Page 48 of Lock 'em Down

My brothers all groan, knowing that means Mom wants to sit down and talk.

“We’ll let you go,” King says.

I chuckle. “Talk to you guys later.” I end the video call.

A few minutes later, Mom steps onto the back porch.

“How was Cami’s first day?” Mom takes a seat in the Adirondack chair next to mine and blows on her tea.

“Thanks,” I say as she passes me a mug. I love sitting on my back porch, watching dusk fall. It’s where I come to relax after a long day. It’s also where I take most of my calls, checking in with my family.

Mom’s question redirects my thoughts. Cami should have been home from work by now but she still hasn’t replied to my text asking her about her first day.

“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to her yet.” I toss a piece of popcorn in the air and catch it in my mouth.

Mom reaches over and grabs a handful from the bowl resting in my lap. “Did you call her?”

“Texted.” I sip the tea.

“Hm.” She munches on her popcorn.

I look at her. “What does that mean?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You harrumphed.”

Mom snorts. “Harrumphed? Not a word I thought you’d use.”

I shake my head and take a sip of my water. “You think it’s weird she hasn’t answered yet?”

Mom shrugs. “Maybe her coworkers took her out for welcome drinks.”

I sit up straighter in my chair. I hadn’t thought about that. “Do you think they got her drunk?”

“Oh brother,” Mom scoffs, taking a drink of her tea. “Leif, she had a whole life before she met you a couple weeks ago.”

“I know that.”

Mom lifts her eyebrows, calling me out. “You’re awfully protective of her.”

“So?”

“So, don’t scare her off. If you want this to work, you can’t smother her.”

“I’d hardly call one text smothering.”

Mom points at me. “Yet here you sit, emotionally eating.”

Now I harrumph and drop back in my seat. “It’s Skinny Pop.”

Mom laughs. “I made the banana loaf you like.”

“With the walnuts?”

Mom nods and grins. “Maybe you can bring some over to Cami. Later. After she’s home and has had some time to process her day.”

“And you don’t think that’s smothering?”

---