Lady Bits

After Wesley gets a tight hug from Harley, he holds his hand out to me and we shake.

“Thanks for coming over on such short notice,” he says.

“No problem.” I look over to Mom and Sam, who’re still talking quietly between themselves, but I’ve noticed Sam look in our direction a couple of times. “I’m glad Sam feels comfortable enough to see us now. Especially Mom.”

“Thanks for being patient with him.”

I bring my eyes to Jersey. “How is he doing?” I ask quietly. “I wanted to call and ask, but I wasn’t sure how it would be accepted.”

Jersey’s smile is sad, her eyes moving to Sam then to Mom before bringing them back to me. “We’ve never blamed either of you, Carter. Please don’t think that. You can call anytime.”

Wesley wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her against his side. Not that I find anything wrong with it since they are both consenting adults, but it’s strange to see the pair together because of the huge age gap between them.

“And he’s doing better each day. Therapy is helping. How’s Deandra doing?”

“She struggles some days. I think her guilt over not realizing what was happening under her own roof gets to her more than losing her husband and one of her sons.” I look at Jersey and Wesley both. “Let me know if Sam ever needs anything. I hate that he and I never got close. Maybe if I had come home more often, I would have realized something was going on.”

Like Mom, that guilt is what eats at me the most. I hate that I could have potentially stopped what was happening had I been around more often.

Harley shifts beside me, turning to press her chest into my side and laying her hand on my stomach.

It’s Wesley who speaks next. “People like Douglas and Mark are damn good at hiding their evilness. There’s nothing anyone could have done differently to stop them from doing what they did.”

Feeling eyes on the side of my face, I look over to Mom and Sam again. They’re both openly watching us. Sam more so at me and Mom at Harley, their expressions equally curious.

With my hand on her lower back, I lead Harley over to them, and they get to their feet.

Mom smiles. “It’s so great to see you, Harley.” She turns her smile to me a moment before putting it back on Harley. “You have no idea how happy it made me when Carter told me he was seeing you. Hopefully you can keep him in Silver Falls permanently.”

Harley laughs, the sound light and airy. “I’ll try my best.”

Mom’s eyes twinkle. “Something tells me you won’t have to try very hard.”

Sam shifts uncomfortably beside Mom, grabbing my attention. I hold my hand out to him and surprise flickers in his gaze before he reaches out and grabs it.

“Hey, Sam. It’s good to see you again.”

“You too.”

“I scored a couple tickets to an upcoming Gator’s game, and I was wondering if you wanted them. Maybe we can go together, or if you prefer, you can take Wesley or your sister.”

The tension fades from his shoulders and he laughs when I mention his sister’s name. “Jersey hates anything to do with football. You couldn’t pay her enough to go to one.” His voice cracks on about half of the words, giving away his transition from boy to young man.

Having overheard my offer and Sam’s response, Jersey inserts, “Because the game is barbaric. The men may look good in their uniform,” she pauses long enough to elbow Wesley in the ribs when he scowls at her, “but their appeal goes down the drain when they start tackling each other like Neanderthals.”

“See.” He grins. “Told ya.” We all laugh. “If it’s okay with Jersey and Wesley,” he pauses as he hesitates to finish, “I’d like to go with you.”

“We don’t mind at all if you go with Carter,” Jersey says. “I actually think it’s a great idea.”

Sam beams at his sister before he looks back at me.

“I’ll get with them later and make sure the date and time of the game is okay,” I tell him.

The smile he gives me and Mom isn’t as big and carefree as the ones he gives Jersey and Wesley, but it’s still there, and it’s a start.

One we’ll both gladly take.