“Seth’s being taken care of,” I assure him, wave at Cara and Seth, and head for the shower.
“Is he as bad as Mom says?”
“He’s doing better. Cara’s been great for him. He’s enjoying the ranch and we put him to work every day with chores, but I think he secretly loves it, he just doesn’t want us to know it.” I start the shower and start stripping out of my sweat-soaked, smelly clothes. “Louie’s Lab had pups a few months ago. He gave one to Seth.”
“Sounds like us at that age.” Zack chuckles. “A boy needs a dog. I’m nervous about seeing him, man. Kensie has him hating me.”
“So prove the bitch wrong, Z. Seriously, Seth will come around with time. You deal with eighteen-year-old kids fresh out of boot camp every day. You can handle one kid who secretly hero-worships you.”
“I don’t need him to hero-worship me. I’d settle for speaking to me over the phone.”
“He’ll come around.” I watch the mirror go cloudy with steam. “Do you need me to pick you up from the airport?”
“No, I’m driving up. I’ll leave tomorrow morning.”
“Drive safe. Call if you need me.”
“I will. Thanks, man. Later.”
“Later.” I hang up and step into the shower, washing up quickly so I can join Cara and Seth. I yank on a clean pair of worn blue jeans, pull an old red T-shirt over my head, and join Seth and Cara in the kitchen.
“. . . don’t care!” Seth yells.
“Seth,” Cara’s voice is hard and her hands are fisted on the table.
“What’s going on?” I ask, and narrow my eyes at Seth, who just glares at me as he jumps out of his chair, his feet planted, shoulders square, as if ready for a fight.
“Why didn’t you tell me my dad was back in Texas?” he demands.
“Seth, you refuse to listen to anyone when your dad’s name comes up.”
“If he’s in the States, why hasn’t he come here?” His lip quivers slightly but he tightens his mouth to hide it, and a ball of lead takes up residence in my gut.
“He had to finish up some things in Texas before he could come home,” I explain calmly.
“No one told me,” Seth repeats stubbornly.
“Seth, your dad tries to talk to you every time he calls and you refuse to take his calls. I know you don’t want to see him, but—”
“You don’t know anything about it!” Seth yells as tears fall from his eyes.
“Okay, explain it to me.” I lean against the counter and tuck my hands in my pockets, as if my body weren’t tense and longing to pull him to me to reassure him.
I need him to talk to me.
“No one cares.” He shakes his head and looks down at his feet, his dark hair falling into his eyes.
“That’s not true, Seth,” Cara begins.
“Yes, it is,” he interrupts, and glares at her. “What do you know, anyway? You’re banging him.” He points at me. “You’re no better than the rest of them.”
Cara gasps, and before I realize what I’m doing, I’ve gripped Seth’s lean shoulders in my hands and pulled his face within an inch of my own.
“I’m going to tell you this one time.” My voice is low and hard. Measured. “If you ever disrespect Cara like that again, I will make you regret it.” I loosen my grip but keep his eyes on mine. “I love you, kid. I love you. I care. I want to know what’s going on in your head, but I won’t force you to tell me.”
He continues to cry silently and it’s killing me.
“I’ll answer any questions you have. I’ll talk to your dad for you or call him back right now and put you on the line with him. He wants to talk to you, Seth.”
He shakes his head in denial, and I just sigh deeply and cup his face in my hand.
“Seth, your dad loves you,” Cara adds. “He’s trying to get here as fast as he can. Maybe talking on the phone with him will make you feel better.”
“I don’t want to talk to him,” Seth whispers, and turns tear-filled eyes to Cara. “I’m sorry about what I said. I didn’t mean it.”
“I know.” Cara offers him a smile. “You’re angry. But talking to us, or your dad, will help, sweetie.”
He shakes his head again and I pull him in for a hug.
“It’s going to be okay, buddy.”
“Can I take Thor to the barn?” he whispers.
“Yeah, go ahead.”
He pats his leg and Thor happily follows him out the front door.
“My brother really needs to get here and work some things out with that boy,” I mutter softly.
“He’s so angry,” Cara agrees softly. “I wish I could kick Kensie’s ass.”
“Get in line, sweetheart.”
She gathers Seth’s papers and tidies the table swiftly. I pull the papers out of her hand and set them on the table and pull her into my arms, tucked under my chin. I love the way she fits against me.
I tighten my arms around her shoulders, gliding my hands up and down her back, and just hug her.
“It’s amazing how you calm me,” I murmur.
“Same here,” she whispers without moving her cheek from my chest. “Zack’s on his way home?”
“He should be here this weekend.”
“Good. Seth needs him, whether he believes it or not.”