she started to cry again, but she nodded, arms crossing over her chest.
“I’m sorry, Momma.” Jason sighed and headed down the hallway, face more than a little hangdog.
Momma just watched him go, and Bax sighed, too, reaching out to hug her hard. “He loves you fierce, you know. He just don’t want you to know how scairt he is.”
“I know. I know, Andy. I’d ask you to promise to take care of him, but I know you will.”
“I will.” He kissed her sunburned cheek and smiled before nodding to Jack and Coke. “Y’all make another pot of coffee, and I’ll help him pack and then we’ll all feel human.”
“Okay. Okay, Andy. I love you, son.” She hugged him tight, Jack shaking his head and watching them.
“You, too, Momma.” Bax gave AJ a look when the man would have followed him, grumbling a little. He could do this by himself.
Jason was standing in the middle of his room, a shirt in his hand, looking just about gobsmacked.
“Mini?” He didn’t want to startle, but he figured he needed to help. “What can I do?”
“Bax. I… I can’t even pack myself. How…? How do people do this? How do people fucking live like this?” Shit.
“Well, they do, and they have for a lot of years, so I guess we can figure it.” Closing the door, Bax went right over and wrapped his arms around Jason, squeezing.
Jason didn’t say a word, just held on a second. “Come on. I need out of here.”
“Okay. Your momma is making coffee. We should quick grab a cup, give her some kisses.” Then they could hit the road.
“Okay.” Jason nodded, walked toward the window, the path worn bare.
“Mini, come on. Help me pick out what you want. I knowyou hate that one scratchy shirt.” That would help, at least. Jason could help pack by feel.
“I do. I want T-shirts and the boxer-briefs and Wranglers. Nothing white.” Jase headed over, fingers sliding over the mattress.
“Okay. You want that blue shirt that looks so fine on you?” Bax liked the dark green, too.
Those lean cheeks heated under the stubbly beard. “Yeah. Yeah, and the green. I’ll need some sweats and stuff, too.”
