Page 84 of Break the Barrier

I frown for a moment before I realize that means Thea could come over again. A prickle of guilt settles over me at how excited that thought makes me.

“Why do you need Lue?” I ask, telling myself to not jump the gun.

Mom worries her hands, and I observe her for a moment. “I think it’d be good for your brother to have her around for a bit.”

I still for a moment before I pinch my eyes closed.

Mitch.

How the hell did I let it escape me that my brother was home again? And not only that, but he’s not himself.

“I didn’t realize he was still here.”

Mom nods. “He is…but he’s not coping.”

“What can we do?”

“Oh hon,” Mom starts, crossing her arms and looking more stressed than I’ve seen her for a good, long while. “If you or I try to bombard him, he’ll just close himself off. He doesn’t want to talk, doesn’t want to go to church or town with me. I had to guilt him into coming to the wedding.”

“I thought he came home for the wedding.”

“No.” She purses her lips. “Something’s happened. I just don’t know what.”

I stick my thumbs in my front pockets. “Have you talked to Jax?”

If he talked to anyone, it would have been Jax.

“Haven’t had time. I’ll give him a ring in the morning.”

I nod my head and look over at my daughter, who’s laughing with her cousins. “Well, it’s up to Lue, but if she wants to come over, she can.”

“Thanks, hon.” Mom looks over at the porch, and I follow her gaze to Thea. “Plus, I think you two could use a little more alone time.”

My mother, my go to church every Sunday, read her Bible, mind your manners mother, wiggles her damn eyebrows.

I feel my mouth drop open, and a shocked laugh bursts from my mouth. “Mama.”

“What?” She raises her hands in the air. “I was young once.”

“Okay.” I wave a hand. “I don’t want to know.”

With that, my mom laughs and leaves me standing there, unsure if I know my mother at all.

30

thea

“Lue,I know practice is important, but I’ve never seen someone memorize something so thoroughly.”

The almost fourteen-year-old looks at me, and I see the set of stubbornness in her jaw that she clearly got from her father. I almost smile.

“It never hurts to be prepared.”

“You’re right.” I nod, leaning against the table.

We sit at one of the open tables in the middle of the bar. The August heat pushes people indoors, including the bar, for something cold to drink.

I watch out to make sure my sisters don’t need any help before turning back to Lue.