“Babe, would you grab me a beer?”
“Sure,” I responded mindlessly. I turned around and headed back into the kitchen as I shook off my thoughts.
I grabbed two beers from the fridge and asked Mom if she needed any help.
“If you’d just take the plates out?”
I balanced four plates on one hand and held the bottlenecks between my fingers with an ease that I learned serving breakfast at the diner. Mom followed me out carrying a pan of roasted vegetables.
Once we were all seated and everyone's plate was full, we bowed our heads and Dad said grace.
“You boys coming over Sunday to watch the game?” heasked.
“Yeah, I planned on it,” David replied.
“I have to work,” I said.
David looked over at me. “You don’t usually work on Sunday.”
“Yeah, Nikki’s sister is coming into town with her niece, so I told her I would cover her lunch shift.”
“I still wonder when you are going to just quit that silly job and let me take care of you.”
I sighed. “I like my job. I’ve had it since I was 18. It gets me out of the house.”
“Yes, but what about when we have kids? They are going to need looking after.”
“Well, when you finally manage to knock me up, we'll discuss it.”
David frowned, and my dad wiped the corner of his mouth and cleared his throat.
“A detective’s salary is more than enough for a comfortable start for you kids,” he interjected.
“David isn’t a detective,” I pointed out.
My father looked over at David and smiled. “He is now. Congratulations, son, you’ve been promoted. That’s what the steaks are for. We’re celebrating!”
My mother squealed and clapped her hands. “Oh, howamazing!”
“Are you serious? Chief, I don’t know what to say!” David rose from the table as my father did and came around to shake his hand. “I won’t let you down, sir. This means the world to me.”
I felt dazed. A detective’s salary meant even more security. David had everything a sane person would want in a partner—a great job, an outgoing personality, good looks, and a bright future. He said that he loved me and wanted to take care of me. I had privilege, and time to pursue my interests. Itwasan occasion worth celebrating. A real red-letter day.
I took a sip of my beer, but I had a lump in my throat when I swallowed.
Chapter Five
James
Ifinished changing the oil and filters in an older Chevy and grabbed a clean shop towel to wipe off my hands as Marty walked into the back.
“You still haven’t gone to lunch yet, JR?”
I shook my head. “Nah, I’m actually taking off early today, so I skipped it. Wanted to get these two oil changes that came in this morning finished before I dipped.”
“You’re a beast, bro.”
I shrugged, my shoulders and back stiff from havingbeen under cars for the past couple hours. “You know where my brother ran off to?”
