“Mama.” Eleanor, but Mama to Cody.
“Oh Cody. How are you? Did you get there alright?”
“I’m at TJ’s. He made sheriff.”
“He did? You must be proud. I know how much you admired him.” Cody smiled at the warmth in her words. He had spoken about TJ a lot during his time there. “What about your parents? Have you spoken to them?” This time, the questions were more guarded. Mama knew how turbulent Cody’s relationship with Cass was.
“Not yet. I came straight to TJ’s when I arrived. I’m… not ready.”
“You take all the time you need, honey, and if you decide being there isn’t for you, you have a place here. I know my boys miss you.”
Mama had three boys, all teenagers, and Cody had grown close to them. Closer than he had been to his own sister. “I miss them too, but I’ll come and visit. I’ll bring TJ too. When he knows everything, I know he’ll want to come and meet you all.”
“You haven’t told him?”
“It was late when I got here, and he had to work this morning. I plan to speak to him in the next day or so. I’m kinda workingup the courage, I guess.” It wouldn’t be an easy conversation. For him to say the words and for TJ to hear them.
“Take all the time you need. You went through so much, my boy, and you made it through to the other side. If you need a few more days, you take them. He won’t think less of you when he knows. Just this morning, I was out that way where we found you. Made me realize just how far you’d come from the poor child we found dying in my field. I am so proud of you, my boy.”
Cody sniffed, his throat raw. “Mama. I wish I really was your son.”
“Blood doesn’t always make a family. You’re mine, even if I didn’t birth you.”
“Love you, Mama.”
“I love you more, my boy. Ah, here’s Jedson now. Jed! Cody’s on the phone.”
“Cody! How are you, son? I take it you got there okay?”
Cody gave a tear-filled laugh then talked to Jed for a few minutes, then each of the boys before hanging up. Placing his phone on the table, Cody laughed again, then wiped the tears from his cheeks.
Poor child we found dying… Yeah, that had been him. He couldn’t even remember crawling to the field. Couldn’t remember the path he’d taken. Vaguely remembered Jed carrying him back to the ranch house, the whispers coming and going as he passed in and out of consciousness. He’d survived. Physically, at least. The mental and emotional damage took far longer to heal, but he had been blessed because Mama and Jed had saved him and given him a home. Given him a family.
They’d been better parents to Cody during those three years than his parents had ever been. He wished he had been born into their family, but then he’d never have met TJ, and he had always been TJ’s. Now he was old enough to finally do something aboutit. Poor TJ. He didn’t know what was coming his way, but Cody would make sure TJ enjoyed every minute of it.
With that in mind, Cody decided what to prepare that night. Nothing like coming home from a long day at work to a nice home-cooked meal.
Chapter Eight
TJ
TJ parked in the driveway and sighed, leaning his head back in the seat and closing his eyes. He didn’t want to move. He didn’t want to do anything. Long day after long day had left him physically, emotionally, and mentally drained, but thankfully, Taylor would be back in the office in the morning so TJ could allow himself a late start.
Dragging himself out of the truck, he trudged up the path and walked inside, took his boots off, then stopped. A heavenly scent reached him, and he breathed in deep then exhaled. Cody. Walking into the kitchen, TJ put his belt on the chair and watched Cody at the stove.
Cody gave him a smile from over his shoulder. “Scottish beef stew with veggies. One of my favorites.”
“When did Cass or Emily teach you that?”
TJ noticed the slight tightening across Cody’s shoulders. “They didn’t. Mama did.”
“Mama?” Who the hell was Mama?
“Why don’t you take a shower while I finish this, and we can talk about your day? I managed to find a course at the college. I can tell you about that and Darcy.”
“Darcy?”
“The local therapist.” Cody smiled at TJ over his shoulder again. “Go and shower. You look half dead.”
