“Did your father show you the deathtrap on two wheels he has sitting in the shop?” his mom asked as Braden put the milk in the fridge.
“It’s not a deathtrap, woman. It’s a badass machine. Isn’t it, Braden?” his father replied, before getting a swat on the arm from his mom.
“It should be illegal to say ‘badass’ after the age of sixty,” she told him. “And don’t call me ‘woman.’”
Braden laughed at them both as he moved toward the dish drain to help put dishes away. He loved his parents. Knew he was damn lucky to have them.
“I have to agree with Dad on this one, Ma. It’s a Harley.”
“I’m not speaking to you anymore.” She stirred something on the stove.
His dad laughed, plucked a glass out of Braden’s hand, and said, “Wes is a good man. I like him.” Then he filled his glass with water and left the kitchen.
“It really does worry me, Brady.” She crossed her arms, using the nickname only his mom sometimes used. Braden nodded at her to come to him, and she did.
“He’ll be okay. I don’t even know if he really wants to ride it. I think he just likes saying he has it. And if he does, you know he’ll be careful.” Braden nudged her. “Plus, you have a few months before you have to worry about it much, anyway. I could always take it off his hands if you want.”
She rolled her eyes. “What am I going to do with you Roth boys?”
Braden turned back toward the sink, packing the glasses from the drain into the cabinet next to it. As he worked he saw Wes and Jessie through the window. Wes would carry both Jess and the sled up the hill before riding back down with them again. He got this heaviness in his chest. Nothing uncomfortable, but a good kind of ache.
“You’re in love with him.” His mom stood beside him, their arms touching.
“Maybe.” Probably. “How do I know?”
“Your mama tells you.”
He let out a deep breath, but smiled, too.
“Sorry. Ask silly questions and you’ll get a silly answer. You do, and you know you do. I see it in the way you look at him. But I think you’ve known for a while.”
Braden stood there, still watching them. “I respect the hell out of him. He puts everyone before himself. He loves that little girl with everything he has. He makes me feel good. Making him smile makes me feel good, because he does it more with me than anyone else. I feel settled with them. Not sure I’ve ever felt settled in my whole life.”
His mom hooked her arm through his and leaned on his shoulder. “I’m not sure you have, either.”
They both knew it wasn’t because Braden wasn’t happy, or hadn’t always been. He’d just always been looking for something, even when he didn’t know what. Maybe he did now. “Does it bother you?” he asked her after a minute of silence.
“Braden Jeffrey Roth, I can’t believe you even asked me that. You know all we’ve ever wanted is for our kids to be happy. And it’s not like we haven’t known this for a very long time.”
“Yeah, but you always knew there was the possibility of a woman, too. You knew I dated mostly women. It’s one thing to know I like men, too, and another to know I’m in love with one.”
“In whose book?” She hugged his arm tighter. “Not in ours, and not in yours, either. You know that, Brady. I just want you to be able to look back when you’re my age and be as happy as I am. We’ll love whoever can give you that, and we’ll kick anyone’s ass who can’t.”
He looked down at her. “Don’t let Jess hear you talk like that.”
“Would never happen. Unlike you, I know when to open my mouth and when not to.”
With his other hand, Braden held her arm. Jessie and Wes went racing down the hill again, Wes walking up it slower and slower each time. Jessie didn’t look like she was going to tire at any second.
“You’re right. I don’t know why I asked that. I’m feeling a little out of my element, and that’s never happened before. I didn’t expect this.” He didn’t know if Wes would want it. “He has a lot he’s dealing with right now. I’ve been known to push, Ma. I don’t wanna push if he’s not ready.”
“You’ll do the right thing. We may tease you, but when it comes down to it, you always do the right thing. It’s just who you are.” She patted his hand and then pulled away. “Now get dressed and go out there and help the poor boy. She’s going to wear him into the ground if you don’t. You guys are going to have your hands full with that girl. You mark my words.” She winked at him, and Braden wondered if she thought Wes might love him, too.