Page 129 of Go Back to December

Minnow is fighting his leash, teeth bared, barking like a shotgun. Dooley wrangles him back.

Baz stands next to them and stares at us for the count of two breaths. Then he turns on his heel and limps away in the opposite direction.

“Fuck.”

Craig’s head whips back to mine. “Is that him?”

He turns back to the street where Dooley finally has Minnow under control. He meets my glare and shakes his head.

“Mallow,” Craig growls. “Is that the asswipe I’m going to have the pleasure of limb-ripping?”

I place a warning hand on his arm. “We were talking about limb-ripping in a metaphorical sense. And seeing me here hugging you definitely gave him the wrong idea.”

He smiles smugly. “Partial victory.”

“I should go after him.”

An airport cab rears to a halt at the curb, splashing a puddle of water by the drain.

“Hold that thought,” Craig says.

The cab door flies open. My mother trips out of it. All puffy coat and scented hand cream and shopping bags hanging over both wrists.

Craig and I are caught in the tide of kisses and jangling bracelets and smacking bags, and a few tears. “Oh, Mellie, you look terrible. I was right to come.”

“Mom, I’m okay. What are you doing here?”

She dabs at the fuchsia stain her lipstick left on my cheek. “Let’s get out of this frigid air, and then we’ll tell you all about it.”

I search the street, but Baz and Dooley are gone.

Sighing, I bring Mom and Craig through the lobby, into the elevator. “Where’s Ira?”

“Unpacking, and still upset with you,” Mom says.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. But I’m fine now.”

“Well, we met these delightful people on the ship. They insisted we return with them and stay at their guesthouse so we could check up on you.”

Guesthouse? Craig mouths over her head.

I shrug. “That was kind of them.”

“Oh, wait until you see their neighborhood.”

The elevator lands, and I walk them down to Manny’s apartment. Mom’s smiling while silently judging everything, as I explain Manny’s moving out and I’m staying there for a few weeks. Until I can figure out something longer-term.

“That’s why we’re here, Mallow.”

I narrow my eyes at Craig. He crosses his arms, hips locked in an alpha stance.

Mom takes my hand. “Your brother and I don’t want you to think you’re alone.”

“I don’t,” I say tightly. “I’m not.”

“You’re not,” Craig repeats. “You have us.”

“Okay, glad we’ve all cleared that up.”