“What look?” Hya shouted and everyone jumped.
“Like something wasn’t right with the woman and from that day on my mom never tried to be close with her. Hell, she’d cross the street just to keep her distance.” Noah told them.
Arissa felt the blood drain from her face before she whispered, “She’s still toeing that line, used the same argument on me when she learned I wanted to feature Hank’s home in the magazine. And honestly, I’d cross the street to avoid her too.” She leaned back in her chair. “What the hell is she hiding?” Her focus shifted to Noah. “He misses you. Maybe when you have time you could come home. I think Hank is going to need his friend when this is all said and done.”
Noah smiled. “Yeah, I think I’ll make a plan to come out soon.”
“I have a place you can stay.” Arissa said thinking of her place that was sitting empty most of the time. “You just let me know when and I’ll make sure the place is ready for you.”
“We’ll just get some extra keys made,” Hya said. “You know southern hospitality and all.” She winked.
“Absolutely,” Maureen said, leaning closer to the screen. “I’ll just be across the street, Sugar,”
“And I’m just down it,” Millie shouted.
Arissa didn’t hide her smile, particularly at the look that swept Noah’s face. “Or maybe you’ll want to find a place yourself.”
Noah was shaking his head. “The fucking Belles, still the same.”
Arissa laughed out loud. “You sound just like Hank. Those words come out of his mouth several times a day.”
Noah chuckled thinking of his friend having to deal with the Belles on a daily basis. Hell, it hadn’t been more than thirty minutes and his mind was fucking spinning.
When the call ended, Hya tapped on the screen. “He’s gone? I was enjoying looking at him.” Glancing around at the others she said, “Seriously, did you see him? That boy grew up fine.”
Agreement moved around the room before Millie stood. “I think we should hit Moe’s.”
Sex and alcohol went hand in hand to Hya’s way of thinking. And after their chat with that sexy Noah, a bottle of Jack sounded just right. She stood and gestured with her cane. “Lead the way.”
* * *
Jo stood from the chair flanking Hank’s desk and flung her arms up in the air. “I can’t believe I missed all this.” She stopped her flailing and leveled her eyes on Hank. “I wanna be mad at you, I do, but shit, Boss.” She let those words hang there.
“I know,” Hank muttered.
Jo dropped back into the seat, the plush cushion all of a sudden felt like a brick underneath her. “You have any thoughts on what’s going on?”
Hank shrugged. “Nope.” He turned in his chair and looked outside. “I’ve been their whole world for thirty-six years.” He turned back and looked at Jo. “They know Arissa’s it, they know I’m gonna be building a life with her. Think my mom is having a rough time with it—”
“For years,” Jo added, cutting him off.
Hank nodded, agreeing with Jo and went on. “Maybe I should look into getting her help.”
“What kinda help you talking?” Jo asked, drawing her brows wondering if there was more that Hank wasn’t letting on to.
“Therapy,” he told her and let that sit for a beat. “Maybe I should invite her to the barbecue too, you know make her feel involved.”
Jo drew her lips into a tight line and let out a breath. “My sister, you know the one up in Anville, she had separation anxiety when her kids went off to college. Best thing for her was time alone with her husband. She needed to learn to be alone.” Jo softened her voice. “Something your mom needs to learn.”
Hank let out a breath. Jo was right and he told her so. “You’re right. So no invite.”
“No.” She shook her head. “She needs to learn that she can’t be there for every part of your life, Boss. My momma learned that with me when she came to a house party I threw and saw me dancing on a table.”
Hank gave a small chuckle. “That ain’t bad.”
Jo rose from her seat. “It is if you’re topless.”
Hank shook his head with a grin.
“We’ll hold the fort down here.” Her voice got soft when she told him. “You go. Do what you need to, find out who Hank Weathers is because we need you.”
Hank smiled at her as she made her way out the door. “Thanks.”
She poked her head in. “But you tell that girl of yours I want updates…daily.”
Hank laughed. “Will do.”
* * *
Hank tossed his cell into the cup holder harder than normal. He’d left work early after talking with Jo. He couldn’t do his job to his fullest potential with all the missing pieces of his life’s puzzle looming just out of reach, but just when he thought he was going to have a night off from the bullshit, a night of burgers, beers, his girl, friends, and the company of the crazies, he was wrong. Arissa had called him and told him something happened at work, and the worried edge of her voice had him racing home. He pulled down his drive and folded out of his truck. He hadn’t even taken two steps up onto the deck when Arissa came storming out of the door.
She walked right into him for a hug but he felt her body shaking. “Someone
