“C’mon. Let’s all go,” Linc said, helping me to my feet.
“I’m gonna get dinner on the table. You all have fun,” Garrett told us affectionately.
“I’ll help,” Walt offered, surprising me. The two men walked into the kitchen, and a strange feeling passed over me. Pops didn’t have many friends. I knew he spent most of his free time with us.I hope he isn’t isolated because of my decision to leave Max.That thought trailed away as we walked through the mudroom and entered the garage in single file.
“Are those… DRUMS?” Lou exclaimed, just as I stepped in far enough to take in all of the music equipment. There was a drum kit in the center, a guitar, and a keyboard, along with a few mic stands and speakers. The walls had some sort of foam covering them, and several other instruments littered the space.
“What’s all this?” I asked Abigail.
“Lincoln wanted to be a rock star when he was a kid. Begged us every night for three years for the drum kit. We finally gave in. It’s as bad as everyone says…so we soundproofed the garage and put it out here. By then, Mason was asking every day for a guitar. Once Quinn was old enough to talk, she wanted to sing, so they were in here practicing for a few years. Had to get Garrett new hearing aids after, but we always kept the space set up for them. I don’t have a single musical bone in my body, so not really sure where they get it. Sometimes, on holidays, they’ll play for us,” Abigail told us fondly.
“What do you wanna try out first?” Quinn asked. Lou’s eyes widened. She turned to look at me. I gave her a nod of encouragement, smiling at her excitement. She ran up to the drums, but didn’t touch them, then ran up to the keyboard, examining it. Lou seemed frozen by indecision as Linc walked toward the drums with sticks. He sat down and started a basic beat onthe drum. Lou walked over to stand near him, and he casually handed her a stick, pointing at the cymbals.
“Can you hit that for me? Ready… And go.” It was not in sync, the clangs completely missing the beat, but the loud noise filling the garage was absolutely perfect. Lou’s excited cheers and loud laughter were the sweetest music I had ever heard.
Chapter 17
Lincoln
It was the night. Dinner at my parents’ house so everyone could meet Sophie and Lou. I invited Walt as well. It seemed wrong not to include him, and I knew it would make Sophie feel more comfortable. Ma was flustered, trying to appear like the perfect host, but she was mostly getting in Dad’s way.
“Woman, pour yourself a glass of wine and sit down. You’re running around like a chicken with its head cut off while I’m trying to get dinner ready.” I saw my mother rearing up to fight, but Dad pinned her with a look, and she took a seat at the kitchen island while I went and poured her that glass.
My sister, Quinn, walked in right after, a tinfoil-covered tray in her arms.
“Made my lemon bars. You said Sophie has a sweet tooth, right?”
“Woo, whipping out the big guns, I see. Why are you guys so stressed about meeting this chick?” our brother, Mason, added. I had missed him following Quinn in.
“Hush, now. We’re just excited because we’ve heard so much about them! And it’s not like either of you are dating anyone. I want grandbabies!” Mom yelled, and we all rolled our eyes. The same old story.
“C’mon, Abby, they have time. Plus, it sounds like Linc has his hands full with Miss Eloise anyway. Excited to meet her.”
“Thanks, Dad. She’s a great kid,” I told him.
“Aww! Look at how proud he is. Like a papa bear!” Quinncooed.
The doorbell rang, and there was a moment of silence where we all froze, except for Mom. Hopping up, she was out of the room before any of us had recovered. I got up to follow her, but Dad stopped me.
“Give her a minute. She’s been looking forward to this. You get to see them all the time.” I wasn’t sure what I was worried about. My family was the best. We bickered and got on each other’s nerves, but love and support lived between us, no matter what.
Sophie and Lou, though… What we were building felt precious and fragile. As the night progressed, watching as Lou got comfortable around my family erased any unease I felt. It was amazing to see how easily they folded her into every conversation and decision, making sure she was heard and her opinion was respected. We were all a bit worked up after what Lou shared earlier about being “too loud.”
Dinner and dessert were finished, and the party had retreated into the living room.
“I get it now,” Mason commented. I was hovering on the outskirts of the room, watching the high-stakes game of UNO taking place between my parents, Walt, Quinn, and Lou.
“They’re good people,” Mason continued. “She’s a great kid, and I can’t imagine anyone trying to shush or ignore her. You scowling anytime something shitty is mentioned won’t help, though.” Ironic, coming from the cop with a perma-frown, but I couldn’t argue with him on that point.
“Keep showing her it’s okay to be a kid, to have fun. You got this, bro, and we got your back. Want me to look into the ex?” he added, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. Mason followed the rules, but he couldn’t stand bad people who got away with things at the expense of good ones.
“Nah. I know enough for now. If he starts acting up, though, you’ll be the first one I call.” My gut soured at the idea of Max getting anywhere near my girls. The more time I spent with Sophie and Lou, the more it only cemented in my mind what an utter fool the man was. He had no idea of the gift he had discarded socasually, what he had thrown away.
“Darn it, Wally! If you reverse on me one more time, I’m gonna quit!” Dad yelled, and I snorted at the nickname.
“Well,Gary, seems like it’s quitting time for you,” Walt replied, throwing down a card as if he had just gotten a royal flush. Dad groaned as Lou giggled, Mom whispering something in her ear.
“UNO!” Mom yelled, tossing her card in the air dramatically as she did an over-the-top celebration dance.
