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“What? How?”
“I’m here for the summer with my daughter. It’s really good to see you, Akoni.”
He wiggles a finger between Alek and I.
“You two? Is this a thing? I don’t want to interrupt.”
“Get your ass in here brother, and we’ll tell you all about it. I’m so glad you’re here.”
I throw my arms around him again and hold on for dear life. Can’t help myself. One tear rolls down my cheek. It has been so long since I felt hope.
“I’m going to head out,” Alek says. “But we have lots to catch up on. Whenever you have the time, it would be great to grab a meal.”
“Sounds good. I’ll get your number from Leilani.”
“Man, we had some good days together, didn’t we?” Alek says.
“Those were the best days.”
“You could surf the hell around the rest of us. Still surfing?”
“Yeah. I just recently got back into it.”
“Okay, I have to get out of here before I start reliving my youth. I’ll save it for another day. Call me, please.”
“I will.”
Alek looks at me in a meaningful wordless message. My smile responds, as he walks out the door.
Turning to my brother, I grab his hands.
“You wouldn’t believe how happy I am to see you. Are you staying the night?”
“Yes. That’s what I want to talk with you about.”
“Let’s order a pizza.”
The skinniest slice of pizza lays waiting like the last kid chosen in a grammar school dodgeball game.
“I’m stuffed. You take it,” I say, shoving the plate across the coffee table.
“No. I’ve had enough... So let’s talk.”
I chuckle with the memory of our family’s special language. Every time my parents wanted to have a family meeting or lay some news on Akino or I, they’d start with ‘so let’s talk’.”
“I know,” he laughs. “When did we get to be the grown-ups?”
“I never noticed, but here we are. So what’s up? You look good. Better than I have seen in a few years, brother.”
“I’m clean. Have been for almost eleven months now.”
I take his hands in mine and hold on. The tears well.
“This is the best thing you could have told me. I’ve prayed for it every night.”
“So, here’s my problem. The owner of the house I’ve been living in is selling. I have to be out in two weeks.”
“They have to give you notice. There are laws. They can’t make you move that quickly.”
