Chapter 11

I was so caughtup in the book I was reading that I didn’t notice anything until an older, stout woman was standing over me. Her thick dark hair was up in a mess of curls on top of her head and she assessed me with kind brown eyes. Her floral sundress and cardigan clung to her small but curvy body. Atticus stood proudly behind her.

“Bodhi, I would like you to meet my mama, Katerina,” he said quickly.

Trying to sit up, yet only managing somewhat awkwardly, I forced a smile. “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Oh, my dear, aren’t you sweet?” She laid a hand on her ample chest. “None of that ma’am business. You can call me Kat or Mama if you want.” She smiled warmly at me; she looked so familiar. “Come now, you look hungry, and I’ve brought my boys some lunch.” She helped me stand, taking in my cast, walking boot, and the folded knee walker off to the side. She was surprisingly strong for such a tiny woman, but I’d guess she would have to be to raise four boys.

“T-thank you.”

She walked me to the table and pushed Lyric out of the nearest chair with a “git” and helped me sit.

“Hey!” Lyric let out an indignant squawk at the treatment. “Oh, I see how it is. I’m going to be competing for Mama’s affections now.” Rolling his eyes halfheartedly, he flashed me a conspiratorial smirk. “Shoulda known,” he said, shaking his head and moving to get a bunch of plates from the cabinet.

“You sit here and let me feed you,” Kat added as she filled a plate with a little bit of all the deliciousness in front of me. I shot Atticus a look because I didn’t know how to take such focused attention and didn’t want to risk offending his mother.

He clapped a hand on my shoulder and leaned down, pressing his lips close to my ear. “Just roll with it. She loves taking care of people.” His breath sent shivers through me. I guess it was a family trait, taking care of people.

She placed a fully stocked plate in front of me, and I couldn’t help the thankful grin that crossed my face. “This smells amazing.” I paused to breathe in all the scents and spices. “What is it?” I asked hesitantly.

“Moussaka, with lemon potatoes and tomato keftedes and a classic Greek salad with slow-cooked lamb,” she said pointing to each mound on my plate. I’d only understood half of what she’d said but nodded and dug in. The flavors that burst on my tongue were divine, meaty, and hearty. It wasn’t like anything I’d tasted before. It was so rich and flavorsome that I cleared my plate quickly.

We all ate around the break room table with Kat and the brothers talking about this and that and nothing in particular. When most of the food was finished, Kat turned to me, her focused gaze assessing.

“So, Bodhi, what brings you to our tiny town and what in the world did my son do to you?” She tsked at my cast, which was resting on the table next to my plate.

“It was an accident, Mama!” Atticus exclaimed.

Feeling the need to protect him, I nodded. “It really was an accident. I was startled and lost my balance on the street. No one’s to blame.”

Nodding at me, she glanced—almost glared—at Atticus and Seb. “And I take it you boys are looking into getting that grate on the storm drain fixed immediately, so nothing like this happens again?” She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow at them. It was so similar to looks Atticus had given me before that I let out a snort, unable to stop it.

Atticus sent me a smirk, then looked back at his mom with a perfectly chastised expression on his face. “Yes, Mama,” he and Seb responded in perfect unison.

“You better! Now help me clean this up, and then you all need to get back to work.” Her no-nonsense attitude had all three men jumping into action as they packed the leftovers, cleared the table, and stacked the dishwasher.

“Thanks, Mama.” Lyric kissed her on the cheek as he left the room and headed into the office.

“Bye,” Seb added, and then he kissed her cheek, too, and went into the garage, leaving Atticus, me, and Kat staring at each other.

Atticus paused between me and his mom.

“Come now, back to work with you.” She nudged him to get moving. “Your friend will be fine with me. I don’t bite.”

Atticus looked hesitant but eventually sent me a cautious smile over his shoulder as he left the room.

“Would you like some coffee?” She was already pouring two cups for us at her place by the counter before I had a chance to answer her. She brought them to the table as she sat next to me.

“Thanks,” I said, reaching for one before adding cream and sugar.

“So, are you really okay, Bodhi?” Carefully, she rested her hand over mine on the table. “Has my son been taking good care of you?” She studied me like she could read my past all over my face. It was a little unnerving. I was a stranger, new in town, and had seemingly latched on to her son. I’m guessing any mother would be cautious at such an unusual occurrence.

I was overcome with the need to reassure her. “Your son is very kind and generous. Atticus has gone out of his way to help me. I truly can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done and is doing for me.”

She sent me a beaming smile, clearly proud. “Well, good, I’m glad to hear. Atticus has always been caring. When he was little, he found a baby bird in a nest at the back of our house. He waited all day to see if the momma bird would come back. When it didn’t, he hand-fed the bird and took care of it. It became his pet. Sometimes I wonder why he didn’t become a vet or do something with animals, with all the stray animals he took under his wing growing up.” Chuckling, she reminisced. I could totally see Atticus taking care of a baby bird. Caring for things seemed to be part of his makeup.

“That sounds like Atticus. What I’ve gotten to know of him, anyway.” Nervously, I smiled.

“So, as I’m sure you’ve seen, this is a small town you’ve found yourself in. I’d heard rumblings of a visitor but had no idea Atticus was the one to find you.” Patting my hand, she pulled away to sip her coffee.

Feeling my cheeks heat at the thought of people talking about me, I glanced down at my lap. “I guess not many new people come to town. I was bound to stand out.” Pausing, I glanced at my cast. “Even more now.” With a huff, I lifted my wrist in emphasis.

She laughed softly. “A few years ago, maybe not, as my boys were still causing trouble with their daredevil stunts. Not a week went by when one of them wasn’t in a cast or nursing an injury.” She cradled her coffee in both hands and chuckled at the memory of her wayward children. “But as they’ve finally grown up and out of that phase, we’ve seen very few casts here in Hope’s Ridge. So yes, you are the current hot topic at the moment.”

She was so warm and welcoming. When she talked about her boys, you could tell she loved them fiercely. Pausing, I considered what it would be like to share in that love and have someone like her in my corner. I considered, not for the first time, what my own mother might have been like.

We continued discussing the town and the mischief her boys used to get into. Well, mostly Lyric by the sound of things. Our coffees were empty before I knew it, and she was getting ready to leave.

“Well, it was lovely to meet you, Bodhi. Now, don’t be a stranger, you hear? Make that son of mine bring you around for dinner, okay?” She held eye contact until I nodded in agreement. “Good. Then I’ll be seeing you soon.” With those final words, she swept out of the room. She called out her farewells to the boys as she left.