with Conner bringing up the rear. None of them spoke until they were in the air-conditioned interior of the coffee shop. Conner located a table and indicated to Mikey that he should take a seat.
“What can I get you both?” Conner asked.
Well aware that he was a spare wheel, Conner was keen to give them as much time together as possible. His leg was aching; his temperature was climbing, and if Beth’s son continued to disrespect his mother, Conner might just have something to say about it.
He joined the line, mentally repeating the coffee orders, and waited patiently for his turn, one eye monitoring the intense conversation going on at his table. Even from a distance he could tell that things weren’t going well. Mikey had crossed his arms over his chest and was leaning back in his chair while Beth was gesticulating wildly and getting pink in the face.
Man, he was glad he hadn’t had kids.
By the time he reached the table, a frosty silence had descended. He sat down and distributed the drinks.
“Thanks, Conner.” Beth offered him a tight smile. “Mikey says Sean set up the visitor approval thing and that he’s planning on visiting him Saturday.”
“Okay.” Conner sipped his drink and let the caffeine roll through him before taking a couple of painkillers.
“Why are you telling him?” Mikey asked. “He’s not part of our family.”
Beth opened her mouth and then abruptly stood up. “Excuse me. I’ve got to let everyone back home know that we found you, and I really need to use the bathroom.”
Conner looked up as he caught the hint of tears in her voice. From the stricken look on Mikey’s face as she turned away, so did her son.
As Mikey added way too much sugar to his coffee, Conner considered what to do. It was none of his business, but seeing Beth upset hurt his soul.
“She’s really mad at me, isn’t she?” Mikey broke the silence.
“I think she’s madder at your father for putting you both in this position.”
“He’s trying to change and all she can say is that he’s a bad guy and a loser.”
“That’s her truth.” Conner shrugged. “Just because you don’t feel the same doesn’t make it wrong. She lived with the man, she protected you from his rage when you were a kid and she’s trying to protect you now.”
“So, you think I should just go back home like some kind of loser just to make her happy?”
“Not my job to tell you what to do.” Conner raised an eyebrow. “I’m just asking you to show some respect for the woman who raised you.”
Mikey’s cheeks reddened and he looked down at his drink as Beth returned to the table.
“Ted and Wes were pleased to hear you were okay,” she reported as she sat down, her voice unnaturally cheerful. “Wes said several other things, but most of them aren’t repeatable in polite company.”
Mikey checked his phone. “Is it okay if I go use the bathroom before I return to the bus station?” He pointed at his backpack. “I’ll leave this here so that you know I won’t run out on you.”
When Mikey was out of earshot, Conner reached across the table and took Beth’s hand.
“You holding up okay?”
“Not really.” She grimaced. “Legally he’s an adult, so I can’t force him to come home with me.”
“You know I could knock him out without anyone noticing.”
“Thanks, but I don’t think that will work.” She straightened her spine. “I guess I’ll just have to try the begging and mom guilting again.”
Conner studied their linked hands and then looked up at her.
“How about you just let him get on the bus?”
She stared back at him, her eyes widening. “I thought you were on my side.”
“I am.”
She tried to ease her fingers free and he held on to them. “Let him meet the guy, let him make his own mistakes.”
“You just don’t get it, do you? When he wants to be, Sean is really persuasive and charming. What if Mikey falls for that?”
Conner frowned. “Do you think he will?”
“I did.” This time she managed to pull out of his grasp and sat back, her arms folded. “Mikey’s at a very vulnerable age, he—”
“But you brought him up, and he’s had great role models since you moved back to Morgantown.” Conner wasn’t willing to back down. “Why won’t you give him a chance to prove it?”
She raised her chin and glared at him. “I know I’ve said this before, but I’m really starting to prefer it when