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“We get it,” Luke added.
“So does your ex want to share custody?” Max asked.
“My ex ‘never signed up for this,’ which makes me pretty sure she’s still not on the right medications. I’m meeting with a lawyer to make sure she can’t pop up whenever she wants.”
“You need to go for full-time custody,” Luke said.
“Agreed,” Max said.
“That’s the plan,” I told them. “If I could track Gina down, I’d see if she’d sign away her rights. I think she would.”
“You can’t find her?”
With a head shake, I said, “I haven’t heard from her since the note she left with Juniper.”
I’d looked up the mentions on the Tattler and knew the drop-off had been detailed for everyone, so I didn’t need to explain.
“That baby girl is where she’s meant to be now,” Max said. “I just hate what she’s been through so young.”
“Lucky thing is she won’t remember any of it,” Chance said.
“Damn straight.” Max stood and tossed back the rest of his beer. “It’s great you have Quincy’s help for a couple of months.”
“I don’t know what I would’ve done without her. She has a magic way with June.” I did my best not to think about her magic ways withme.
“With kids of every age,” Chance said. “She babysat Sam a few times back in the day. She’s gonna make a fantastic early ed teacher.”
“Agreed,” Max said. “The world needs more people like her to go into teaching.”
“I don’t know Quincy well,” Luke said, “but her dad does my insurance. I was in a couple of weeks ago to see him. He’s happy as hell she’s finally figured out what to do with her life. He said the same thing as you: she was born to be a teacher. He just wishes it hadn’t taken her so long to figure it out.”
“Better late than never. Waiting tables was never her strong point,” Chance said. “She’s a great girl, but…”
“Clumsy as hell,” Max said, which was no exaggeration. “Who’s up for some darts?”
“This game isn’t keeping my attention,” Chance said, gesturing toward the TV. “Let’s do it.”
Relieved to not be the center of attention anymore, I stood eagerly, taking an extra pizza slice toward the dartboard.
“I’m in,” Luke said.
As we played 501, we made a hell of a dent in the food. Over the next couple of hours, I learned that Luke and Addie lived with his dad on his family’s farm outside of town, where they grew strawberries and apples. Max was the high-school football coach as well as a math teacher. He’d had an active social life until the day his cousin had died in a car accident. Chance’s wife had died when their daughter was four. He hadn’t dated anyone since. Had some flings apparently, but he was dead set against getting involved with anyone else, at least until his daughter was grown and out of the house.
I also learned that Max was as good at darts as anyone I’d seen. I razzed him for being a typical jock, good at all things physical. He beat us all, multiple times, but it didn’t matter.
When the football game ended, SportsCenter continued to play in the background while we went for round two of food and switched to pool.
Somehow, deep into the third game of pool, we got onto the topic of college funds for our kids.
“Shit,” Max said. “Something else I haven’t had a chance to think about.”
“I’ve thought about it,” Luke said. “Jess has a small fund started but I’m trying to figure out how to contribute to one regularly. It’s been a tight year at the farm.”
“I’ve got nothing,” Chance said. “Raising a kid isn’t cheap. I’ve been meaning to look into it, but I don’t even know who to go to for advice.”
It was my turn, and I took aim at the cue ball, shaking my head as I nicked the ten ball at not quite the right angle and it rolled and bounced off the side. “I could give you some tips,” I said, straightening. “I’m not a financial advisor, but I’ve written dozens of articles on that topic alone. I’d be happy to help you sort things out.”
“Hell yes. Please. Do you have a financial planner?” Chance asked.
