In a few seconds, I’m being handed a black pen, and
Ariana’s Action Plan
is staring up at me, begging to be created.
july
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
boston
The early summersun is warm on my face, reminding me there are upsides to the off-season. This. I spent the morning cleaning the animals’ living areas, and by early afternoon I somehow found myself with my ass in the grass inside the goat enclosure, entertaining them with music and dog toys.
I built this jungle gym for them a year ago and they still love the hell out of it. The one thing they love more? Dog toys and music. Kelly Clarkson, to be exact. Don’t ask me why or how I figured that out, but she is a crowd favourite around here.
I watch them with a gentle smile. There are ten of them now. I know, it’s a lot. The four kids are the biggest nuisance in the world, but that’s why I love them. I let Lemmy name them this time, so they’re all namesakes of reality television stars. I don’t have a clue what show they’re from, or who any of the people are, but I can promise you that one is named after a housewife from some city.
Goats are pure, unrelenting chaos. For some reason, they bring me peace.
My phone starts ringing, which interrupts Kelly Clarkson, and the goats immediately freeze. I curse, digging in my pocketfor it, but then Meredith starts screaming and drop-kicking everyone in the vicinity, and Stassi runs headfirst into old, grumpy Bucket, and drama ensues.
“Sorry! Sorry!” I call out, getting to my feet. I kick one of the dog balls that makes a noise and they go crazy for it. I take that second to excuse myself from their enclosure and disconnect my phone from the speaker, answering my brother’s call.
“Kane.”
“Boss!”
He sounds chipper. That is not what I was expecting.
“Any news?”
“The police found them. They were walking down Valley Street this morning. Apparently, they moved to new housing. I have their updated address now. I’ll check up on them.”
I expect to feel relief, but I just feel…nothing. “Good. That’s good.”
“I’ll sleep a little better now, anyway.”
I’m walking through The Penthouse when a soft ringing echoes through the receiver. I glance down at my phone. Kane. Incoming video call.
Um…
Not really knowing what else to do, I accept. It takes a second, but suddenly, I’m staring at a smaller version of me, draped in my jersey, holding his new skates. He’s doing this painfully awkward little dance, like this is the best day of his life, and damn—if I’m not smiling after that.
“Thanks, Uncle Boss!” Bennett says, running toward the phone with excitement radiating off him. He snatches it from his dad and his eight year old face fills the screen. All I see is big, green eyes. “I love them! They’re the best kind. Everyone is going to be so jealous. I’m going to be the fastest guy on the ice now.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” I say, an ache sprouting in my chest. I have never had an actual conversation with a grown-up Bennett, but he’s talking to me like he knows me. Like…like Kane talks about me. Like I’ve been there, all these years. “I’ve seen your work, kid. You’ve got chops.”
He beams at me. “Like you?”
The ache worsens. “Better.”
“Nobody is better than you,” he says, eyes burning into mine through the screen.
It’s not an ache anymore. My chest is fully splitting in half.
I smile at my nephew, ignoring the way the room feels like it’s caving in on me. Clearing my throat, I lower myself into a chair at the kitchen table. He’s studying me, beaming ear-to-ear, thrilled to have this tiny blip of time with his uncle.
I’m thrilled, too.
