Page 54 of Playing it Country

“But—”

He starts and Otto holds up a hand. “This is hard work and sometimes we work through the aches and pains, but this isn’t one of those times.”

“I still can’t get over your dad voice,” I say as Mason’s shoulders slump—either with relief or disappointment it’s hard to tell.

“I know, right? It’s weird.” Otto grins and Bodhi looks between us before rubbing the back of his neck.

“We’ve, uh,”—he clears his throat and stands a little taller—“we’ve worked a lot of places under the table where they weren’t this…understanding.”

Otto and I nod as we read between the lines. Being unable to work means they give the job to someone else. There’s no loyalty in that—from either side.

“Well,” Otto says seriously, “you have benefits. If you need us to explain them we can. If you need to get your shoulder checked out with a doctor, you have the coverage to do it.”

I’m about to say something when an older model SUV pulls up, and I snicker as Flora Thayer hops out of the driver’s seat.

“Mason Amato, you get over here right now!” Mama practically barks she’s so worked up.

Mason’s eyes widen, and he looks at us like we’re going to save him from our pint-sized mother who is spittin’ mad.

He puts down the shovel and his entire body slumps as he walks over to her. Her hands are on her narrow hips, and her foot is tapping against the dirt.

“Mrs. Thayer, I—”

“You call me Mama, sweet boy.” Her hands cup his face and she turns it this way and that as if she’s just making sure he’s okay. Without releasing his face she says, “You are family and that means you get yelled at like the rest of ’em. If you’re hurt, you rest. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She squints at him before smiling and patting his cheek. “Good, go sit. I brought lunch.”

Otto fist pumps and follows Mama to the car as Mason goes and sits on the back of the work truck. My gaze slides to Bodhi who is watching Mason with such a heavy expression I almost have to look away.

“There’s nothing you could’ve done. He’s an adult too.” Bodhi’s head whips toward me like he forgot I was standing here.

“I uh,”—he worries his bottom lip with his teeth—“I feel like I failed him in a lot of ways. He’s still scared to ask for help. Hell, we both are.”

“Well, you don’t have to do it alone anymore.” I glance over at Mama who is back to fussing over Mason while setting out lunch like it’s an event instead of a normal Thursday.

“I won’t begin to imagine what you guys went through and I won’t ask, but we all make sacrifices for the ones we love. We’re all just tryin’ to figure it out, but now you have a family to fall back on. You don’t have to do it alone.”

He swallows hard as he nods.

“Never had that before.”

My heart damn near breaks for this guy who is only a couple of years younger than me.

“Next time you’re around you should talk to Sorren.”

“The scary dude?”

I chuckle because I can see how he looks to the outside world. I also know that he threw Briggs over his shoulder and raced him around the house making airplane noises.

“Yeah, he’s not so bad once you get to know him.” Bodhi looks unconvinced so I add, “He brought his sister, Marlee, here to live with their grandparents. It’s not the same as what y’all went through, but it might help to talk to someone who’s been there.”

Bodhi shrugs, so I’ll drop it for now.

“You boys come eat,” Mama says, and I slap Bodhi on the back as we make our way over. “And how are you, honey?” Mama asks as she folds Bodhi into a hug. His body stiffens for only a second before he relaxes into her embrace.

“I’m good, Mrs. Thayer. Thank you. How are you?”

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