Daytona dashed out the door, his footsteps pounding like thunder on the stairs.
Lucky’d gotten his family back, but maybe not all. “Day, wait…”
Mama murmured, “Let him go.”
Dallas put a hand on Lucky’s arm. “He’ll come around. He always does. He’s just a little slow about it at times. After all the things he’s said about you over the years, he’s carrying around a load of guilt.” More quietly, he added, “We all are.”
“Shouldn’t I go talk to him?” Lucky started toward the stairs.
“I’ll go.” Charlotte disappeared out the door.
Lucky carried his plate to the sink. His family stayed quiet, probably straining to hear anything from Daytona’s bedroom, directly above the kitchen.
Footfalls tapped down the stairs. Mama and Dallas sprang into action, rushing around the kitchen and trying way too hard to look like they hadn’t been concerned.
Charlotte entered the room. “He’s on the phone with his sponsor. He’ll be okay.”
Maybe Lucky had been selfish to come here and disrupt lives so used to not having him around. “As long as he don’t start using again, he can take all the time in the world.” Damn. The years had not been kind to the Lucklighter clan.
Still so much needed saying. And Lucky might never tell his folks about Bristol taking out life insurance on Dad. Nothing good would come of him implicating Bristol in Uncle Ned’s death. He’d work with Charlotte to settle his brother’s affairs and keep the details to a minimum.
They’d been through enough already. Lucky rinsed his coffee cup. “Mama, me and Bo got to get back.”
“What? You just got here. I planned to make up your old room.”
He exchanged a glance with Bo. “We got work to do.” And thoughts to sort out.
One more hug couldn’t hurt. If he woke to find he’d dreamed this reunion, he’d at least have something to remember. Damn, but having his mother’s arms around him felt good.
She’d changed. Hard to imagine her and Daddy no longer being an unbreakable team.
Her eyes glistened when she stepped back. She latched onto Bo. “Now, don’t be a stranger. And keep Richmond in line, okay?”
Bo grinned his most evil. “I’ll do my best, ma’am.”
“You are coming to the funeral, right?” A tear spilled down Mama’s cheek.
“If I can.” Lucky hugged her one more time.
Time to go. But one day soon he’d be back. When he could stay longer. And under better circumstances.
Lucky took his place in the Durango, watching his family retreat into the house.
Bo put the truck into gear and started turning around.
Movement in the side mirror caught Lucky’s eye. “Bo! Stop!”
Bo slammed on the brakes. Lucky hopped out of the truck, hiding a wince when he hit the ground a bit too hard.
His dad hit equally hard, clutching Lucky in a death grip, his blubbering mangling his words. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
Daddy’s tears mingled with Mama’s on Lucky’s shirt collar.
His father hugged him from the front and Bo from the back. Together, they might’ve exerted enough force to fuse the long-broken pieces of Lucky’s heart.
“I hope you’ll come back and see us soon,” his father said.
“I will, Daddy, I will.” Maybe after Lucky worked some shit out in his head.
