Chapter 16 #2
Because somewhere inside that hard shell, he’s got a little hero hiding, too.
It made me realize how far-reaching cancer is.
It’s worse for the patient, of course, but it takes its toll on their loved ones, too.
Even Paige was more morose through the worst of it.
She’s always had a special bond with her grandma; she used to follow my mom around like a little duckling in the garden when she was a toddler.
Mom loved it, loved teaching her everything she could.
It’s in her nature—to teach. She was the town librarian my whole life, until the cancer, anyway. It pushed her into retirement before she was ready, even if she won’t admit that. She says she enjoys having so much free time, but we’ve all witnessed how she longingly talks about her library days.
“Mom’s right, I do like her. No matter how much I tell myself to slow it down,” I tell my dad.
“I get that, Son. I do,” he says. “But quick is how you ended up with Brenda.”
“Don’t I know it. But this is different. Nothing reminds me of how I felt, then. It’s…I don’t fucking know,” I say.
“You don’t know shit, kid,” Jerry says from the door. “I thought we established that already.”
“Yeah, yeah, fucker.”
He chuckles as he walks to where Dad and I stand, fresh beers in his big hands. Jerry is the Fire Chief, closer to my dad’s age than my own, but we’re good friends regardless of the age difference.
“What are we talking about?”
“Women,” my dad says.
“Plural? Or one in particular?”
“The one living in Irma’s place,” Dad responds.
“Ah, the new looker that all the old timers in town are in love with.”
“Which old timers?” I ask, and both men smirk at my possessive tone.
“Sam calls her his wounded dove,” Jerry says. “I guess she made brownies for his poker night, and now they all adore her.”
“How have I not heard about this?”
“Your head is up your ass too much,” Jerry suggests.
“He isn’t wrong,” Dad agrees.
“You know what? I’m burning both your steaks tonight.”
“Hey, man, I didn’t come over for burned steaks,” a new voice says as Mac comes striding out the back door. I’d invited him more to be cordial than anything. I didn’t expect him to show up. Juliet might murder me for it, but we were good friends growing up and Mom loved him.
“Hey, Mac, I didn’t know you were in town,” Dad greets him with a handshake.
“Moved back recently,” he says, his dark mustache dancing. “Dad could use some help.”
“Good he has you,” Dad says.
Conversation quickly turns to sports, baseball, mostly, the Seattle Mariners, particularly. I’m lost in the subject and placing steaks on the grill when a delighted squeal erupts from the house.
“Paige is amped about something,” I suggest.
“Daaaaaaaadddd!” She comes bounding out the door, carrying a tray of colorful something. “Look what Lulu made just for me!”
She shows me a rainbow made of cupcakes with her name spelled across the top.
“Just for you? I think the one with the G on it is for me,” I tease.
“No way, you don’t even like purple and it’s my favorite!” She runs away as fast as she came, meeting Lou and Juliet at the door as they come outside.
As expected, Juliet sends me a scathing look when she sees who is keeping me company. Mac chuckles softly beside me.
“You’re in trouble,” he says.
“You are, too,” I say, and his smile vanishes, making both Dad and Jerry guffaw.
“Hi,” Lou says as she comes closer. “I’m Lou.” Jerry and Mac introduce themselves, then say hello to Jules, who welcomes it from Jerry. Not so much Mac.
“Hey,” I say, pulling Lou in for a chaste kiss. “Your dessert was a hit.”
“Apparently.”
“I also heard through the rumor mill you made Sam brownies,” I say with a pretend pout.
“Ah, don’t be jealous, big guy,” she says quietly. “You get my cookie.”
“Oh, my fucking God,” I say, burying my laugh in her hair as Mac cracks up laughing beside me.
“I like this one, Grady. Don’t fuck it up,” he says, patting my back.
Leaning down, I press a kiss to her mouth. This one lingering. She pulls back, eyeing me warily.
“Did you talk to Paige?”
“I did. She’s okay with us kiiiiiiiisssssssiiiiiinnnngg,” I parrot my daughter. “She likes you, Lou.”
“She does?” She looks awed, as if she can’t fathom that my eight-year-old daughter would be enamored with her.
“She does,” I reaffirm. “I do, too. I’d like you even more if you help me run interference between whatever is about to happen over there.” I nod toward Juliet and Mac, who look like they’re in a standoff.
“On it,” Lou says and walks over to interrupt.
Immediately, Juliet’s features relax in a modicum of relief. She’ll be pissed I didn’t give her warning that he’d be here tonight.
I turn my attention back to the steaks, keeping a curious eye on all the guests as they mingle and converse around me.
Lou laughs somewhere over my shoulder, and I register how it makes me lighter.
Brings me joy, even though I have no idea what’s so funny.
It doesn’t matter. She’s come so far these past few weeks, from that sad, scared woman who I first saw drowning in sorrow and a too big sweatshirt.
I peek over and see her standing tall as she speaks with Jerry, while Paige runs circles around the pair. Lou’s shoulders are back, her head high and strong. I know she plays a role for her career, puts on a facade, yet I don’t think that’s what this is. This is genuine happiness.