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Braxton hasn’t changed much. It’s been over three years since he and Julia visited Chicago. It was a getaway for them. My ex-wife Courtney and I showed them parts of the city that lit their eyes right up and filled their bellies with the best the city has to offer.
It was an honor and a pleasure to spoil him and Julia then. I know how much Braxton deserves it. We’ve been through a lot, and he’s endured so much more than I have. In many ways, he is like a big brother. Growing up in the one and only foster home in Hillpike, I’ve seen and juggled enough for the nine young years I was there. Braxton was there for double that.
“Here’s to getting out of Hillpike.”
Braxton raises his beer mug, and I do too. Since I got adopted, it’s common for Braxton to congratulate me on “getting out of Hillpike.” Sometimes I’m not sure if he’s being sarcastic.
“I know how much you’re proud of me, Brax. But you have to know how proud I am of you. You have a stable business and a beautiful family. You love it here, right?”
“Most times.” He nods as he stares at the fire. “I think it’s been good, Freddy. You know, I like the simple life. A nice and steady basic routine. The kind of thing we never really dealt with.”
“That’s a fact.” I agree.
Braxton and I dealt with a pair of nutty foster parents for ten years. They were farmers who tended to their farm more than us. We were left rogue and defiant, getting into all kinds of mess, including burning down a gazebo and accidentally slicing a finger off one of our foster sibling’s hands. Needless to say, we didn’t follow any schedules or routines.
“There’s nothing quite like a Hillpike backyard.”
“Yeah, man. You have to bring Dustin out here to see some real stars.”
“I’d do anything for my son to experience small-town joys like this.” I squeeze my can of beer.
Dustin is eight years old and currently in the state of Washington with my ex-in-laws.
“We’re praying for you. Julia’s got your name on the church’s prayer warrior list. I’m sure greatness is on its way. I never really knew how crazy Courtney was, but I’ll tell you one thing: Julia had a hunch. She said Courtney had too many plan Bs lined up in case the marriage failed.”
“Oh, I know about those.” I chuckle. “She had plans B through F. She told me about each one. I think she liked having a husband, but she liked the idea of fucking her coworker better. The funny thing is that fucking her coworker wasn’t one of her options.” I take the last gulp of my beer before Braxton tosses me another from the cooler.
I prefer not to feel all the dark feelings I get when I think of Courtney. The best thing I got from her is Dustin.
“One thing,”—Braxton belches—“I’m glad you didn’t have to rely on her snazzy lawyer career for anything, Mr. Cloud architect or whatever you are.”
“Ha! My parents told me I needed to invest in myself the very first day they adopted me because dependence was never an option for me until they took me in. They showed me what parenting looks like while teaching me the importance of self-reliance. Ugh, too bad they didn’t warn me about the evils behind some dresses.” I shake my head, pulling myself from thinking about Courtney too much. Fuck, she makes me so angry.
“So glad you had some real-life family experiences, my brother,” Braxton exclaims.
Fortunately, I was adopted at age nine, which isn’t that typical. My parents took me to the suburbs of Chicago, and I’ve been there ever since. By the time I was adopted, Braxton already had one foot out the door. He’s a carpenter who runs his own store in town. The labor his body endures is showing more than it did the last time I saw him.
Braxton stands up to stretch. He already warned me he’s heading in soon. This guy’s old bones are increasingly getting to him these days.
I’m proud of him. He has a beautiful family, and my god, I almost should feel shame around something in particular.
Sadie, his eldest.
I probably shouldn’t. I find myself unable to resist her slanted green eyes. They are genuine emeralds. And all that fine auburn-red hair. She’s almost like a small-town Disney princess. I didn’t expect to keep meeting her eyes all through dinner. They’re sultry like her voice. It’s crazy she’s already a woman, twenty-five years old, naive, with big dreams written on her smile.
She stuck her head out of the garage and said she was joining us earlier. She hasn’t yet. Since then, Julia has gone inside, and now Braxton’s calling it a night. It’s probably best to hop on the couch.
“So, are you hitting the road tomorrow morning or afternoon?” Brax asks.
An old neighbor of mine is getting married. Well, an old neighbor of Courtney’s too. I think she’s bringing her lover. I’ll look like a punk if I back out of it. Plus, I want to go to the wedding.
I shrug as I haven’t really made up my mind. I told Braxton I popped my head in town on my way back from a work event farther south. Truth is, I stepped into town to see if my body was connected to this place as much as my mind. Sometimes one has to return to their original soil to reboot. I plan on coming back after the wedding and staying in a motel for a few weeks. I work remotely, so there’s no issue as to where I am, but I do want a getaway from Courtney and my regular routine in Chicago. The lease on the flat I’ve been subletting since leaving Courtney is now up. With most of my belongings in storage, here I am.
“Well, sleep on it. I’d understand if you don’t want to be around Courtney, and I’m sure the groom would too.” Braxton grabs the hose to drown a bit of the bonfire.
“Is that soil for it there?” I ask, pointing to a wheelbarrow of soil.
Braxton nods.
