Page 20 of Lone Star Longing
He sat on the chair by the edge of the bed, and pulled out the list of phone numbers Mr. Nazareth had given him. He left messages when no one answered, and he wondered if someone had put word out about the job, that it was one to be avoided.
“Let’s head over to the diner,” he said when his mother emerged from the bathroom.
“You and Lacey told me the diner delivers.” His mother reached for the remote and clicked on the TV. “I want to see what’s on cable.”
“Mom, you’re going to be spending enough time in here. Why don't we go out and see people while we have a chance?”
“Because I don't like people. Why do you think I live where I live?”
Well. He’d figured that out long ago. But the longer she was alone, the harder it was for her to be sociable. He felt like he needed to push her to be part of the town. Even if she didn't like it, really, he didn't want the town to forget about her.
“Come on, Mom. After dinner you can watch cable for days, but let’s get something to eat first.” He probably shouldn’t push it, because she was going to be rude to anyone they saw if he put her in a bad mood.
She gave him a look, but then set down the remote and picked up her purse. “Shouldn’t be too busy this early.”
He motioned for her to lead the way.
She didn't want to walk the distance, but he insisted, knowing they wouldn't save that much effort by driving over. So they walked the two blocks to the diner, and he ignored the glare she sent him when she spotted an empty parking spot right in front of the door.
She walked into the diner waving her hand furiously in front of her face. Sure, the day was warm, but the sidewalk was in the shade.
She plopped down at the table closest to the door and glared at the waitstaff, who, almost as one, turned so they could pretend not to see her.
“How long do you think it will take them to notice us and come serve us?”
“Mom. You haven’t even had time to look at the menu.”
“It’s not like they put new things on here. It’s always the same. And I know what I want.”
“Well, maybe I don’t. And I have the exterminator meeting us here in like an hour.”
“Meeting you here?”
“Well, yeah, we want to get him hired as soon as possible, and it’s too late for him to go back out there tonight to look.”
“So why do you need to meet with him? Why couldn't you just do it over the phone?”
“He wants to be paid half in advance and won’t take payment over the phone.”
“Are you crazy? Why would you pay him in advance? He won’t come out if you do that.”
“He won’t come out if I don’t."
“I won’t want to be here for an hour.”
“All right, fine, if you can’t sit here that long, then you can walk back to the motel and I will wait for him. But it needs to be done. The longer that floor is open, the worse it will be.” Honestly, at this point, he just wanted to burn the whole damn house down to get rid of those snakes. He wished Broken Wheel had apartments or something where he would feel comfortable leaving his mother. He didn't like her living out of town, but she wanted to be independent. The motel wouldn't do for long, but he wished he could find a secure place for her to live.
He was going to have to come back next week.
“Catherine! I can’t believe I’ve seen you in town twice in a week!”
Both Beck and his mother snapped their heads around as a large woman with hair an unlikely shade of black descended upon the table. She clapped a large hand on Beck’s shoulder and left it there, though every instinct in him wanted to throw it off.
“Beck, good to see you. How long has it been since you’ve been in town?”
“A while, and I’m leaving again tomorrow.”
“Oh, well, that’s not very good for your mom, now, is it? She’s out there all alone, and she’s not getting any younger.”
