Page 115 of Summer Holiday Lifeline

“And if I told you I think you probably need to speak with someone?”

“You’d be right.”

“Don’t put if off, Myles. Please.”

“You’re sitting out here fretting because you’re worried what will happen back in Calgary?” Myles frowned.

“I was fretting over how to talk to you about this. Historically⁠—”

“I punched you for bringing it up.”

“Broke my nose once.”

“Sorry.”

“‘Get a fucking shrink, you drunk shithead’ was maybe not the most productive way to put it.”

Myles snorted. “We’re past all that, right?”

“God, I hope so. I’ve missed you so much.”

“He can—” Myles swallowed hard and grimaced at the lump making his chest hurt. “He can still talk to you, right? When we go back. FaceTime, or call or⁠—”

“You can, Myles. Anytime you need me, you can.”

“I think his father wants to meet him,” Myles blurted, instead of addressing the change of pronouns or pointing out that Ozzy could still read him like that and know what he was really asking without him having to ask.

“He told me about the letter, but he didn’t say anything about a meeting.”

“Well, that’s a guess. But why else would he be trying to contact him now?” He held up a hand. “And before you say anything, I know I have to tell him.”

“So tell him.”

“And put him on the spot over something else he can’t control? A parent who wanted nothing to do with him his whole life, and is only contacting him now to what? End up hurting him?”

“You give him the information and let Jet decide what he wants to do. He may surprise you.”

When Myles didn’t respond, Ozzy sighed.

“You can’t protect him from getting hurt, Myles. Sometimes life just sucks and hurts. What you can do is make sure he knows you’re there when it does.”

“First my father, then me, then his mom dying, now this. The kid deserves a fucking break.”

“Believe it or not, so do you. And maybe being a family together is exactly the break you’re both looking for.”

“Because I’m a prize parent.”

“The fact that you care this much? Yeah. Makes you a pretty big windfall in the parental lottery. Just ask Tris and Rod. Or look at your own father. And Jet’s.” Ozzy took his hand in both of his this time and held tight. “You know me well enough to know that if I thought you were a truly bad parent, if I really and honestly thought there was a problem after everything Jet has told me about you, about his life, I would speak up. I would do something to protect him. The best thing I can think of to do for that kid, and for his sister, is make sure you know that you’ve got this. You’ve got them. And when it’s hard, you have all of us, no matter where you call home.”

“And get a shrink,” Myles said.

“Yes. And that. Really. That’s important.”

“Yeah, I know.” He smiled at Ozzy. “I know. And I will. Promise.”

“Good.”

“And to think I came out here to check on you.”