“Donnie! Baby, look at you!” His mom’s call at the sight of him is both a welcoming roar and a snide accusation diving into his pores making him feel guilty for not visiting or calling often as she liked him too, all the while Don was worrying over what to tell Casey to get her used to this certain circumstance that included his mother that Casey barely knew, his mother who would no doubt make her scrutinized and uncomfortable.
“Ma-I- Why didn’t you tell me you were on your way?” he settles for questioning her at last as he finally hugs his mother, for a second melting into the familiar warmth before the panic overtakes him again.
“Do I have to?” she brings the question back, staring at him right in the eyes with her eyebrows raised, “I haven’t see you in months, but worse, I haven’t se
