69. Ep Sawyer
Ep Sawyer
Everything I thought I knew changed in one day. It shifted my perspective on what’s important.
That taking care of the people that matter is the only purpose.
“Sawyer?” Dad’s voice carries through the mechanic shop, making me drop my ratchet and start to wheel out from under the flatbed.
“Yea?” I call out, digging my heels into the concrete.
“Why is Oliver here with a crew?” He leans against the front end of the Dodge and raises one brow as he stares down at me.
I pull out a rag from my pocket and sit up off the creeper. “I’m pretty sure we talked about this before you and Lori went down to Missoula last weekend.”
There’s been a little push and pull between us as I’ve started to gain my footing here. It’s been a shift for Dad and Uncle Dixon as I try to prove myself.
Dad squints one amber eye. “Refresh my memory. I was busy down in the city.”
That makes me snort. “Sure. Is it gonna be a brother or a sister?” I chuckle, wandering towards the fridge.
It’s becoming a standing joke that Dad’s gonna repopulate the earth.
Now that I have my own kids, I get it.
“Won’t know until the next ultrasound.” He grins, waving his hand. “Anyways, why is Oliver having guys working on the guest house?”
I hand him a beer, then pop the top off my own. “Pretty sure I told you?” I blink with a smirk and take a drink. “You gotta get your head outta your pants, Dad.” It’s a fun as hell twist to be the one finally teasing him.
After another swallow, I gesture towards the window. “I talked to Cade. They’re coming up to visit this fall but they’re having another baby too. So I figured there needed to more rooms to be comfortable.”
A decade of hating my uncle has shifted to wanting to do anything I can to reknit the bonds that were broken against any of our will. The accident wasn’t his fault and I still feel like shit I blamed him for the crap that happened here.
Dad’s eyes melt into warm caramel and he claps me on the shoulder. “I appreciate that, son. I can’t wait to spend a few weeks with him.” He clenches his jaw and his nostrils flare as he gazes out to the unloading trucks. “We had a lot stolen from us. I try to talk to him as much as I can now.”
“The way I figure it, if nothing else, all our kids will grow up not knowing any better and will be a family.” I take another long swallow to try and wash down the lump in my throat.
“I know how much Carol and Grace love to play together. It makes me pretty happy that we fixed that part and that they’ve felt comfortable enough to spend the last couple of summers here. ”
“Me too,” Dad croaks. The corner of his mouth rises. “Gives me hope.”
His arms cross with a deep breath. “Thank you. There’s a lot I wish I could fix. You’re making it better, son.”
“To tomorrows.” I raise my bottle and tip the neck towards him.
He lifts his. “And living in the todays.”