“It’s late, Mase.” Dixie watched him warily as he walked inside her house.
“I know. Where’s Brand?”
She closed the door. “He’s asleep and I prefer he stay that way. So does he.”
He nodded and went into the living room.
“Beer?”
“You have any soda?”
“I have sweet tea.”
“That’ll do,” he said trying to picture her face. He always said yes to beer.
He plopped on the couch steering clear of the Sacred Brand Chair. Now if I can come up with the courage to open the door to the past just as easy I’ll be all set. Dixie returned and handed him a tall glass with ice tea. She held one in her other hand. Sitting beside him on the couch, with her legs tucked up under her, she took a drink.
“What’s up?”
He gave her a WTF look.
“Okay. You want to talk about Uncle Max.”
“I don’t want to but I’ve been told I need to.”
“Picky, picky. So, what do you want to know?”
He knew she was trying to make it easier for him by poking at him, trying to get a smile or at least a chuckle. But he wasn’t up for it.
“Everything.”
She scoffed. “Nice way to pin it down for me.”
“Carol said you’d talked to Mom…after.”
“Yeah.”
He twisted to face her. “I want, uh, need to know why. Why did he kill himself? What was going on in his life that made him so unhappy? Why—” He stopped before his voice could crack. He wanted to ask how Uncle Max could leave them, leave him, like that.
“You never talked to Mom or Dad about Max, did you?” He shook his head. “You were too mad to ask. Mom said you didn’t speak for a week after the funeral. Before that you wouldn’t stop asking questions.”
“I didn’t ask any questions.”
She gave him a pitying look. “Why would Mom make that up? She had no reason.”
He nodded.
“You were only five, Mason. You were curious, she said. When you finally realized he wasn’t coming back, you shut down. Mom and Dad worried about you so much they almost sent you to a psychologist. But you started to come around, started to play again.” She poked him in the side. “Just in time, too.”
“I don’t think I’d’ve done well with a therapist.”
“We all know that,” she muttered before taking another sip of tea.
“What did I ask?”
“Oh, I think Mom said you asked when he was coming back, why was he so grouchy lately.” She looked directly at him now. “You wanted to know why we got a new second base and why the ball field had been raked and new lines put down.”
“I wanted to know about the ball field?”
“According to Mom.” She paused. “Don’t forget, Mase, you were five! You played T-ball on that field. Kids that age don’t understand the rules of baseball any better than they understand death.”
Not sure what to make of what he’d learned, he fast-forwarded the conversation. “What about when I got older?”
“Older? What do you mean?”
“Did I ever ask about Uncle Max as I grew up?”
“Hmm,” she said. “I don’t know. She didn’t mention any other questions.”
“Then why was I so angry?” His voice was rising but he couldn’t help it. “Why did I think he did it because of me? Why did he say I’d understand one day!”
She was shocked. “He said that to you? When?”
Mason was frozen inside. Memories came flooding back. Uncle Max reading a wake-up story one morning. Uncle Max telling him he had to go away but he’d see him again one day. Uncle Max ruffling his hair and saying he was just a kid but one day he’d understand.
“Oh, God.” Mason covered his face. “He did say good-bye.” Fighting tears as more memories came back, his breath hitched.
Dixie slid closer and pushed his head on her shoulder. She hugged him. “Let it out Mason. Don’t keep holding it in.”
He took her advice.
* * *
He woke slowly. His head hurt. His eyes burned and his sinuses were stuffed up. He was seriously tempted to go right back to sleep but he didn’t know where he was.
Sounds from the kitchen brought it all back. “Crap.” He’d bawled like a baby on his little sister’s shoulder while she comforted him. “Double crap.” Pushing in the footer of the recliner, he wondered how emotional people lived feeling like this.
Dixie walked in. “You’re awake. How are you feeling?”
“This is worse than any hangover I’ve had.”
Dixie laughed. “Here,” she said offering him a cup of coffee.
“Thanks.” He took the cup, tested the heat and drank some down. “Perfect. Where’s the rest of the gallon?”
