But I'm gonna take this heart of stone

 It was great to ring in the new year with Slater and friends for Koda. Of course, Vanna's mother was still here just trying to show both of them how to really take care of a baby.

"What about your family? Did you see any of them during the holidays?" Slater wanted to know.

"Well, we tried," Koda knew it was a long shot. He didn't go to the Rez but he went to the truckstop nearby where he hoped his mother might be, but she was riding with someone now on the route up to the Dakotas and as it was, her and her new fellow had gone south to Arizona.

"That's a shame," Slater asked if his Mom even knew about the baby.

"Oh, I don't have her new phone number, but I did get to see an uncle, and he talked about my Dad. He saw him after Thanksgiving."

Koda nodded, knowing it was all troubling. He felt bad for missing them, but they were all at least working and that had to count for something.

"Maybe next Christmas," he didn't know what else to say. 

There was a crash of laughter like a curse, coming from the kitchen. Of course, it was Vanna's mother.

Koda smiled with a cough wondering how long could this go on, but she was the life of the party. The women stood around listening to her stories as if she might be getting ready for open mic night at the nearby comedy club.

He went to get the baby from Vanna who looked just as unhappy as he felt. Oh, they were glad she was here, but it felt as if they had to baby Patty just as much.

Most definitely her Heather Graham days were over. She'd gained some weight after her last adventure. Come to think of it, Koda had to wonder if she'd met his mother. They both had something in common. Truckdrivers.

Not that there was anything wrong with that, but Patty was talking about going to New Mexico. She was just waiting for some guy named Leonard to come through. He most definitely wanted to spend January there. At least it was on Patty's mind and Koda and Vanna's too.