Ray forced back the disappointed sigh building in his lungs. He’d hoped Sam would have let Jesse come back to work. He shouldn’t have to pay for Sam’s issues, and Ray couldn’t help but feel responsible for it. He was the one who’d fired Jesse’s dad, after all. Ray heard the front door close as he began loading up his plate. All heads turned when Jesse walked into the dining room with his head down. He’d taken off his hat but was still wearing a pair of mirrored sunglasses. He mumbled an apology for being late and pulled up a chair beside Travis. Jesse’s hair was mussed like he’d just crawled out of bed, and his shirt was rumpled. The same shirt he’d been wearing yesterday. A bad feeling slithered through Ray’s chest. “No hats, boots, or glasses at the table, son,” Dot said. “You know the rules.” “Yes, ma’am.” Jesse’s quiet voice was ragged. He carefully removed his sunglasses, neatly folded them, and hung them in the V of his shirt.
