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."I wouldn't know as I never met him.You'll have to askRig."Charlene grinned over."You don't fool me a bit, son.My boy taking good care of you?""He always does, ma'am." He nodded as they came up to the car."This is the kid s.Gotta admit,it makes for comfortable sitting."He clicked the remote to unlock the doors and put Momma's bags in the trunk.Rig got Momma settled in the front seat, then slid into the back."Are you hungry? Thirsty?Tired?"He started the car up and headed off."We can stop at a restaurant if you like.Or do take out.Orjust go home.I know Rig's got something cooking -- place smelled like heaven when we left.""What are you cooking, baby?" Momma turned to smile back at Rig."Got Swiss steak going, but it'll be ready tonight.There's lunch meat and salad stuff, too.Lots offruit." Rig grinned."Sissy said you were needing to get some vitamins."Out of the Closet 253Rock rolled his eyes and gave her a wink."Watch out, Momma, he's a nazi about those vitamins."Rig reached over, rubbed the back of his neck."Just taking care of me and mine."He rumbled a little, letting Rig know he appreciated the touch, if not the vitamins."You stocked up on the beer your Momma likes, Rig? Or do we need to stop on the way?" Heturned to Charlene."You are still allowed to have beer, right?""I.""Momma is not having any beer." Rig's voice was set and Rock knew just the look he'd have."You have liver cancer.Don't stress it.""Son, I'm dying.If I want a be.""No.""Don't you start, Jeremy Alexander.I'm still your momma." He wisely kept his own mouth shut,wishing he'd done so from the start.Then he could have picked a case up in sweet ignorance."Son.I'm not going to fight about this.I've fought with your sister, your brother.I'm tired ofbeing sick.I only have so long on this earth; I'm going to enjoy it." Man, that woman made Rigseem indecisive.He glanced in the review mirror at Rig.His cowboy's lips were pressed tight.fury showing in twohot little spots on those cheeks."You can't give up, Momma.""Rig," he said quietly, trying to catch his Rabbit's eyes.Just leave her be for a day or two, Rig.Let the beach work its magic.Rig's eyes met his in the rearview mirror, sick and sad and scared.They held the look through thestop light and then Rig took a deep breath, that hand moving on his nape again."I thought wecould drive down to Monterey one day, Momma.See the aquarium and Cannery Row.""That sounds like a great idea, Rig." He nodded, turning to give Momma a smile.Meet himhalfway old lady, because much as I like you, he's my priority and I'm not having you hurting himmore than can be helped."Oh, I'd love that." Momma nodded, offered him a smile."I want to see everything -- mostly Iwant to see the ocean and the beach and have Jim make me pancakes and play with the pups andenjoy you, baby.""Well, I can manage that, Momma." Rig's hand kept touching, stroking."And I imagine I can manage pancakes now and then.The boys bought you a special deluxe deckchair for you to sit in.They managed to buy two and I have plans to plant my ass down and254 Out of the Closetpretend to watch waves." He gave her a wink, slowing as they passed the little taco shop run by alittle old mexian lady and her husband."We getting something to go, Rig?""Yeah.Should we get something for Dick and drop it off or was he good?""He's a big boy, if he didn't bring lunch with him, he can buy something.Unless you wanted tosee the gym, Momma? I kind of figured we'd save it for a day you hadn't spent in a plane." Thatwas their Rig, always looking out for him and the kid."I think I'd like to get settled, Jim.Richard won't mind."Rig nodded and opened the door."I'll run in -- you want three steak tacos and a chicken, Blue?"He nodded and grunted."And some sopapillas.We've got vanilla ice cream at home.""I can do that." Rig waved his momma's money away."I can buy tacos for us, Momma.""Better put your order in though, Charlene, or he'll be bringing you the vegetarian ones." He gaveher a wink."He knows what I like."Rig nodded."One chicken and one pork.""Cool." He gave Rig a wink as well and then watched that sweet ass heading toward the tacoplace."Are you having impure thoughts about my son, James South?" Momma gave him a look, achuckle.Fuck, there wasn't another person on earth who could make him blush like Momma,except maybe her son, but that was for entirely different reasons."I don't believe I'm going to answer that one, Charlene." He gave her an unrepentant grin andpromptly changed the subject."How're you really feeling?""Tired.Old.I'm not going to do more chemo, Jim.You're going to have to help me make himunderstand.""It that bad?"She nodded."A year, maybe.The chemo will add a few months to that, but it'll take all I have andleave me sick as a dog.That's not how I want to end it, Jim."He nodded.He figured he could understand that.He'd seen enough men living off machines andjust wanting to die."He's a doc.He worked as a nurse a long time and he'll understand in hishead, but not in his heart, Charlene.""I know.He's a doctor and they fight until the end." Charlene shook her head."I'm tired, Jim.Out of the Closet 255Five months of this has been well.I don't want to do it.Jeremy's waiting for me, you know? Igot someone on the other side."He nodded and reached out to pat her arm [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]