She gazed intently in his eyes. “You’re welcome. I was just relieved that I arrived in time to help your daughter. I don’t know who called me, but I’m presuming it was someone she was shooting with. I know she always has my card with her. I’m happy Chenoa’s doing great. I stopped by and saw her earlier this morning.”
After a few seconds, he said, “Yeah, she told me. You and I both know that she’s gonna have a helluva night as she starts going through withdrawals. You don’t believe this was a one-time deal, do you?”
She pursed her lips and shook her head.
“The omelet is so delicious, Breanna. Thank you.”
She smiled. “You’re welcome, Mrs. McVickers.”
Steel kept looking at his mom’s food, his stomach rumbling. He watched Breanna turn back to the stove, and in a few minutes she placed a steaming plate in front of him.
He looked up at her.She’s beautiful.“I didn’t ask you to make this for me.” He picked up a fork.
“I know.” She moved away and went over to the sink, filling it with soapy water.
As he ate, he watched her clean the dishes and wipe the stove. Something tender stirred inside him for this woman, but he didn’t want any part of it. He shoved it down and finished off the last bite of his omelet.
Breanna dried her hands and smiled at his mother. “Mrs. McVickers, I have to go. I’ll make sure you receive a replacement card as soon as possible.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll buy her groceries.” Steel pushed his plate away.
“It’s not that easy. She and her grandkids are entitled to the benefits. Unless she fills out a form for herself requesting her benefits to stop, she’ll still receive them. Your sister is the only one who can take the grandkids off the benefits. But I think it’s very nice that you’re going to buy groceries for your mom. Her fridge is desperately in need of some food.”
He scowled at her.
“What? I’m agreeing with you. What’s your problem?” She grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder.
“You’remy problem.”
“Whatever. I’ll see you, Mrs. McVickers.” She picked up her folder and walked out of the house.
He watched her go, a part of him wishing she’d stayed. He felt a twitch in his dick when he thought of her.My cock’s talking only ’cause she’s pretty and hot. I don’t need this shit.
“Why did you act like that with her?” his mother asked.
“I don’t like the way she’s meddling in my family’s business. We don’t need her or her help.” He rose to his feet and went over to the sink to wash his plate.
“I’ve never seen you act like this before with a woman. You’re even nicer to Mika, and you know how badly she treated you.”
He put the plate away. “I don’t trust her or the government. Anyway, why’re you sticking up for a woman you barely know?” He leaned against the kitchen counter.
“She’s a nice girl.” He shrugged. “I saw the way you looked at each other. You got something between the two of you.”
“You’re seeing more than there is,Shimá. Leave it alone, okay?”
“Remember that dream I’ve had for many years about you and a woman building a life together? Forging through many things only to come out stronger?” Sighing, he nodded; he’d only heard the story a thousand times over the years. “Well, each time I have it, the woman has yellow hair. When I saw the way you looked at her when you came in, I knew she was the woman in my dreams.”
He shook his head. “Ifshe’sthe one you’ve seen me with, it sounds more like you’ve been having nightmares. Go on and get your sweater so we can get going. I have a bunch of stuff I gotta do before I go back to the hospital.”
“Are you making fun of the visions? You know we believe in them.”
The hurt in her voice made him feel bad. “I was just joking. Look,Shimá,there’re a lot of blondes running around Alina, so I doubt she’s the one you’ve been dreaming about. Anyway, you know I like dark-haired women. Now go get ready.”
His mother stood up and went to her bedroom. While he waited, he thought about what she’d said. Dreams and visions were important to the Navajo; they were believed to be prophecies for what was to come. Did he believe in them? To a certain extent. Did he think his mother’s dreams meant that he would hook up with the pain-in-the-ass social worker?No fucking way!
“I’m ready.” As they walked out of the house, his mother handed him her car keys. He backed out his motorcycle so he could get her car out, and then they drove to the nearest grocery store, Roy’s Market. It was owned by the dirtbag Mika was dating. He’d have preferred to have gone into Alina to buy groceries, but his mother had insisted on going to Roy’s. There was something about the guy Steel didn’t like. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but Roy rubbed him the wrong way.
While his mother went down the aisles throwing things in her cart, he spotted a woman with long blonde hair in the distance. His heart picked up a few beats as he walked toward her. When she turned around, he realized it wasn’t Breanna. He also realized he’d wished it had been.
