Page 28 of Leading the Blind
“You’re Coke Pharris. You just are, man.” No one would ever be Gramps. No one.
Coke chuckled. “Whatever that means. Okay, y’all get rest tonight. We’ll talk in the morning.”
“Sure. Sure, you going to hang out then?”
“We’re going to pick up a bill of groceries. I’ll get a couple briskets.”
“Ooooeee.” He made the Beau Lafitte noise, just because that was what Beau would say to brisket.
“Very nice. Y’all have something for supper?”
“Uh.” They probably had a box of mac and cheese.
“You want we should grab y’all tacos and drop ‘em off?”
“Thank you. That would be great, man.” He handed Coke a few bills. “Can you bring us some Cokes?”
“What kind? Dr Pepper?”
“Yeah.”
“Got it.” Dillon plucked the money from Coke’s hand. “We’ll be back.”
“Good deal. I appreciate it.” He headed off, hunting his man. He found Jason on the back porch in a rocker, Benji in his lap, along with the twins in a carrier at his feet.
“Hey, you,” Jason said softly.
“Heard me coming, huh?”
“Always.”
The single word made the pit of his belly ache.
“You got roped into babysitting?”
“I told them I’d sit here while they were changing the babies’ beds and stuff. Apparently there was drama.”
“Ah.” He sank down in a chair next to Mini. “Coke and Dill are getting tacos.”
“Rock on. Crispy beef?”
“No, soft chicken,” he teased. “You know I got your back.”
“You do. You so do.” Jason grinned at him. “I got me a Benji.”
“He’s pooped, huh? All the excitement.” Poor kid tired out fast—maybe faster than he used to.
“I guess? He might be getting a cold. He has a little wheeze.”
“Aw, man. You better tell Missy.” With Benj, colds could be bad.
“Yeah, when I see her.” Jason grinned in his direction again, looking happy as a pig in slop.
“Ha ha. You’re so funny.” He did laugh, though, because he had to. “Coke wants to powwow in the a.m., but he’s giving us tonight off.”
“Well, thank God for favors, large and small.”
Ooh, Mini was a little snippy now.
