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“You going to get Mama tomorrow? It’s too late to drive down today,” Kristy asks, and Bennet gives her a nod.
“Yeah. We’ll head out in the morning.”
She smiles at that, but there’s worry on her face. Bennet either doesn’t notice it or doesn’t acknowledge it. I, of course, don’t take the silent route because this whole silent communication thing is ridiculous.
“She’ll be okay. She’ll have great care here,” I say and move toward Bennet, wrapping my arm around him. Bennet’s sisters have talked about a nurse coming to help out, but I know all of the siblings are worried about their mom living here with only Bridgette to manage. She and her husband are busy with work and the kids, and I heard Kristy express her displeasure at this.
Bennet sighs and leans into me slightly. Kristy’s eyes fall to where our bodies connect and her brow furrows.
Yes, Kristy, this is new. Get used to it.
She wrenches her eyes away and shakes her head. “Yes. Well. I’d feel better if she was coming to stay with me.”
Ah, there’s the issue. I knew there was one just simmering down below. “Mom won’t leave this place. You know how she is,” Bennet says, his hand reaching out to gesture in front of him. “This is her home.”
Kristy places a hand on her hip, her expression stern. “Do you really think Bridgette can handle this?”
“Bridgette is capable,” Bennet says fiercely. “And there will be a nurse to come check on her.”
Kristy huffs at that, clearly unhappy. “Someone who isn’t family. Mom isn’t going to like that at all. You know how stubborn she can be, Bennet.”
I try not to snort at Kristy calling anyone else stubborn. I manage to keep quiet and let Bennet fight his own battle. For now. He’s not mine, not at all, but I won’t let him be beaten down.
I have a few punches left in me.
“Bridgette will be here. And I’m sure you’ll check on her.”
“Yeah.Wewill.” She emphasizes that word, and I know it’s a direct hit at Bennet. I can see the wince on his face, the unspoken words are saying that they will take care of his mom but he won’t.
“I’ll help as much as I can,” he says, tensing against me.
“Right. By sending a check. She doesn’t need money, Bennet.”
He shrinks back instead of standing up for himself. Heispaying for her care. Bridgette and Samantha told me. But Bennet isn’t one to throw things back in people’s faces. It’s the guilt, I think. The guilt of being so far away when his mom is sick.
“My home is in California. What do you want me to do?”
She huffs in irritation and rolls her eyes a little, and I clench my jaw, holding back the fierce need to tell her off. I like Kristy, I do, but this isn’t fair. There’s nothing for Bennet out here. It’s where he was raised, but western Kansas doesn’t fit him. Not now and not ever.
“I want you to get over this childishness and come home.”
Bennet blinks, his lips forming an O of shock before they form a thin line. “But I’m not a child. I’m a grown man. Was it so wrong of me to move away and make a living? A name for myself?”
“What kind of name did you make out there that you can’t make here?”
He shifts on his feet, shrinking in on himself, unable to tell her the truth.
“I couldn’t stay, Kristy. You know why. I was rotting here.”
“Yes, well, that was back then, but now you can come home. They’re hiring at the feed store…”
Bennet swallows and shakes his head. “Kristy, I can’t.”
She eyes him, her lips pursed. “Fine, I’m going to make dinner for the kids. I’ll be back tomorrow. Please don’t forget to get Mom.”
I scoff at that, crossing my arms over my chest, feeling slightly offended that she felt the need to throw that in there. “We won’t forget her. Bennet wouldn’t do that.”
She hesitates a moment, eyeing me warily, like she’s worried I’m going to pounce, but then gives a quick nod. “Right, okay. See you tomorrow.”
