A knock sounds at my door a second before Mason’s half-tamed dark mop pokes in. “Hey, Jack and I were thinking we should all go out to dinner tonight . . .” His voice drifts as he watches me stuff the last of my clothes into a brimming knapsack.
“I’m heading to the grove now.” After what just happened with Jared, I can’t wait another night. I haven’t even messaged Ben to tell him that I’m coming. I’m afraid he’ll tell me not to and, well, I just need to be there.
I need to see Ben.
“Oh. Okay.” He looks down at the bulging white folder held together with a thick rubber band that sits gripped within his fingers.
“What’s that?”
He sighs and glances furtively up at me. “Just a case I’m working on.”
“Yeah? What’s it about?” I ask, pulling the zipper on my backpack. Mason can usually carry on a semi-normal conversation if it’s about a case.
“Hey, do you think you can take a look at the suit I laid out for tomorrow? You know me and colors.”
“Uh . . . okay?” Mason has never asked me to do that. “Why don’t you ask Lina about that?” My hands freeze. “Oh, shit. Did you break up?” In the next breath, I accuse him, “You didn’t hold her hair while she puked, did you?” I haven’t talked to Lina since last weekend. If they did break up and I’m just finding out about it now, then I’m a really shitty friend.
“No! I mean, yes, I did! And no, we didn’t break up.” He’s completely flustered. “I just . . . I’m asking you because you’re here. But if you want your family showing up to the funeral looking like a clown, then fine, I’ll just—”
“Okay! Jeez.” I stroll past him and into his room, smiling to myself over the term “family.” Even with the divorce, he and Jack are my family.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter as I see the burgundy dress shirt with tiny taupe ducks all over it. “What is this, Duck Dynasty Goes Formal?” I yank the shirt and toss it into the trash can. Fishing through his closet, I find a plain navy shirt. “That works.” I turn to find him leaning against the door frame, watching me. “Did you actually pay money for that shirt?”
He shrugs. “The guy at the store said it was in style.”
“So were ‘grandma’s couch’ floral pants and you didn’t see me wearing those, did you?” I pass by him, heading to my room.
“Did you really have to throw it in the trash?”
“Yes. Don’t ever shop without Lina or me there again. Ever, or I’ll disown you.” I grab my backpack off the bed, desperate to get on the road.
“Mrs. Cooke sent a big flower arrangement on behalf of the firm.”
“That was nice of her.”
“It’s supposed to storm tonight. Are you sure you don’t want to take the car?”
“Yup. I’ll make it before the storm rolls in.”
He’s standing there, looking at me all awkward. “Okay, well, ride safe or whatever you call it. I guess we’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Mason, why are you being so—”
My words cut off as Mason reaches out and gives me a tentative hug before almost jumping away and storming out of the room.
Shaking my head, I turn and leave, desperate to see Ben’s smile again.
Even if it’s only as friends.
Chapter 32
BEN
“Pick it up, darling. I’m going alone,” Mama orders, taking me out of the round.
I toss my cards down and fold my arms over my chest, smiling as I watch Elsie and Jake try to trump her, fond memories flooding me. Sunday night was always game night at home, out on the back porch. No excuses. In the earlier days, even my dad would come out sometimes. He’d usually be working on furniture designs and end up passed out in the chair, but I knew, by the way Mama stole glances his way and smiled, that she was just happy to have him there.
When we were young, and Mama’s parents were alive, it was Go Fish. There was a brief stint of Monopoly somewhere in there, but after Jake and I tag-teamed against Elsie to make her cry too many times, the game mysteriously disappeared. To this day, I don’t know where Mama hid it.
We all learned how to play euchre the summer of my eleventh birthday after my grandpa died of a heart attack. My grandma had moved into a home, preferring the peace and quiet over five kids in their teenage years. With us plus Mama, we always had more than enough players. That changed quickly, though, with each Morris kid leaving home as soon as they had an excuse, until it was just me and Mama sitting out on that porch on Sundays, resurrecting Go Fish.
I can’t believe it’s been eight years since we’ve all been in one place.
And tonight, while it’s Thursday and not Sunday, we’re all playing cards under Mama’s roof again. The happiness is radiating off her.
“Will you be fine in Ben’s room?” Mama asks Tara, Rob’s wife, as she and my brother come down from putting their two girls to sleep in the largest room of the house, with enough space for all four of them.
“Yeah, it’s perfect, Wilma. Thank you.” Tara’s a soft-spoken brown-haired woman with big eyes. She seems nice but she doesn’t talk much. Way too quiet for my taste. And too skinny, but Rob always did like them twiggy. I get the impression that I make her nervous. The two times I’ve walked into the kitchen with just her there, she’s left in a flash.
“You mean my room? Ben stole it after I moved out,” Rob retorts, slapping me across the back as he walks by.
“And it finally saw some action,” I murmur, shooting a wink Jake’s way. Of all of us, Rob was the shyest around the girls.
