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IKE, AKA THE MAMA’S BOY
Oana’s tears rattleme. She’s flustered as she keeps talking about how my ma’s a good hugger. I can’t really understand why she’s upset. Did my ma say something cruel? Or am I misreading the situation?
“I’m worried about Anouk,” Oana finally says as she looks around the homestead.
“Once you’re settled, we’ll find a way to save her.”
Oana nods, seeming tired now. I figure we should return to the hotel. Today’s visit has been all over the place, mood-wise.
“Before you head out, we need to talk,” Pa-Donovan insists when I announce how we’ll be back tomorrow.
I look at Oana to check if she’s okay with being alone. Edith sees my hesitancy and nearly tackles my woman.
“Let’s go over your hair plans,” she says, tugging Oana back into the house and leaving me with Pa on the back deck.
Ma-Journey disappeared not long after Oana’s tears. I assume she’s gaining emotional support from one of her sisters. No, if she’sreallyupset, she’ll have fled to her parents’ place.
Once Oana’s out of earshot, my pa shuffles closer. I grew up admiring this man. He walked away from his safe job with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department to be an outlaw with the club. He changed up his life, cut ties, and took risks to be happy.
I’ve always taken his advice to heart. He could do no wrong in my eyes. However, right now, I assume he’s about to steer me toward the wrong path.
“The last week has been wild,” Pa-Donovan says, looking over the homestead as the sun tucks itself behind the horizon. “I know you’re unfamiliar with being at the center of all this drama. So, I get why you’re out of sorts.”
“But?”
“But you’re riding your ma too hard. She isn’t the enemy.”
“She doesn’t want Oana around.”
“Your ma doesn’t know what’s what right now. She’s out of sorts herself. But she’s trying, and sheisyour ma. You shouldn’t be such a dick toward her.”
Grumpy under his scolding, I reply, “I need to protect Oana.”
“I get that. But you can’t throw the rest of the family under the bus to get cred points with your girlfriend.”
“That’s not what this is.”
