Page 85 of The Best Shot

“How you feeling?” he asked CeeCee.

His voice had gone gentle but that was par for the course. If he wanted something, he could morph to get it.

“Fine,” CeeCee said, not looking at him.

“You doing okay with work?” he asked. “Being on your feet all day can’t be easy.”

She kept her face neutral. “I’m managing.”

Mama came back with his plate and set it down in front of him.

“Eat something first,” she said. “Nobody talks well on an empty stomach.”

And just like that, the third place setting made sense.

I stayed quiet and watched CeeCee navigate it, choosing every word carefully, keeping her answers small. One hand stayed on her belly, like even she wasn’t sure whether she was comforting the baby or herself.

Shaun gave me one quick, measuring glance before turning back to CeeCee.

“Could we get a minute? Just…” His attention flicked my way again. “Easier to talk. The two of us.”

Mama perked right up. “I think that’s a great idea. You two should talk.”

I shifted in my chair, ready to make myself difficult.

CeeCee caught my eye before I could.

It’s okay. Go.

I set down my tea and stood.

I was almost to the kitchen doorway when I heard it.

Low. Easy.

You look good, baby. I missed you.

I kept walking.

Mama stood at the sink with the faucet running, rinsing the last of the plates, her hands moving on autopilot.

Rinse. Stack. Dry. Cabinet.

Her back was to the room.

From the living room came the low murmur of Shaun’s voice, followed by CeeCee’s softer replies.

Mama reached for another dish. There was a dishwasher less than a foot away, but for her, dishes were never cleaned unless she washed them herself.

“CeeCee’s looking good,” she said after a moment. “Healthy.”

“Yeah.”

“She needs more than a spare room this late in the pregnancy. Your apartment’s too small for all that.”

“She has what she needs, Mama.”

“Baby’s going to need more than that.”