AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Garrett
“Uncle Garrett!”
Langford’s son, Tucker, comes barreling toward me from the deck off of Graham’s house.
“Hey, Tuck,” I say as I scoop him up. “You’ve gotten heavy.”
He wiggles his way out of my grip and onto his feet. “That’s because I’m twelve now.”
Twelve already? How did that happen? He had to be five or six the last time I saw him. Fuck, has it been that long since I’ve visited my family?
I ruffle his hair. “I can see that. You’re practically a man now. Is that a whisker?” I ask as I bend to tug at his chin.
He giggles.
“What am I, chopped liver?” Weston asks from beside me.
Graham texted us that he and Taeli wanted to have everyone over for a barbecue tonight, so we rode up the mountain together.
Tucker walks over and hugs Weston.
“I see you all the time,” he quips.
“So? I still like for you to be excited to see me, kid.”
A slightly smaller kid peeks at us from the deck, and I gesture toward him.
“Who do we have here?” I ask.
Tucker looks over his shoulder. “That’s Caleb. We’re gonna be cousins as soon as Uncle Graham marries his mom.”
Ah, he must be Taeli’s kid.
Tucker waves Caleb over, and the boy joins us in the driveway.
“It’s nice to meet you, Caleb,” I tell him.
“Are you the uncle who sings country music?” he asks.
“I am. Are you a fan?” I ask.
He shakes his head, and Weston laughs.
“He doesn’t like country music. He listens to weird stuff, like indie rock and pop music, but I’m gonna fix him,” Tucker says.
“There’s nothing wrong with those genres. I like them too. All music is pretty cool in my book,” I tell Caleb, and he grins.
“I’m going to check your stuff out too.”
I stick my fist out to him for a bump. “I appreciate that. Especially since we’re going to be family now.”
A voice calls to us from behind the house. “It’s about time you two got here. We’ve been waiting for you to fire up the grill.” Langford is standing at the gate that leads to the backyard with a beer in hand.
Weston points to me as we make our way up to him. “It’s his fault. He sleeps all damn day and then takes forever to make himself pretty.”
I run my elbow into his side.
“Ouch!” he bellows.
“Children, keep your hands to yourself,” Mom chides us as she comes through the glass doors onto the patio, carrying a tray.
“Sorry, Mom,” Weston and I mumble at the same time.
The large outdoor table on the patio is set with linens and fresh sunflowers. Corbin and Morris are sitting on one of the long benches, digging into the warm pretzel and beer cheese appetizer that Mom just set in front of them.
Taeli comes out with a book of matches in hand to light the candles in the center of the table, and Graham emerges with a pan of seasoned rib eyes for Pop, who is manning the grill.
Mom makes her way over to give us each a kiss on the cheek and asks if we want lemonade or iced tea.
“I’ll take a beer,” Weston says.
“I’ll have the tea,” I reply.
“Coming right up,” she says before shuffling off to the kitchen.
“Have a seat anywhere you want, guys,” Taeli instructs as she heads back inside, and we have a seat across from our brothers.
We chat while Pop cooks. Leona, Taeli’s mother, arrives with a couple of desserts. She and Mom have been close friends since we were kids, and with the upcoming marriage of Graham and Taeli, she will be family.
I watch as the boys run around in the yard, playing with a remote-controlled truck, and I realize how much I’ve been missing out on. How often does my family get together just like this? Bonding and sharing and being a part of each other’s lives without me.
Langford and Taeli come out, carrying my and Weston’s beverages, and join us.
“Have you heard from your handlers yet?” Langford asks.
