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She scoffed in mock offense.
“Cal, shut up, you know what I mean. Of course, he cares about you, but why so intently all of a sudden?” She just shrugged. She was about to speak again, but I stopped her.
“Sit down, crazy. Let me tell you everything. I told you over the phone it was going well. I promise I won’t leave anything out. Starting with the run this morning.”
I wagged my eyebrows which made her laugh. She gathered her blanket off her bed, wrapped it around herself, and then sat beside me while I told her everything.
A few hours later, I got a message from August. That warm feeling was consuming me again; I hadn’t felt this content in a long time. He made sure we were okay with what they were having for dinner and double-checked that we didn’t have any food allergies. I asked him what Liza’s favorite wine was so I could bring her something. He sent me a picture because I had never heard of it. I really didn’t want to mess this up. It was heartwarming how excited we all were. Hearing his excited tone made my heart swell with contentment. It felt like a piece of me was being healed by his voice.
LINCOLN
My mind is buzzing with questions. That beautiful, sassy, sexy girl cannot be my sister. I guess, technically, it doesn’t matter because Pops and I aren’t biologically related. He will fucking kill me if I try to get with her. Problem is…I need to. She intrigues me more than anyone I have ever met.
I saw Pops coming back through the window. My stomach dropped in anticipation of seeing her, but within a few seconds, I realized she wasn’t following. Pops walked in, waved at me, and went right to the back. A few minutes later, he came out with a piece of paper.
“After these last few people leave, close up for me, okay? We’re closing early today.”
I looked at him with complete disbelief. He never closes early. The only other time was when we were rearranging the store last month. Even when he’s sick and can’t come in, he ensures someone is here to keep the store open. This store is his baby. That vacation was the first time he wasn’t here in years.
“I need you to come home so I can talk to you and Mom together.”
“Is everything okay?” I asked with apparent hesitation.
“Yes, of course; I just need to explain what’s happening, and it will be easier to tell the both of you together.”
“Yeah, what is happening? You just dropped the bomb that she was your daughter and bounced. Where is she? Did she leave? Is she coming back?” I felt like I was running out of air. Why did I sound so desperate?
“Yeah, she is coming over later.” I felt my stomach flip a little. “Link, I’m serious about leaving her alone. Do not run her off or mess with her.”
“Pops. You can’t ask me not to—” I cut myself off because I didn’t want to fight with him about this, “I will close up as soon as I can.” He left me the paper and went on his way. The paper just said we had to close early for a personal day. I guess that is true. I felt like it was taking forever for these last few customers to leave.
I couldn’t wait to get home to talk about everything. My excitement died when I walked in and my mom was crying into her hands. She looked up at me, and I realized she was crying happy tears. I stepped forward and she pulled me into a tight hug.
“Did you hear? You have a sister.”
I groaned in disgust. “Mom, she’s not my sister, but I heard about her being his daughter, yes.”
She gave me a knowing look. “How pretty is she? That’s the only reason you would have said that. Don’t you da—”
I cut her off because I was not having this conversation right now. “Are you okay, Momma? This was some big news for you guys.”
“It’s big news for all of us, Lincoln. I’m just overwhelmed. My brain can’t decide if it’s angry, excited, or sad. I guess it’s all three, honestly. I wish we had known about her all this time. We missed out on so much, and I have so many questions.”
So do I.
Pops started telling me everything he had told Mom, and I was dumbfounded. I honestly didn’t know what to ask first.
“Aubrey will be coming over for dinner with her girlfriend tonight. Make yourself look like a respectable human please.”
My stomach dropped.
“Wait, Is Aubrey gay?” I asked, way too interested, “And for the record, I always look good, old man.”
“Lincoln Matthew!” Mom exclaimed. “There is nothing wrong with being gay.”
“I didn’t say there was. I love lesbians. She just doesn’t seem gay to me,” I said smugly. Mom slapped me playfully.
“Ouch,” I said with a chuckle as I rubbed my head.
