Page 58 of Sugar
“A beer sounds wonderful,” she says. A rare choice for Mom—she pretty much stopped drinking when Dad did, I think in an effort to show support . . .andto keep alcohol out of the house.
I pull two bottles out of the fridge, popping them open before setting them down on the table. “To what do I owe this visit?” I ask, curious.
She takes a big sip of her beer, her eyes closing as she swallows it down. “Damn, I almost forgot how good that is.”
I chuckle. “Especially after a long day,” I admit.
She looks at me blankly. “Sweetheart, it’s been a long fucking decade.”
Her blunt honesty catches me by surprise. “You okay, Mom?”
She nods. “Fine. Tired, but fine. Brooks went to the grocery store today—it’s the first time he’s left the ranch since . . .” Her voice trails off.
My chest squeezes. “How’d he do?”
She shrugs. “Okay, I think. I didn’t press too hard, but he got plenty of groceries and seemed in good spirits when he got back.”
Relief overcomes me. “That’s so good.”
She nods. “Layla’s really been a huge help with the boys. That girl will be an incredible mother someday, if she chooses to be.”
My pulse spikes as my thoughts careen to Ava. “I went and saw Brooks and the boys the other day,” I say, pushing the thought away. “They seem happy, considering. I know Liam just got in trouble, but?—”
“Wasn’t his fault,” she finishes for me. “I know, I know. I used to get calls from the school constantly with you boys, and more than half the time you lot were being blamed for shit that had nothing to do with you.”
I take a sip of my beer, letting the cold carbonation burn against my tongue. “This town isn’t always fair,” I say.
“Nope,” she agrees. “You know, your father has been up and moving around a lot more these last few weeks. He still hasn’t gone outside the house, but he’s been doing what he can to help with things so I can be there for Brooks and the boys.” She pauses, considering her words. “I know he’s been worried about all this inheritance stuff, but I think you and Rhett talking to him about it and asking him to step up might have made him realize he could be doing more.”
Her gaze slices to me, gauging my reaction. My brothers and I have always had a complicated relationship with our father—especially Rhett. But Brooks and I were old enough to see plenty of his good days before his accident, before his wild and reckless lifestyle turned against him and cost him his leg. It’s been over twenty years, and I still miss that man dearly.
“Anyway,” she continues, “I told him what you and that girl of yours have cooking to stop this ranch from going to Huck.”
“Really?” I ask, tentative. “What does he think?”
“He thinks you’re making too big a sacrifice,” she says, her voice stern enough to tell me she feels the same way. But then her eyes soften. “But he’s really damn proud of you, Kasey.”
I take in the words, letting them permeate. “And you?”
“I think it’s noble, honey. The Bennetts have always protected family above all else. But I have to admit, I worry about you. I worry about where this leads.”
I sigh. “You don’t have to worry about me, Mom. I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you?” she asks, really looking at me.
No, I want to say. Instead, I go with, “I’ll be fine.”
She nods, taking another pull from her beer. And then she says, “You know, I saw how bad it wrecked you when Ava left. And I’ve seen you with a new girl here and there over the years,but I don’t think you’ve really given your heart away to anyone else, have you?”
“No,” I admit. “I haven’t.”
“Why not?”
“Honestly? I think Ava still has it,” I say, forcing out a dark chuckle. “I think she always will whether she wants it or not.”
Her eyes narrow. “Does she know that?”
“I don’t know,” I answer. “I think at her core she might, but it scares her. I’m not sure she knows how to let someone really love her.”
