Chapter 16 #2
“Your Uncle Heath made a joke.” He winked. “What’s your favorite joke?”
“Uh… What kind of key unlocks a banana?”
Heath raised his hand. “Call on me!”
“No. You know this one, that’s cheating.”
Heath put his hand down. “Right. You are right.”
He knew it too, but that wasn’t any fun. “Hrm…a house key? No. A mouse key? No. A car key? No…”
“A mon-key!” The kid looked pleased with himself. “Monkey monkey monkey.”
“Oh dude! A monkey. I love it. I’m going to remember that one.”
“This is Warren. He’s…ten? Yes. You’re ten.”
“Almost eleven.”
Heath rolled his eyes. “You have eight months.”
“That’s almost!”
“Dude, are you a sports guy? A gamer guy?”
“I ski. Do you ski? I’m really good.” Warren poked the phone in Heath’s pocket. “Show him, Uncle Heath.”
“Ah, yes. One second…” Heath scrolled and opened a video of Warren racing downhill.
“Oh wow. Wow, the video of me skiing is way less impressive.” He was sort of like a cowboy snowball…
“Well, yours was impressive for other reasons.”
“I’m going to the Olympics! One day.”
Heath nodded. “I’m waiting and watching, kiddo.”
“Anyone shorter than I am needs to come help me set the table,” Heath’s sister called from the kitchen door.
Heath cracked up. “That usually means the younger kids but…”
“Ooh…you’re in trouble.” Parker goosed his lover.
“Ow!” Heath yelped and batted at his hand. “Polite company.”
“Uh-huh. I bet no one will tell on me…” He winked at Warren. “Right?”
“Tell what? I have to go set the table!” Warren took off for the kitchen.
“No fair.” Heath pouted, lip protruding past his beard.
“See? Families like me. So much.”
“Uh-huh.” Heath pointed to the coffee table. “There’s cheese.” And fruit and little muffins and some nuts. “Let’s get some while the kids are busy.”
“Sounds great. I love these little munchies.” Which Heath should remember from last night.
“How long are you in town, Parker?” Logan looked like he’d been awake almost as long as they had.
“As long as Heath keeps me.” Oh, maybe he shouldn’t have said that…
“Oh, Jesus. Heath is a packrat. You’re here forever.” Logan gave him a wink.
Heath didn’t shy away from the conversation. “It’s true. If I like something I hold onto it.”
Logan smiled. “I knew it. You never bring anyone home. I knew it was a big deal.”
“I can handle it, being his big deal.” Parker popped a piece of cheese in his mouth to shut himself up.
“Seems like he fits right in.” Logan stuffed a square of cheddar in his mouth.
Heath took his hand. “He knew he would, too. He’s good with people.”
“Mom likes him, so you’re golden.”
He liked that idea, being Heath’s gold.
Heath sat back, rested his arm across Parker’s chair and drew lazy circles on Parker’s shoulder with his thumb. Every year he ate too much, swore he wouldn’t do that again, and then did it again the next year. He was stuffed.
“Mom, dinner was outstanding as usual.”
“Thank you. Keira and Pam were lifesavers this year. Oh, and Doug handled the turkey.”
He and Logan exchanged glances and grins, clearly being the useless ones in the family. They knew what their job was, and it hadn’t started yet.
Dishes.
So many dishes.
“Thank you, everybody.”
“I don’t think Parker is groaning enough over there.” Logan pointed at Parker. “Does he need more pie?”
“I do not need more pie, but it was amazing.” Parker looked a little like a python who’d swallowed a sheep.
“Nobody needs more pie.” Heath laughed, and then looked at Logan.
“Are we ready?”
“No.” Logan protested. “One more minute.”
“When are you heading out on your road trip?”
“Not sure, Mom. Tomorrow sometime, when we can breathe again.” He assumed it would be early-early, but he didn’t want to commit to anything.
“I can’t wait to meet your dog.” Mom was looking tired, but she was game to keep talking. “It’s been a while since we had a dog in the family.”
“Thank you. I…it means a lot to me, to be able to have her back with me.” Parker seemed a little shell-shocked, to be honest.
“And we get a road trip together.” Heath shifted his arm from the back of the chair to Parker’s shoulders. “That will be fun.”
“Car snacks!” Keira looked excited. “The best part of a road trip. Send pictures.”
“Oh, I will.” He would take plenty.
“I can’t even think about car snacks right now, but tomorrow? Tomorrow, I’ll be able to.” Parker’s grin was pure evil.
“I’ll make you a couple of turkey sandwiches for the trip.” Mom was never too tired to make sure everyone was fed.
“Thanks, Mom. That would be great.” He pushed his chair back. “I think it’s that time, man.”
