“Thanks.” She frowned. It seemed crass to ask him straight out how his mom was doing, especially since he hadn’t offered up any information to begin with. “How long are you back for?”
“Not sure yet.” A shadow passed over his face, but his expression was so closed down, she didn’t dare risk pissing him off by pushing for more information. It must’ve been worse than Jules thought.
She almost backed out right then, because if Adam was dealing with his mom being really sick, wasn’t playing along with her scheme the last thing he needed? She hesitated. It’s not up to me to decide what he needs. He’s offering me something I need right now, and this is the best opportunity I’m going to get—the only opportunity. Jules stuck out her hand. “Deal?”
Adam set his coffee cup down and took her hand. “Deal.”
Chapter Four
“A date? You’ve been back in town for two whole days. How in God’s name did you manage to sweet-talk some local girl into letting you take her out?”
Adam opened the pillbox and carefully took out the half a dozen pills in varying sizes and colors and set them on the counter. “You know me, Mama. I work fast.”
His mom laughed, the chuckle a whole lot weaker than her usual boisterous sound. Everything about her was weaker now. The cancer that she’d hidden for far too long had eaten away at her body, leaving her a shell of the woman he’d grown up with.
Regret bit him, hard and fast. The only reason he knew that she had cancer at all was because her lady friend, Lenora, had called him. He was still pissed the fuck off that he had to hear about it from the woman she was dating rather than his mama herself. Pissed off, but not surprised. He should have been here, making sure she was taking care of herself. He knew damn well that his mama would work herself to the bone to make everyone else around her happy. Combined with her general distrust of doctors, it was a recipe for disaster. If he’d been here, he would have known that something was wrong and insisted she go in and get checked out.
“Oh, dear. I know that look.” She patted his arm. “Stop it. There’s nothing you could have done.”
“Mama—”
“Tell me about this girl. Is she anyone I know?”
Just like that, the discussion was over before it began. They’d have to talk about it at some point, but he wasn’t willing to fight with her—not while she looked like a stiff wind might topple her over. “Jules Rodriguez.”
“Danny’s little cousin?” Her eyes lit up. “She’s got that wonderful coffee shop with all the cats. I go in there once a week with Lenora. That Loki is a darling.” She accepted the tall glass of water he’d filled for her, some censure creeping into her dark eyes. “She’s a nice girl, Adam.”
“I know.” He braced himself for what would come next.
Sure enough, his mama said, “If I thought for a second you were going to hold still long enough to put down roots, I’d keep my thoughts to myself, but you’re as footloose and fancy-free as that father of yours.”
Of all the things she could have said, this one stung the most. Because it was true. He set the pills in front of her. “I’m staying long enough to get you sorted out, Mama. I promise.”
“Oh, honey…” Tears filled her eyes, tears that felt like they were ripping into his very soul. There was a terrible knowledge on her face that he wasn’t ready to face. Not now—maybe not ever. His mom managed a smile. “I love you.”
That was it. There was nothing else he could say. “I love you, too.” He waited through the torturous process of her taking her pills, and then watched her with an eagle eye while she walked back into the living room and her recliner.
She shot him a sharp look. “I’ve been getting around just fine on my own before you got back, Adam Christopher. I don’t need you hovering.”
“In that case, I’ll be going.”
He hesitated by the door and looked at his mama. She used to be larger than life, a formidable woman who stood between him and the rest of the world. And here he was, leaving her again. It didn’t matter that it was for a date instead of the rodeo, or that she was practically kicking him out the door. He should be here.
“Go, Adam.”
As always, she knew what he was thinking without him saying it. He forced a smile. He could be positive if that’s what she wanted, at least until he got some concrete answers. “Do you want me to bring anything back?”