AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She pulled it out of her purse. “Oh, it’s Ash. I need to take this.”
Figuring she’d probably like some privacy so she could talk to her sister about the incident the night before, I asked Luna, “Do you want to go with me to get the snacks?”
“Yes!” Her hands flew up in the air.
“Thank you,” Skylar mouthed to me before answering the call.
My feet had barely hit the dirt lot and Luna was already out of the truck beside me. The kid was seriously spring-loaded. As we walked to the concession stand, she reached up and held my hand. It was a small gesture, and I knew that she probably would’ve held the hand of any adult she was crossing a busy parking lot with.
Even knowing that my heart expanded in my chest and it broke a little at the same time. I understood that her father and my father were ‘sick’ as Skylar explained to Luna. Because of their addiction and alcoholism, they’d missed precious moments like these. I’d been so angry at my dad for all of the responsibility of the boys falling on me. But I’d never looked at it as him being the one that missed out. I was the one who taught Billy how to ride a bike. I’d been the one to get Jimmy ready for his first day of kindergarten. I’d taught both the boys how to drive stick, how to shave, how to write a check, how to cook and clean. Not that they used those last two skills a lot.
Those were all moments that I’d taken for granted because they weren’t my moments to have. And it made me sad. Not for me, but for my dad. And my mom. They’d missed out on the good stuff.
As we approached the concession stand, Luna pointed to a large cotton candy machine at the end of it. “Can I get cotton candy?!”
I figured I better stick to the mom-approved snacks. “I don’t think cotton candy falls in the within reason category.”
“Soooo, is that a no?” she questioned, her Puss in Boots eyes at maximum fullness.
“That’s a no,” I confirmed wondering what would happen since this was the first time I’d told her no.
I pictured a quivering lip, tears welling, or maybe even a small tantrum. I’d seen kids lose their shit in the Piggly Wiggly.
Instead of any of that, she just shrugged. “Okay.”
That was easier than I thought.
But I cautioned myself that it might be a fluke. I may have gotten off easy since the no was still attached to her getting popcorn, soda, and candy.
We took our place in line behind Ronnie Lindon, who I’d played little league with. He was there with his twins who were both around the same age as Luna. His daughter was riding on his shoulders and he was pretending that she was throwing him off balance.
“Hey, man!” He smiled when he noticed me and looked down. “Who’s this?”
I was ninety-nine percent sure he knew exactly who she was because this was Firefly, but I humored him. “This is Luna—”
“Hi! I’m Luna Thompson,” she held out her hand introducing herself. “My grandpa was Old Man Thompson, but I didn’t know him.”
I never knew what was going to come out of her mouth and I was rarely disappointed.
“Hi, Luna.” He shook her hand then tilted his head up indicating his daughter who was on his shoulders. “And this is Naomi. And this is Noah.” He grabbed his son’s hand and wiggled his arm when his oldest Jeannie rushed up, holding out her hand.
“Dad I need twenty dollars!”
“For what?” Ronnie asked, unfazed at the sudden interruption or demand for money.
“Cammie and Rena are here and we’re going to the pier.”
“The pier? But it’s The Goonies!” He motioned to the screen.
“Dad.” She rolled her eyes and held her hand out farther.
“Did you ask your mother?” he questioned.
“Yes, Dad,” she responded impatiently.
“Fine.” He dropped the hand that was holding his son, reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. “But you need to be back here before the credits roll.”
As Ronnie handed his daughter the cash, it hit me that Jeannie was the same age that my kid would’ve been if Melody hadn’t lost the baby. I never really thought much about it, but Emma Jean, Ronnie’s wife got pregnant right around the same time as Melody had.
I never paid much attention to the people I grew up with getting married and having kids. I’d been too busy dealing with my brothers and then my father. But as I watched Ronnie order for his family and fly his daughter around like an airplane, I felt a twinge of something.
Something that I’d missed out on. I’d thought for so long that all I wanted was autonomy. I didn’t want anyone depending on me. But that wasn’t the case. I did want people depending on me. I wanted Luna and Skylar depending on me.
“What’s gonna happen if you wake up one day and they’re gone?” Billy’s question played in my head and dread filled me.
I was just going to have to do whatever I could so that didn’t happen.
