“Yeah, I understand. But your mama did the right thing. Axel didn’t clean up his act until he was about thirty, and by then who knows what it might have done to him. Guilt’s a funny thing, and like you, Axel had a big heart. He might never have forgiven himself for not being able to be the man she thought he was. Maybe she saved all of y’all some heartache.”

“I hadn’t thought about that.”

“Life’s a funny thing, D. It’ll knock you on your ass more times than you can count, but now we know you’re blood. I say you come over for a barbecue and celebrate. We’ll eat by the main house. I bet Simone would love to see you again.”

Celebrate. As unexpected as that was, it was damn good to hear. “You mind if I bring Tracey?”

“Boy, if you don’t bring that little filly Dare’s been telling everyone about, nobody’s gonna believe she exists.”

Diesel laughed. “Tracey told me Dare hit on her.”

“Yeah, he told us. That was before he knew she was your girl. You coming over or what?”

“We’ll be there, and, Tiny, thanks for keeping an eye on me through the years and being there for my mom.”

“Like I told you, you’ve always been family. We take care of our own. You mind if I give the others the good news? Or do you want to tell them?”

“And open myself up to all those hugs?” He scoffed. “Go for it. We’ll see you soon.”

After they ended the call, Diesel rolled his shoulders back and called Biggs. His craggy voice came through the phone like a wave of unexpected comfort. Diesel felt like his whole life had been unexpected lately. He laid it all out for Biggs, and much the same way Biggs handled everything else, he seemed to take it in stride. Diesel apologized for the way he’d taken off, and Biggs took that in stride, too.

“There’s something that’s been bugging me. Do you have any idea why Axel stopped going to Colorado? According to my mother’s journal, she never saw him after I was three or four.”