“Still not helping,” Lemon says brusquely.
He shrugs one shoulder—his hands firmly gripping my son’s carrier like it might detonate.“I’m just sayin’.”
“Cash, have you ever thought of just not saying?”Lemon laughs and then takes my hand as she leads me toward her brother’s house.
***
The sound of cars pullinginto the drive wakes me and several sets of headlights beam into West’s open-plan living room.I wince and rub my eyes, and then my heart races as I reach for my baby.
“He’s okay, he’s here,” Lemon says, gently patting his bottom as she cradles him in her arms.
“Oh my god.Thank you.”I press my hand to the middle of my chest and flop back against the couch.I’d fed and changed Waylon earlier, but I couldn’t bear to set him down in his bassinet in West’s spare room, so I’d laid him on the couch beside me in a makeshift bed Lemon and I had constructed of blankets with elevated edges in case he decided today was the day to start rolling over.He was far too little for that, all the baby books I’d read said he shouldn’t be lifting his head until one to two months, so we were a long way from rolling, but that didn’t stop my panic.
“He’s just starting to get fussy.”Lemon smiles down at him.“Probably ready for another meal.”
“When is he not?I swear, all I do these days is feed and pump.”
“Annd that’s my cue to leave,” Cash says, jumping up from the armchair beside Lemon as if his ass is suddenly on fire.
“Cash,” I call to his back.He stops and turns to look at me.“Thanks for everything.”
“Don’t sweat it,” he winks, giving me that devilish grin.“Anything for the family.”
Lemon turns her attention back on Waylon.“That binkie’s just not doing the job, is it, little man?”
“You’re so good with him.”
“Well, I had a lot of practice with Wyatt.”
“You’re gonna be an amazing mama, Lemon.I’m all left feet and the wrong steps.Waylon’s dancing a tango and I’m over here muddling my way through a twostep.”
“Now that is just not true, is it, baby Waylon?Mama is the best, isn’t she?”My son fusses, squirming in her arms.His head cants toward her, seeking milk.“I don’t have what you’re looking for just yet, but Mama does.”
“Here, I’ll take him.”I scoop him from her hands and settle in to feed, but I’m suddenly self-conscious knowing West and the others are right outside those wide glass doors.I don’t like the fact that we can’t see out but they can see in.It makes me wonder who else might be out there.Is Eddie still in the land of the living, skulking around the ranch, or did he meet the same fate as the guy on my rug—in a mess of bloodied bone and brain matter?Asshole.I know he never cared for me the way he claimed, but Waylon is his son.How could he risk his own flesh and blood like that?I’ll never know how he can look at himself after abandoning us, but maybe, he won’t have to for long.
***
Iput Waylon to sleepin West’s bed.He might have three bedrooms in his barndominium, but only one has a bed.Which begs the question, how comfortable is his couch?
Everyone already left twenty minutes ago and it’s eerily quiet as I walk outside and join West on the porch.
“How you doin’, mama?”
“Rattled.Overwhelmed.Slightly terrified about the future, but mostly, I’m just so grateful.Thank you.I mean it.I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
“Nah, come on.It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing, West.It’s something.A big something.”
“Well, you and Waylon are welcome to stay as long as you need.”
“I don’t know what I would have done without you.How did I get to this point, a single mother of an infant, homeless, barely two pennies to rub together?How am I gonna provide for my son?”
“Hey, come ’ere.”He holds out a hand.I take it, wondering how it’s so steady when I’ve been shaking like a leaf all night.West pulls me down onto his lap and lays us back in the lounger, his arms wrapped tightly around my waist, his lips at my temple.For the umpteenth time tonight, tears prick my eyes.My throat is scratchy from all the screaming at my house, and at any moment, I feel as if my world is going to cave in on itself.
“It’s gonna be all right.I know it seems scary as hell right now, but one day you’ll look back on this and smile because you’re strong Daisy-Mae, and you’ve one hundred percent got this.”
A helpless chuckle escapes me as I shake my head and sniffle back my tears.
