Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Shane went into the kitchen. “Here, Ma. Let me cut this. You guys cooked. It’s the least I can do.”
“Okay.”
Shane washed his hands before cutting the roast. He pulled plates and silverware out, handing a set to his mom and then Van. They made their plates. Shane and Van grabbed a beer and his mom iced tea.
“Where do you want to eat?” Shane asked her.
“I think inside,” his mom replied. He figured it’s what she would say but he wanted to ask. She’d obviously had quite a journey, and he still wasn’t sure how it had happened.
Shane set his plate down and Van pulled the table away from the wall. It was then he noticed that Van’s easel wasn’t set up in the corner and he felt bad that Van hadn’t gotten the chance to paint. How long had his mom been here?
It was just a moment later when Shane sat down to have dinner, at his house, with his mom and a lover. Another first for him.
“This is good,” Shane said as he took a bite of the meat.
“It was all me,” Van replied.
“Oh don’t you start telling stories now. See? And I thought I liked you!” His mom playfully swatted Van’s arm. “Don’t listen to him, Shaney. I made it.”
“Shaney, huh?” Van cocked a brow and Shane flipped him off.
They talked about music and the weather. About things going on in town. Nothing important, but it was important at the same time.
It was life. The kind of life his mom didn’t have, and in some ways, the kind Shane didn’t have either.
“How are things going at the shop?” she asked after a few moments.
“Good. Tomorrow will probably be another day like today. I have a few cars I really need to get done.”
As soon as Shane looked up from his meal and at his mom, the date slammed into him. Fuck. How had he forgotten? It was a standing appointment on their calendar.
“I can reschedule,” his mom said and Shane quietly cursed.
“No. Fuck. I’ll figure it out. You shouldn’t have to reschedule. I know the appointments. I don’t know where my brain is.” But the Wells family needed their car for tomorrow, and he’d promised the Johnsons too.
“What’s tomorrow?” Van asked with his brows pulled together.
“I go to Portland to see my psychologist and psychiatrist.”
She had a therapist who was closer but they made the trek to Portland once a month for her other doctors. Every fucking month. What was wrong with him?
“I can take you,” Van said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. Maybe it should be but—
“No. We couldn’t. That’s a lot to ask.” It was an hour drive. Sometimes she had a panic attack on the way. Sometimes she had one there. Sometimes they didn’t make it. He couldn’t ask Van to take on that responsibility. No one had ever taken his mom to her appointments other than Shane.
“You didn’t ask,” Van said in unison with his mom’s, “Yes, we could.” She looked at Van. “Only if you’re sure. I don’t want to be a burden. It really isn’t a problem to reschedule.”
“That might be better. You can probably get something next week,” Shane said without making eye contact with Van. He couldn’t. He thought he might see hurt there.
“I really don’t mind. I have nothing to do. Plus, I kind of like you.” Shane looked up just as Van nudged his mom’s arm.
“I kind of like you too,” she told him. “Even if you did try to steal my glory over the meal.”
“Always gotta have all the attention,” Van teased her back.
Shane watched the exchange between the two of them in awe. His throat nearly closed up. Whatever happened earlier, the two of them had gotten close.
The subject veered off onto another without any decisions being made. Shane sat back and watched, tried to take it in, seeing his mom with Van that way. They finished their meal and then his mom insisted on doing the dishes.
When they were finished, she stretched and said, “I’m tired. This has been a big day for me. Can you walk me home, Shane?”
“Of course.” He grabbed her pills for her and she took one. He only kept a few there because it wasn’t as though she was there very often.
He could see the tension rise in her. Could feel the tremble in her bones as he took her hand. “It’s okay. We got this,” he told her.
“Thank you for spending your day with me.” Van stepped close to her. He wrapped an arm around his mom’s shoulders and kissed her forehead and Shane’s heart sped up and his chest started to swell.
He was so fucked. So goddamn screwed where that man was concerned.
“I should be the one thanking you.”
“No, you really shouldn’t. I was honored to hang out with you and I hope to get to do it again soon.”