“Thank you, for everything.Y’all really helped a lot.”
“I just put dinner on, sweetheart,” Mama says.“I didn’t invent a cure for cancer.”
“Well, I sure do appreciate the thought anyway.”
“We’ll get out of your hair now, but if you need anything at all.You just call.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ll be there in just a minute,” I say, as Colt, Lemon, and Cash say their goodbyes and see themselves out.
Mama nods and follows suit.I rub the back of my neck and glance nervously at Daisy.“I’m real sorry about calling everyone over.I didn’t know what to do.”
“No.It’s my fault.I shouldn’t have fallen asleep.I’m sorry I left you to tend to a screaming infant.”
“Well, Lemon is my sister, so I’m pretty used to violent, tiny humans hollering until the cows come home.”
Daisy laughs and then glances down at the baby fussing at her clothes.“I’m gonna feed him, but did you wanna maybe stay for dinner?”
“Er, I can’t.I gotta get Mama home.”
“Oh.”Her smile fades.
“Yeah, I think everyone already left.”
“Of course.Well, maybe you’ll come another night.So I can say thank you for all you’ve done.”
I shake my head.“You don’t need to do that.”
Her lips thin, and she gives me a tight smile.Shit.I just went and hurt Daisy-Mae’s feelings.“Please don’t leave me alone with him another night.”
I chuckle and have to stop myself from saying she’s got eighteen years of nights with this kid, but I don’t think that’s what she needs to hear right now.“You’ve got this, Dais.And you don’t need to thank me, darlin’ ...but I’d like that.”
“Yeah?”
“At least let me bring the food to you.”
“No.I want to cook.I need to cook.I’m going stir crazy feeding and burping and rocking and ...I need this, West.”
“Well, alright then.You don’t gotta twist my arm.”
“Friday.Seven thirty.”
“It’s a date.”
Her brows shoot skyward.I need to get the fuck outta here before I say something I truly can’t take back.When in the hell did I turn into a blubbering idiot around the fairer sex?Around Daisy-Mae of all people?
“Friday it is.”
I nod and turn on my heel, closing the front door behind me before I can do or say anymore stupid shit.Mama’s already waiting in the car when I climb in and I can just feel her eyes on me, needling in that way that she does without even needing to say a word.
“It ain’t like that, Mama.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s Daisy-Mae.I’ve known her since we were in kindergarten.”
She pats my arms and gives me a “bless your heart” type of smile, as if I’m all foam and no beer.“Son, you can see someone your whole life and still never really know them until you open your eyes.”