“It saw plenty of action, you jackass,” Rob scoffs.
“A hand job from Molly Mumford doesn’t count.”
“Boys!” Mama exclaims as Jake and I burst out in laughter. Even Elsie can’t keep the giggles under control. No doubt, she remembers. The three of us had cups pressed to the wall between Elsie’s and Rob’s old room, listening to the entire thing.
“I think the best part was when Molly screamed and said, ‘It’s so sticky!’ ” I say, that last part with a high-pitched squeal, reenacting exactly how I imagine the girl looked, holding my hands up in the air, my face a mask of horror.
“Benjamin James Morris!” Mama calls sternly, throwing her cards down as Elsie and Jake explode with laughter. Even Tara has a hand over her mouth, trying hard to contain her amusement.
“I’m gonna kick your ass,” Rob mutters, though it’s with a tight-lipped smile.
“Anytime, bro!” He and I are the closest in size, though I’ve got at least thirty pounds of muscle and two inches of height on him.
“There will be no kicking of any kind under this roof!” Mama warns with a finger.
Rob snorts. “Fine. Let’s take it to the barn. It’s better for fighting anyway.”
Dead silence.
“Shit. Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it,” Rob backpedals, his hands up in apology.
“No worries, man.” I toss a casual wave his way. “You’re right, the barn is a good place. As soon as we sell the last of the tools and wood, we can start our own fight club in there and Baby Boy Morris will kick all your old asses.” I’ve been busy this week, clearing out the saws and other tools. There’s a ton in there. Add it all up and it’s worth a lot of money.
“Sounds good, man.” I feel a light squeeze of my shoulder as Rob passes by again, on his way to check the skies. “I wish that storm wasn’t coming. I wanted to take Tara out to the grove.”
“You’ll have plenty of time over the weekend.” Mama turns and beams as Rita, Jake’s girlfriend, comes waddling out of the kitchen, a cup of tea in hand.
“What’re y’all playing again?” she drawls with that thick Mississippi accent as Jake reaches back to pull her beside him until her belly is resting against his cheek. Of all my brothers, it’s strangest to see Jake settled down. He was probably the worst, next to me, for chasing girls. But then he hooked up with Rita at Mardi Gras a couple of years back and things changed quickly. Now he’s about to have a baby with her.
“Euchre.” He pats his knees. “Come on and sit. I’ll teach you how to play.”
“Maybe another night. I’m pretty tired.” Ruffling his hair—it’s a darker blond than mine—she turns to me and smiles. “Thanks for giving up Elsie’s old room for us.”
“Just to be clear, I did it for you and that baby, not for this joker.” I wink at her.
“I though you liked the attic! You always liked it growing up,” Mama chimes in.
Jake snorts. “What are you talking about? He was terrified of the attic! Always crying about ghosts. Wait until the thunder hits tonight. He’ll be shaking under his covers, all alone up there.” He grunts as the orange I whip at him hits his stomach.
“You’re eating that,” Mama scolds, wrenching it out of Jake’s hand before he can fling it back. She adds slyly, “I’m sure Reese could protect you from the thunder and ghosts if she were here.”
“Reese?” Jake and Rob echo in unison, their brows almost jumping past their hairlines.
“Don’t tell me . . .” A broad smile stretches across Rob’s face. “Benjy has as girlfriend?”
Fuck, I always hated that name. It makes me feel like a dog. Which I’ve been called many times before, but for different reasons. “Just a friend.” I shoot Mama an exasperated look, but she has picked up her cards again and is studying them intently, an impish smile on her mouth.
It doesn’t matter. Jake and Rob are already at it.
“What kind of girl could tie this asshole down?”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“Do you think she can do basic math?”
“Fake tits or real?” Jake got two slaps across the head and a kick under the table for that question, from every female within reach.
I stand and stretch my hand over my head but manage to get a hand down to block Jake’s fist sailing for my stomach. Stepping out of his reach, I wrap my arms around Rita, resting my hands on her belly. Up until my friend Storm got pregnant, I don’t remember ever touching a woman’s pregnant belly. “When should we tell him about us, Rita?” I say, putting on my best obnoxious grin as I watch Jake’s face turn red.
“Get the fuck away from her!” he yells, but he’s laughing.
Everyone’s laughing. Even Mama’s trying hard not to, her head shaking, no doubt over the language. I think she has given up for tonight, though.
And I grin. For so many reasons. It’s good to have everyone here.
Almost everyone.
“Where’re you going? We’re in the middle of a game!” Elsie whines.
“I’m going to see what the mature brother is up to.” Josh just got in about an hour ago and he’s spent most of that time in the barn.
“Tell him to come back inside,” Mama asks. “We’re gonna lose power as soon as the storm hits.” It’s pretty much a guarantee.
I round the corner just as Jake says, “Did Ben actually find someone stupid enough to—Ow! Who kicked me that time?”