She laughed again.
“Where’s Brand? I hope he didn’t see me in his Sacred Chair.” It felt good being pissy about something.
“He’s gone to work. I told him I put you there and he didn’t need it this morning.”
“What else did you tell him?”
She got that gleam in her eye.
“Dixie.”
“Okay. Truth. I told him you had some questions about our Uncle Max’s death and I answered some of them.”
“Some of them?”
The sparkle in her eye dimmed. “Mom and Dad know more. And I think you should talk to them.”
He was afraid of that. Not sure he needed more information this morning, he shook his head. “Maybe later.”
“I was only one when Max died and a teenager when Mom talked to me about the whole thing. I’ve learned more since then but Mom said if you asked to tell you to talk to her.” When he remained silent, she continued. “You deserve to know, Mason. You’ll know and understand.”
He got to his feet. “I’ll think about it. You have an extra razor and toothbrush?”
She sighed. “Under the sink in the bathroom.”
Walking away, he wondered how long she’d hold out before hounding him to call his mother. He took care of his personal business and was drying his freshly shaved face when there was a knock on the door. He opened it.
“Didn’t take you…” He looked down at Harry. “Don’t tell me you learned how to knock.”
Carol came into view. “Morning,” she said tentatively.
“Good morning to you, too,” he said as he leaned toward her for a kiss. She looked down at Harry then bent down to move his collar. Huh. Finished with the towel, he tossed it next to the bathtub.
Carol watched it land in a lump.
“All right,” he quipped. Picking up the towel he made sure she saw him hold it above the hamper and put it inside.
“Better,” she said.
Mason peeked around Carol this time. “Where’s Dix?”
“She, uh, headed for the kennel when I showed up.”
“Huh.” He wasn’t sure his grand response was due to knowing Dixie left him and Carol alone or the fact he found himself ruffling Harry’s ears. He straightened.
“You’re moving easier,” Carol observed.
“I heal pretty quick.”
She lifted an eyebrow then grinned as he frowned.
“I did have the delight of adding a little whiplash to my bruises.”
Her grin shut down. “I’ve been in touch with my insurance company and they are going to pay up as soon as you let them know where to send the check.”
“Hey, I didn’t mean that.”
“Okay, but where do I tell them to send the check?”
“Tell them I own a garage and will fix it myself. I’ll send them a quote as soon as I get back there.”
She nodded and turned to the living room. “Harry.”
Mason followed Harry. See? I can learn.
“I wanted to ask how your back was doing this morning.”
“You could have called,” he said straightening yesterday’s T-shirt. It was caught up behind his back. The sound of the door brought his head up. He was alone. Thinking about what he said, he cursed under his breath. He opened the door and stepped out to see Harry greeting Dixie. He trotted over.
“Hey, Carol. I thought you left.”
“I will be very shortly.”
“Look. I misspoke. I was trying to say you didn’t have to go to the trouble of coming over.”
“I know what you said.” Carol turned back to Dixie who looked, uh-oh, disappointed.
Switching tactics, he put on a smile. “Why don’t I buy both you ladies breakfast?”
“I had breakfast,” Dixie said.
“I eat at the hotel so I don’t leave Harry in the car.”
“Well, since my sister has eaten, and it seems you haven’t, why don’t we go back to the resort and have breakfast?” he asked Carol.
She hesitated then turned back to Dixie. Mason was afraid he’d lost out on breakfast.
“I’ll see you soon, Dixie,” Carol said as she hugged his sister. She turned to him.
“May I escort you to your car?” he asked.
Dipping her head, she led Harry to the car. Mason hurried ahead. He opened the door and Harry jumped in ahead of Carol. He closed the door and leaned in.
“I’ll see you soon.” Before she could react, he gave a quick kiss.
She pulled out and he watched her drive away. He turned to his car but saw Dixie standing by the kennel door. She had a knowing look on her face. He went over to her.
“Thanks, Dix. I appreciate everything you did for me last night.” He hugged her, kissed her cheek and hopped into his car. He had some place to be.