Page 47 of When Darkness Calls

Instead of pretending to understand anything they’re talking about and faking smiles, I’ve been sitting further from the fire, staring off into the depths of the night sky. The endless darkness and mysteries it has hidden.

Watching the stars like this has a way of putting so many things into a new perspective. Thousands and thousands of galaxies, filled with millions of stars, hundreds of planets, and yet here we are. Such a small part of something so much greater in the universe. Why waste so much of the blip of time I have in this life worrying about what others think of me?

“I’ve been thinking about investing in a bit of property near the old storage yard,” Dad states, nodding his head back and forth. “It’ll take some work, ya know? Getting it fixed up real nice, but I like the location. A lot of space that we could grow into with new deals in other areas the board has been looking into.”

He rakes his hand through his hair. The honey blonde strands have grown lighter recently as light gray has begun to sparse through it. Especially around his temples. But beneath the subtle lines around his warm brown eyes, he still holds this youthful air. You have to look hard to find all the details that reveal his age.

A stranger on the street catching a brief glance at him and Cade would lead them to believe the two were brothers, maybe even twins. Every year their resemblance grows stronger and stronger.

Dad sits his beer on the table beside his chair, pulling out the graham crackers and chocolate Jennifer had sat there as he continues, “It’d also be good having that access to the river system instead of only having freight and trucks. More cost efficient. And it could open more business around the Gulf. We have that house down there by the beach. Been meaning to take more trips down that way anyhow.”

“That’s unexpected. Would the business be a part of the coal and other networks under Beckett Inc. Or a separate thing?”

“Both, neither. I’m not really sure just yet. Just something I’ve been rattling around the old noggin.” He grins tapping at his temple.

Cade hums his approval as he slides his roasted marshmallow off his stick on his prepped s’more.

“What made you think of this? Where did you come up with the idea of branching out and going south?” He takes a large bite, chomping through the gooey marshmallow, chocolate smeared across his chin.

I snort at him, taking a sip of the lukewarm water Jennifer insisted I take after eating my birthday cupcake.

“Actually, Jen suggested it. There’s been a lot of changes in the last couple years, it’s part of why I’ve been away so much. But I think everything is finally starting to fall in place, and I can get back to looking towards the future of the company.”

Dad sounds so excited that I can’t help but be a little happy for him. I knew for a while there, things weren’t looking very good. Coal has been dying for years and so has most other natural resources around here. I’m glad that he’s finally seeing it for what it is and trying to find new avenues.

I thought that he might end up merging with other companies in the nearby cities soon which I know would have broken his heart. Hundreds of families have relied on Beckett Inc. for decades. I don’t think the loss of the company would be the hardest part. It would be him feeling like he had let them all down, that he wasn’t able to continue supporting the workers providing for themselves and their families.

That’s another thing he has in common with his son.

“I’m glad things are looking up, Dad. Really. I’m proud of you.”

He sends me a wide grin, his dimple poking through.

“Thank you, Dani Doll. I appreciate it.”

And that makes the day worth it. It might not have been the greatest birthday dinner in history, but I got to see my dad smile, really smile for the first time in a long time. That’s one of the best gifts I could have gotten.

fifteen

Grayson

Cade’s front door slams shut and all I can hear, over the sound of Alex singing and Keegan muttering the recipe under his breath, is cursing and heavy footsteps as someone tumbles through the entry hall over the dozens of orange and black balloons littering the floor.

“Nick?” I call out from the kitchen as he rounds the corner of the hall.

He’s wearing a dress shirt, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows and the top few buttons undone and dark gray slacks. The black framed glasses are barely staying on the bridge of his nose and his dark reddish brown hair sticking up in different places as he stands there holding a few stray papers in his hand.

“I’m here. I’m here. Class ran late. Her gift is in the back of my car, I’ll grab it in a second. Let me change.” He rushes through the kitchen to the hall leading to the bathroom.

Alex keeps humming Queen songs to himself as he mixes the cookie dough, his long wavy hair a shade lighter than Nick’s is pulled into a messy knot on top of his head. And Keeg—poor Keegs— is slowly devolving into a panicked mess over the brownie batter, flour and cocoa powder smeared across his face, up his arms, and through his hair from him gripping the short mousy strands in frustration.

I, however, have been working diligently on making the cheesecake batter. And thus, the Browniezillas will be made.

I know their step-mom got Dani cupcakes for her birthday. She does it every year because she can buy a four pack from the bakery on Boulevard. Just thinking about the way she’s likely been treating Dee Dee has annoyed me all day.

Who doesn’t let someone have two cupcakes for their birthday? Fucking evil people that’s who.

Although her birthday is actually tomorrow, I figured this could be the next best thing after what I’m sure was a shit dinner. Tomorrow after another secret surprise, she can go watch her movie in Pinehaven.