“Things still rough?” I asked in a low voice.
He nodded. “At this point I feel like I’m just walking on eggshells. She’s unhappy, and I don’t think I can fix it.”
“What does she say?”
“That I’m not listening to her. But I’m trying.”
Listening had never been Mason’s best quality. He was the talker, the doer, while I sat back and watched and listened. Probably why I got better grades and he excelled more at sports.
I wasn’t sure I could offer much advice. “Have you talked about therapy?”
He huffed. “I suggested that once and she accused me of being resentful of her going back to work full time.”
“Are you?”
He shot me a look of disbelief. “Seriously?”
I shrugged. “Just asking.”
“No. Not at all. But I thinkshe’sunhappy about working full time again and just can’t or won’t admit it. And I just don’t know what else to say or do to make it better. I feel like everything I do is the wrong thing.”
“I’m sorry, man.” I didn’t really know what else to say, so we both remained quiet until Shelby and Dani approached.
“Uncle Seth,” the little ball of energy called. “Did you see my cartwheel?”
“I did. You’re getting so good at those.”
“I’ve been practicing.”
“I bet.” I stood and stretched. “I better get going.”
“Aww, man. Do you have to?” she pouted.
“Yeah. I have to work early tomorrow.”
“Fine.” She crossed her arms with a huff.
I knelt down to her level. “Hey, how about I come visit one day later in the week and we go get ice cream?” Since she was with my parents while Mason and Shelby were at work, and she didn’t start school for another week, I could easily come visit on Wednesday or Thursday when I was off.
“Promise?”
“I promise I’ll try.”
“Okay.” She gave me a hug and then ran inside.
I said my goodbyes to Mason and Shelby and started my drive home. A smile pulled at my lips as I thought about tomorrow and the softball game. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to seeing Violet.
Chapter Nineteen
SETH
“Wantto swing by the softball game?” I glanced over at Logan as he pulled the rig away from the possible gas leak call we’d just finished with.
He looked over at me with a raised brow. “Seriously?”
“Why not?” I’d figured he’d want to stop by at some point and cheer on the team. But maybe not. He was more like me than the other guys. Neither of us preferred large social situations over small groups of people. But I didn’t make a habit of breaking promises if I could avoid it. “I told Violet we’d try to stop by.”
He chuckled. “Right. Violet.”
