2. Lawson

TWO

"What do you mean Juniper is sick and again?" I ask my mom after she announces she'll be bringing Juni food after breakfast.

"Just what I said. She called out yesterday. Today, she's feeling a little better, but I told her to keep her tail in bed until she was one hundred percent better. Darn girl wouldn't admit defeat till I threatened her." Mom is unconcerned. Meanwhile, my stomach drops damn near to my boots with worry. Used to be we'd bicker back and forth with one another, but ever since that night at the bar, she's been avoiding me. It'd give me a complex except our relationship has never been on steady ground. The worst part of the situation is my memory. Trey told me Juniper gave me a ride home using my truck and I do recall having my arm slung over her shoulder as I guided her to where I was parked. It was the getting me home and in bed where memories got fuzzier. A damn shame, too, because I'm pretty sure that's why Juniper has been avoiding me at all costs. I walk into a room, she walks out. I go to say something, she finds someone else to start a conversation with, closing down any type of talking. I'm a damn patient man, but now hearing Juniper is sick, that's enough for me to drive my ass to her house, pick her up, and take her to the damn doctor.

"And no one thought she should see a physician?" I drop my plate on the counter, appetite gone, and pissed as hell. The room goes silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Mom, Dad, Ryland, his son, Case, Trey, Dean, Lane, and JW, I'm getting the look like I've sprouted a second head. "What?" No one says anything. I'm ready to walk out the door when Case chooses that moment to clear the air. Literally, the loudest fart a baby in a diaper can make echoes through the kitchen. Trey is holding him in his arms, attempting not to gag.

"He's all yours. See ya later, bud," Trey says before passing him off to Ry. Dad shakes his head, attempting to hide a chuckle under his fist he has pressed over his mouth.

"Well, talk about a moment killer. So, why are you so up in arms over Juniper?" Dad asks, a smirk tipping his lips as he now attempts to use his coffee mug to hide behind. This damn family. You can't help but love them, except you can still find them annoying as hell.

"She's fine, Lawson. A couple of days off work and she'll be back to normal. Juniper has yet to take so much as a vacation day, and don't get me started on her stubbornness. I told her to take the rest of the week off, but she wouldn't hear of it."

"Yeah, Lawson. She's fine." Trey comes up beside me, knocking his shoulder into mine. I bite my tongue, trying not to take the bait. JW shakes his head, telling me to keep on doing what I'm doing. He's got a sweet tooth for the baker, Maeve. He tries to keep things quiet for the most part but will slip up occasionally. Which is probably why he's telling me to calm my shit. Go figure. My younger brother is helping his older brother.

"You can take her the chicken noodle soup, crackers, drinks, and the basket of goodies. I was going to yesterday, only Juniper asked me to stay away in case she was contagious." Mom takes a break in her conversation. I watch as she fills up Dad's plate. He insists she doesn't have to do it for him, but Mom enjoys taking care of people. It's what she does and since most of us are out of the house, she took over doing it for Dad. The smorgasbord she cooks every morning for us always has eggs, a meat of some sort, and something else. Today it"s sausage patties and waffles. I make a to-go plate in case hunger hits me later. I'm tempted to pass on breakfast except I'll be working through lunch, and the last thing I want to do is starve all day. My preferred clearly isn't on the menu today, but the week is still young. Mom makes the best biscuits and gravy. All of us boys have a favorite, and we usually get ours occasionally. And when it's your birthday, she'll go all out with whatever you want.

"We already know he wants to," Trey snickers. My eyes lock on his, letting him know I'll be getting him back for this shit when he least expects it. The rest of my brothers keep their expressions locked down, each of them looking down at their plates.

"Knock it off, Trey, or you can eat your breakfast outside." Mom doesn't hesitate to put him in his place. I'd laugh if Mom wouldn't threaten the same for me, and it's already getting hot outside. The last thing I want to do is sweat my balls off before going to work where I'll sweat until I'm done for the day.

"I'm outta here. Birdie is at home and working. Mind if I bring her a plate?" Lane asks the group. Usually, she's here with him. Looks like Tallulah isn't making an appearance either, though. She's probably already on a call or sleeping if she got called in the middle of the night.

"I'd be more upset if you didn't," Mom replies. "What about Tully? Are you making her a plate?" Dean shakes his head.

"Nope, she's on a call. Told me to make her a sandwich instead, and she'd snack on it when she could." Sounds about right. Tallulah won't let an animal wait, and Dean wouldn't make her feel obligated to come to breakfast over her work as a vet.

"Alright." Mom hands Dad his plate. I watch as she busies herself making her own plate, this one a fuck of a lot smaller than Dad"s, before she takes her place beside him.

I decide to make another cup of coffee. Mom and everyone else may not be worried about Juniper, but I sure as fuck am. "Where's the food for Juniper? I'll take it to her on my way out." My back is to the room. Ryland took Case to the other room to change what I'm sure was one of his rancid diapers. The kid may be small, but what comes out of him is that of a grown-ass man.

"Lawson, sit down, eat breakfast, and then you can bring Juniper everything. There's no need getting there while the roosters crow and wake the poor girl up," Dad says. It's going against every fiber of my being not to say fuck it and sort through the fridge and pantry to grab everything I need.

"Law, we gotta talk for a minute anyways," JW says quietly, coming to stand beside me. I look his way after my cup of coffee is poured and about to meet my lips. I quirk an eyebrow as he tilts his head to the side, meaning we'll talk in the office out in the barn.

"Alright." I return a nod of my own, already knowing as soon as the kitchen is cleared, I'll be hounding Mom until she gives me everything I need to take to Juniper. JW can wait until tomorrow to talk about whatever needs talking about. Juni can't.