Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
HUDSON
I played Nash’s words on repeat the entire drive to my momma’s house. I couldn’t deny Nash was right—Kenna wouldn’t listen unless she wanted to, and that was what worried me. I hoped her fleeing this morning had more to do with her family and less to do with me, but I wasn’t so sure. Not after the night we’d shared. And not when I was set to leave in a week, theoretically leaving her behind. That was the last thing I wanted.
What I needed was to show her how good we were together, but if she’d already begun shutting me out, I had my work cut out for me.
After parking in my momma’s driveway, I shot off a quick text to Caleb, letting him know I would be out to the cabin later this morning to help finish up the shingles and make sure CB wasn’t causing too much trouble.
I still had to figure out what the hell I was going to do with that dog. Whenever I’d pictured myself having a dog, it was always a massive, protective breed. A German shepherd or a mastiff. Never a tiny fluff ball I could lift in the palm of my hand.
And yet, the thought of sending CB to the shelter without anyone lined up to adopt her had my chest tightening with unease. I needed to bring her into the vet’s office and see if she was microchipped. Maybe she had a family waiting for her, and all my concern over what to do with her would be a moot point.
Without knocking, I let myself into the back door of my childhood home. “Momma?”
She popped her head around the corner from the living room, a huge smile brightening her face. “Hey you.” With her arms held wide, she strode toward me before engulfing me in a hug.
I returned her embrace, breathing in the scent of home, and squeezed her a little tighter. The whole situation with Kenna’s daddy had dredged up some unpleasant memories I would rather forget. Like when my momma had been the one in the hospital bed and I’d been thousands of miles away, desperate to give anything to be by her side.
I was so damn grateful she was still here with us. That I still had someone waiting on me to come home.
“You all right?” she asked.
All I could do was hum in acknowledgment, because what else was there? Somehow, in the short time I’d been home, a hope I’d been valiantly trying to ignore had crept up until it was a constant buzz in the background of my thoughts. The trouble was, it was a hope I couldn’t have. Not now. Not yet.
She gripped my shoulders and held me at arm’s length, looking up into my eyes. “You get Mac all squared away? How’s her daddy doin’?”
“He’s all right. The surgery took longer than expected because of some complication with the bypass, but he was in recovery when we left last night. The doctor seemed to think he’ll be back to bein’ an asshole soon enough.”
She gasped and tried to cover up her laughter with a cough. “Hudson Matthew…I can’t believe you said that about a hospital-ridden man.”
Resting my ass against the kitchen counter, I crossed my arms over my chest and shrugged. “Him bein’ in the hospital doesn’t change the fact that he’s an ass, Momma. You know it. I know it. The whole damn town knows it.”
“Well.” She clucked her tongue and picked some piece of imaginary lint off the front of my shirt. “Still.”
At my chuckle, she finally broke into a smile. Though it melted from her lips after only a moment as she rested her fingers on my forearm. “And Mac?”
Blowing out a deep breath, I scrubbed a hand down my face. “That’s what I’m here for, actually. I was hopin’ you’d be able to help me with something.”
She pulled out the chair at the dining table and patted the seat next to her. “Let’s see what we can do. What’s goin’ on?”
I spun the other chair around and straddled it backward, resting my folded arms over the top. “She’s stressin’ herself out—puttin’ too much pressure on herself. She thinks she doesn’t bring any value to her family—or anyone, if I was readin’ between the lines correctly.”
“Well, that’s nonsense.”
“That’s what I tried tellin’ her, but she wouldn’t listen.”
“And what’re you hoping to do?”
“I…” I blew out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know. I wanna help her however I can and make her life a little easier, but she’s too damn stubborn to ask for what she needs.”
“You might know another woman like that,” she said dryly, clearly referring to herself. “I hate askin’ for help?—”
“You don’t say.”
“Hush now.” She batted her hand at me. “But even without my askin’, your daddy always knew.”
My interest was piqued now. While we’d never shied away from talking about my father, it’d been nearly two decades since he’d died, and as the years had passed, the stories became fewer and fewer.
“He did?”
“Mhmm. It was little things, you know? Like always makin’ sure to schedule house or car maintenance so I didn’t have to deal with callin’ to set up appointments. Or never leavin’ me with an empty tank of gas.
“Even when he was deployed, he found ways. I remember one time—it was right after Lilah was born. He’d gotten leave for a couple weeks, and after he left, I had no idea how I was gonna handle two kids under four all by myself. He hadn’t even been gone for twenty-four hours when the first casserole showed up. Roseanne—you remember her? She used to live across the street when y’all were little. Anyway, she claimed friendliness, but when it happened every night for the next month—a different friend or neighbor deliverin’ food each time—I knew it was all him.”
I couldn’t even fathom how difficult it must’ve been for her to take on one hundred percent of the parenting and household responsibilities while my dad was deployed. And yet she’d done it. Without hesitation—or maybe there was hesitation…I wasn’t sure. But she did it, nonetheless. No doubt because she’d loved my dad.
Would Kenna do the same for me?
I cleared my throat, not yet willing to ask that question aloud. “So you’re sayin’ I should give her food.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m sayin ’ you should give her what she needs.”
“That’s the whole problem, Momma. I don’t know what she needs.”
“Aw, come on now, Hudson. You’re an intelligent man. I’m quite certain you can figure it out.”
No doubt my momma wasn’t suggesting I give Kenna orgasms, but I couldn’t deny that was the first thought that’d popped into my head. Orgasms, I could do. I’d give her five a day if she’d stick around long enough to receive them.
But Kenna needed more than that. I racked my brain for any mention of things she’d said casually since I’d been there—small tasks I could do that might make her life a little bit easier to handle while she dove into this new role. That was when inspiration struck, and I leaned forward to kiss my mom on the cheek.
“You’re a genius, Momma.” I stood and strode toward the back door. “Can I use your kitchen a little later? I’ve got a few things to do, then I have some pies to finish up.”
“Of course, sweetheart. I’ll be home.”
With a nod, I let myself out and headed to my truck. I typed out a quick text to Caleb as I walked.
Hudson:
Change of plans. Bring CB and meet me at Kenna’s place.
I texted Caleb the address, then tossed my phone on the passenger’s seat and started up my truck. The day during which I’d planned to spend shingling the cabin had suddenly taken a detour, though I couldn’t find it in myself to care.
Kenna needed me, whether she vocalized that or not, and I’d be damned if I was going to let her down. While Kenna was busy taking care of everyone else, I’d make sure to take care of her.