“Geez, boys. Don’t get y’all’s panties in a twist. It was just a question.” She bats her eyelashes, smiling ever so sweetly, until she winks at us and stands. “Now, how about some supper?”
I groan as I lie on the couch, imitating a beached whale. Mom’s cooking has always been out of this world, but I should have stopped at the third helping. Four really was asking for trouble, especially since I’d had my eye on that chocolate cake for half the meal. “Teddyyyyyy,” I whine. “You’re gonna have to roll me out to the car. There’s no way my legs will hold me.” He just snorts in response.Rude.
“You two are welcome to your old room. The sheets are clean,” Mom says from the kitchen.
“Oh…uh…” I start.
“I wish we could, Ma, but I have an early shift in the morning. I didn’t bring any of my stuff with me,” Teddy says, saving me from having to think of an excuse. “Actually, it’s gettin’ kinda late. We probably need to head out soon.”
“Oh, already? I feel like y’all just got here. Well, let me wrap up a couple plates for y’all to take home.”
“With cake?” I manage to lift my head far enough off the couch to look at her as I ask.
“Yes, Cooper, with cake. Lord knows where you put it all. You’re still as thin as a stick.”
Once the plates are all wrapped, the three of us head out to the porch. Mom shoves the bag of food into Teddy’s arms so she’s free to wrap hers around me. I melt into her hold, and the outside world ceases to exist. It’s just the two of us in this moment. I lean down and rest my head on her shoulder while she pats my hair. “I’ve missed this. I’ve missed you. Thank youfor saving my seat at the table all this time. I know I didn’t say it enough as a kid, but I love you, Mom, so very much.”
“I love you too, sweet boy. That seat has always been yours, and it always will be. So don’t be a stranger now, and you make sure to bring this Max with you the next time, you hear?”
“Yes, ma’am. You’re gonna love her. I can only imagine the kind of shenanigans the two of you will end up getting into.”
Mom cackles in response before patting me on the cheek. She moves to hug Teddy, but I cut her off before she can, snatching the bag of food from him. “No squashing my cake,” I grumble.
The two of them just shake their heads at me. The way they do it, completely in sync, is slightly terrifying. Once a final round of goodbyes has been given, Mom wraps her arms around herself and steps back. “Y’all drive safe, and let me know when you make it home.”
Inside the car, Teddy gives me a soft smile, happiness radiating off him in waves. “That went well.”
“Yeah. It really did.” He lets me sit with my thoughts in silence for the rest of the trip home.
Everett
Driving home after a pretty rough shift, I find my thoughts drifting to LB, as they typically tend to do. It’s been a week since the visit with Mom. They’ve spoken on the phone every day since, and it warms my heart to see them pick their relationship right back up where they left off. I knew Mom would love him the exact same way she always has, but I can admit that I was nervous about his reaction to her. I was scared that what Silas had put him through would have affected his ability to trust a parental figure.
I should have known better. The connection those two share has always been strong. I swear, growing up, sometimes it felt like LB was the child she gave birth to, and I was just the friend he invited into their world. Two peas in a pod, Aunt Nikki used to call them. Seeing him so easily allow her touch was incredible. It took everything in me not to turn into a complete blubbering mess. He’s always been a tactile person, and I can only imaginehow empty he must feel not being able to stand touch from others.
We’re planning to visit again in a few days when Max gets back from her work trip. I’m almost terrified to see the three of them together. I’ve only spent a little time with Max here and there when she’s been in town, but from what I’ve seen, she and LB are basically twins. Hopefully Max feels the same about my mom as LB does, because once Mom learns that Max was disowned by her family, there will be no going back. Mom will adopt her so fast Max will find herself buried in food before she even knows what happened. I can’t wait.
Cooper
“I thought you said y’all’s mom lived just outside of Kingston in Marshdale. Why are we heading towards Brookfield?” Max asks from the back seat.
I turn to face her. “You remember me telling you about Lane, the guy I met in the hospital?” At her nod, I continue. “He gets out of rehab today, and I want him to meet you and Mom. I think he’s gone a long time without a support system, and we could be good for him. He’s an asshole, but underneath, I suspect he’s a lot like me. Lost and hurting. So please be nice to him.”
“I’m always nice,” she says, but I level her with mybitch, pleaseface. She rolls her eyes and crosses her heart with her finger. “Scout’s honor.”
“Maxine Bethany Winters! You know good and well you were never a scout, and even if you were, you’re anything but now.”
“Ughhhh. Fiiiine. I’ll be on my best behavior. You take the fun out of everything!”
“Only you would consider torturing others fun.”
“Some people pay for that kind of fun, you know.”
“Gross. Stop talking. Now.” I turn around in my seat with a huff as Max cackles behind me. Teddy has a small smile on his face when I look his way. He holds his hand out to me, and I grab onto it with both hands like a drowning man as the butterflies in my stomach go crazy. Being able to touch him so easily means everything to me. I hear a happy sigh from the back seat but choose to ignore it.
Lane is standing on the curb, hands in his pockets with a black trash bag at his feet, when we pull up. I poke my head out the window and yell “Get in, loser!” His head jerks up in surprise, eyes narrowing when he sees who it is.
“Fuck you, too,” he says as he opens the back door. When he’s in, I turn around and stick my tongue out at him. “So glad to see you’ve matured some while I was gone.”
