Hot Summer Nights (Lucas Brothers)

There’s also love.

“Jesus, Mom. Sex isn’t the cure-all for everything,” Maggie mutters. I sit down on a barstool at the kitchen island, and I spread my legs and pull Maggie back into my body, wrapping my arms around her.

“It doesn’t hurt either, Magnolia Tree. I’m taking it, since Red there is sitting in my kitchen looking like the cock of the walk on the verge of crowing, I don’t need to go into hiding,” she says, her sharp gaze watching Maggie and I closely.

“I wouldn’t say that. I think those little surprises you left in the cabin put you on the danger list,” Maggie mutters, giving me her weight. I bury my face into her hair, breathing in her sweetness. “What were you thinking, Mom?”

“I was thinking that my daughter needed to get her head out of her ass.”

“Mom—”

“So, I left some things to help fill up the emptiness in your ass once Red got your head on straight,” she shrugs.

“God, I’m sorry I asked.”

“My name’s not, Red, Ida Sue,” I mumble, leaving alone her explanation about the myriad of toys that she left. The more you talk about anything with Ida Sue, the worse it becomes. Sometimes you just need to let sleeping dogs lie—as she says.

“No, your face is. What in the hell did you do to yourself? You look like you have giant red mushrooms sprouting out of the side of your face,” Ida Sue chastises.

“He doesn’t look like he has mushrooms on the side of his face,” Maggie says, looking over her shoulder at me. I give her a wink for taking up for me.

“No they look like the tiny heads of a penis, but I was trying to be delicate.”

I snort. “You’re a bull in a china shop, Ida Sue. You don’t know how to be delicate,” I respond, my tone daring her to deny it.

“So, tell me, Red, what did you do to yourself? My girl poison you?”

“No, you did. Whatever that damn Anus Smooth shit was you left at the house exploded on my face when I tried to open it, and apparently, I’m allergic.”

Ida Sue lets out a whistle and comes around the edge of the bar and moves to my side so she can inspect the damage. Maggie shifts on my lap, turning to watch her mother touch the area on the side of my face where the large pimple-like area is. It’s not pretty, but it does look better this morning than it did last night. Maggie rubbed some allergy cream on it that she found in the medicine cabinet.

“Damn, it goes all the way to your mouth. I figured you had a kinky side, but some of this shit you shouldn’t try to eat, Red.”

“I didn’t try to,” I retort.

“Sure,” she laughs, drawing that one word out for way too long.

“I didn’t. It was purely unintentional.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” she says. “I can fix you up an all-natural fruit remedy to fix that, though,” she suggests. I open my mouth to tell her that would be appreciated when Maggie responds before I can.

“Oh no. You keep your peaches and watermelons and smoothie concoctions away from Bryant. I know how you work, Mom,” Maggie warns.

“I never spanked you enough as a child,” Ida Sue mumbles. “I tried, but I always suspected you liked it too much. After a while, it was like you were purposely getting in trouble just so your hind end would get spanked red.”

“And this conversation is over. We just came by because Bryant and I were headed to Dallas and wanted to ask if you would take care of Terry one more night. We’ll get him tomorrow.”

“Dallas? Now that’s the first common sense you’ve made all day. Are you going down there to mark your territory, Red? Damn happy to finally see you taking control,” Ida Sue praises.

“Mom, quit making it sound like Bryant is going to parade me around Dallas in front of people and pee on me,” Maggie barks.

“It wasn’t pee that I saw him marking you with,” Ida Sue shrugs.

“Oh God, Mom. That’s so gross.”

“I should have known you’d say that. Poor Bryant. Don’t take it personal though, son. She gags for hours trying to swallow the tiniest of pills, always did,” Ida Sue supplies woefully.

“And on that note, we’re out of here. Can you watch Terry?”

“Nope.”

“But—”

“He’s still at Petal’s. When they got back from camping, he wanted to stay with River. He was going to ask you if it was okay, but when you didn’t call last night, I just went ahead and gave him permission.”

“Oh okay. Thanks, Mom. I… I love you,” Maggie says, going around the counter and kissing her mom on the temple and hugging her.

I see the surprise that flashes across Ida Sue’s face. Maggie hasn’t shown her feelings and public affection is non-existent and has been since we lost Brylee. It occurs to me after watching Ida Sue, that she hasn’t shown them with her family, either.