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“It is new, yes. Because I’m ballooning faster than my closet can keep up,” Ava said. “And thank you, Jasper. That means a lot.”
“Have you guys gotten everything together for the tax season? It’s gonna hit us sooner than you think,” I said.
“We can talk shop later,” Jasper said. “Right now, I want to hear all about how this last month has gone.”
“Yes. How is my little niece doing?” Leo asked. “She still using your kidneys as kickboxing bags?”
“She’s flipped a bit, so now she’s on my bladder. I’m two more well-placed kicks away from needing diapers myself,” Ava said.
“That sounds petrifying. Travis, I hope you’re doing everything for this woman so she doesn’t have to do anything herself,” Leo said.
“I’ve got it under control,” I said with a grin.
Jasper fired up the grill to cook us up some venison steaks. Out of all of us, he was the hunter. The one who did it year-round. If it was an animal and legal to hunt, he did it. Deer. Bear. Quail. Squirrel. One time, I caught him trying to make a roach stew for the hell of it.
It was fucking awful and I made sure he understood it.
“When did you catch this one?” Ava asked.
“Fresh from the basement this morning,” Jasper said. “It wandered up into my driveway and I took a shot right from my door. Most convenient kill I’ve ever made.”
“You still drag those things down into your basement?” Leo asked. “I figured you would’ve set up a shed or something by now to make it easier. You know, with a drain pipe or something.”
“That’s why I use the basement. Sure, it takes some work hauling the animal down there. Especially those damn bears. But there’s a bathroom for me to wash off and a drain pipe in the middle of the floor. Got my butchering bench right over it,” Jasper said.
“What are you doing with the fur this time?” Ava asked. “Are you making anything?”
“Why? You wanting something? Because I’ve got no issues making you something,” Jasper said.
“I was thinking about making our little girl a blanket. You know, pink fleece on one side and the animal fur on the other,” Ava said.
“That’s a fucking tremendous idea. Jasper, you could turn that shit into a side business,” Leo said.
“He’s got his hands full with the company right now,” I said. “The new business we’ve acquired requires his personal expertise.”
“What? In wooing women?” Ava asked.
“In a manner of speaking,” Jasper said with a grin.
“I don’t even wanna know,” Ava said.
“Oh, Leo. I was wondering if you could jerky some of this venison for me. I can get it for you after we eat,” Jasper said.
“Yep. You give me what you want, tell me the flavors, and I’ll get it to you,” Leo said.
“Now that’s a side job I can get behind,” I said. “Leo’s jerky is the best.”
“Really? Do you sell it?” Ava asked.
“I’ll give you some of mine when I get it back,” Jasper said. “He does all kinds of flavors. What’s your favorite?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never really been a jerky eater,” Ava said.
“Oh! Oh, my heart! It hurts. Those words stung, beauty. Cut me right to my core,” Leo said.
“You can stop being dramatic now,” I said. “We don’t want to distract Jasper while he’s cooking. Remember what happened last time?”
“Last time?” Ava asked. “What happened last time?”