Logan nodded. “Yep. I’m coming.”
When neither of them got up, everyone laughed.
Parker, though he did get up, heading straight for the kitchen like he knew exactly what the plan was.
Mom looked at him, arched an eyebrow. “I suggest you keep this one.”
He laughed and hauled his butt out of his chair. “Hey, Park! You’re making me look bad, man!”
Logan snorted. “Leave it you to bring home an overachiever.”
“He rides bulls. Overachiever doesn’t begin to describe him.”
“You’ll find, honey, that I am an experienced dishwasher. I have been tasked with this job more than I can say.”
“Then we’re going to have this kitchen cleaned up in no time.” He snuck a quick kiss. “Logan will clear the table, everyone else will put the kids to bed. Mom will make sandwiches. It’s a tradition.”
“Rock on. Let’s do this thing.” Parker smiled at him, and it was like heaven. He didn’t like to take credit for much, but that smile was for him. Parker hadn’t been smiling when he first arrived. Not at all.
It had been a week, but somehow, they’d managed to make their time…work.
It didn’t make sense.
Maybe it didn’t have to.
Whenever he talked with his mom about everyone getting married and having kids, she’d say, when you know, you know. He felt like he knew, and even if he was wrong, he and Parker were having a great time, and he was going with it.
He bumped shoulders with Parker. “You want to wash or dry?”
“Wash. Duh,” Parker rolled his eyes.
They goofed around, powering through the dishes while Logan cleared the table and Mom and Keira made sandwiches and put leftovers away. Everyone else was off tucking in kids or dozing off the food coma in the den.
“I’ve got four sandwiches and some chips ready for you boys for your trip.” Mom took off her apron. “And now I’m pooped! What a wonderful day.”
“Thank you for letting me come and spend the day, ma’am. It’s been amazing.” Parker didn’t even sound at all as if he didn’t mean it.
“It has, hasn’t it?” Mom took the towel out of Parker’s hands so she could hold them. “You have been a lovely addition. Truly. You’re welcome any time.”
“Thank you. He’s amazing, you know. Heath. Magical.”
He was not going to blush. Or that’s what he told himself. It didn’t work.
“Thank you, I do know. He’s my boy. And he’s done well for himself.” Mom winked at Parker, then let his hands go. “Good luck with the road trip. Stay in touch.”
They both got hugs, and then Mom took herself off to bed.
“Guess that’s our cue. Look at these sandwiches. Wow.” Mom didn’t skimp on the turkey.
“Damn. We can eat them for days.” Parker winked and helped him pack them up.
“Probably good. It’s a long drive, or I assume it is. Where are we going again?” Heath laughed.
“Near Enid, Oklahoma. It’s about a twenty-five-hour drive, give or take.” Parker chuckled at him, shook his head. “You’ll get to see the American Midwest.”
Oklahoma. Wow. Well, that was what a road trip was about right? Going random places and seeing random things. “Hey, I’ve never been to Oklahoma. We’re not driving straight through, though, right?”
“Nope. That’s harsh. We’ll head down the middle and up closer to the coast. We have time, right?”
“We have a week, plus a day or so. Plenty of time to wander.” Heath took the bag of food. “Should we head home?”
“Sounds good to me.” Parker was relaxed and easy, humming Silent Night softly.
The teenagers were watching something on TV with the volume down low, and his siblings were cleaning and packing up presents.
“We’re going to say goodnight, you guys.”
“I guess it’s about that time, bro.” Logan gave him a hug, and then everyone started hugging and saying thanks yous.
“Do you hug?” Logan opened his arms for Parker, and it was so cute.
“I do. I’m totally a hugger.” Parker hugged his brother tight.
“So good to meet you. You fit right in. I’m happy for you guys.”
“I am too. He’s…special.” Parker glanced at him. “Very.”
He smiled back at Parker, then gave a wave. “Merry Christmas, everybody.”
“Merry Christmas. Bye! Drive safe!”
He closed the door and everything went quiet. It was cold, and the sky was clear.
“Merry Christmas, honey.” Parker hooked their arms together. “Thank you for this.”
“Merry Christmas, babe. What a day, huh?” He kissed Parker’s cheek. “I hope they weren’t too crazy for you.”
“No, they made me feel welcome. Thank you. I had a ball.” Parker leaned into him. “I hope they liked me too.”
“They loved you. You’re part of the family now.” The idea of bringing anyone home had always made him too nervous, but Parker was different.
Everything about this was different, and he thought maybe that was one of the reasons it was working so well.
“I’m glad. I want to be a part of something bigger than me.” Parker beamed at him. “Let’s go home. Tomorrow we start our big road trip. Together.”