Chapter 16 Reese
It’s been two days and already Jarrett’s worked my last nerve. I called Mama earlier to talk about it, considering she raised him for eighteen years. She must have some way to motivate him.
I’ve got no clue how to be a parent, especially not with someone who I barely know. I haven’t ever gotten to know him, and by the looks of it, he doesn’t want to get to know me either.
He’s holed up in the loft I let him stay in, and won’t come down.
Not for food, though I think he does when I’m gone because my cereal’s been running low since he got here, but the milk hasn’t.
I don’t know if he’s eating dry cereal to avoid me, or if he thinks I don’t cook so he’s avoiding dishes.
To be fair, I don’t cook, not usually. There’s no need to dirty up dishes for one person when I can head to the chow house and eat every meal with the trainees and my best friends.
Though this afternoon I’m heading to Mama’s house, if I’m keeping Jarrett under my roof, she and Yates have to give me some guidance before one of us loses our shit.
Finished with my crew early this morning, they all worked really hard, and I have to admit, the barrel racers this year have a real shot at being champions. Their times have been the best I’ve seen in a few seasons.
After I caught up on a few things in my office, I’m on the road to Mama’s. I wish I was heading to Goldspur Ridge to see Lucy, but I don’t want to be too pushy and lose the chance I have to get to know her.
Pulling into the drive and putting the truck in park, Yates meets me outside. His skin seems yellowed and his eyes are puffy, the skin below them sagging with age. It strikes a nerve in me I’m not ready to come to terms with.
“Jarrett’s givin’ y’all some trouble, huh?” Yates asks, leading me inside.
I shake off the nasty feelings of my parents getting old and mumble my agreement. Mama’s already making lemonade to enjoy on the back porch. I guess that’s where I get my love of my own back porch. One day, hopefully I’ll get Lucy there too, to watch the sunsets with me.
“I know he can be a challenge, but has he said anythin’ to you about the fight?” Yates asks, there’s a look of hope on his face that makes me wish I had better news.
“Not a word, he’s shut himself in my loft, only comes out when he has to, and hasn’t said a word to anyone.
” I don’t know why he came to me, other than because he knows Yates asked me to take him and I turned him down.
Just another way Jarrett can say fuck you without manning up and saying the words.
Yates sighs and takes the glass Mama offers after walking through the door. “He’s been different this last year… I never could quite put my finger on why.”
“I don’t know what to do with him,” I lean down, resting my elbows on my knees. “I mean, he won’t speak, hardly ever comes down from the loft and I know he’s recovering, but why the hell did he get in a fist fight anyway?”
All of these thoughts have circled my brain at some point, I just haven’t had anyone to talk to about it.
“I can’t speak for Jare, he’s had a rough couple of months, but he’s a good kid. I know he has the potential to be a great man…” Yates trails off with a deep sigh. “I’m not sure that I’m what he needs anymore.”
“What?” I ask, sitting up straighter to look him in the eye. “Of course he needs you, you’re his Dad.”
Yates shakes his head, “I’ve already failed one son.”
“No.” It comes out firm, hard. A word I hardly ever use when it comes to Mama and Yates.
But Yates is the best man I know. He raised me, brought me into his home without a second thought when he met Mama.
There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for him.
“Levi made his own mistakes, don’t carry those burdens for him. ”
A tear snakes down Yates’s cheek and he gives me a sad smile. “I’d carry them all, you know. If it made you boys happy. I’d carry every sin, scar, and mistake you ever made.”
“Yates,” I almost choke on his name. Even though I know what he’s saying is true, it doesn’t make it any easier to hear. Yates shouldn’t have to bear that weight.
“No, Reese,” he stops my train of thought and looks me in the eyes. “That’s what a father does, but I don’t expect you to do that for Jare. He just needs help findin’ his way in this life, and I’m afraid I’m not the person to do that for him.”
“You think I am?” I ask, jumping to my feet and running my hand through my hair. “I can hardly get him to look at me, much less talk to me.”
“Sometimes, son, all it takes is one moment,” he stands, wraps his arms around my shoulders, claps my back and steps back. “One moment to change everythin’, and I think that moment for him will happen with you.”