Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Maybe after those divorce papers are signed and we go our separate ways, I’ll even make a concerted effort to date again.
Soon enough, my family starts arriving. First Jack with Aaron, then June with Cain, followed by Aunt Dina and Uncle Chuck.
“What’s on the grill tonight?” Jack asks.
“Baby back ribs.”
“Good to know in case I don’t recognize them after they burn.”
I point the spatula at him. “Better watch out, or I’ll char your portion.”
He holds his hands up and laughs before retreating to the kitchen for a wine opener. I glance toward the driveway, wondering what’s taking Micah so long. When June joins Jack to store her side dish in the refrigerator, I step inside.
“Hey, before I forget to mention it, I might take off a couple of days at the end of next week. Ross will hold down the fort, but do you think you could check on the bar for me while I’m gone?”
They both stare at me like I’ve grown two heads.
“You’re never gone,” June says once she’s recovered. “What’s up?”
“Micah has an important audition in LA and invited me to go with him.”
They share a look, and Jack says, “And you decided that was a good idea?”
“I don’t know. Still thinking it through. He brought along the divorce papers and thought it might be a good time to file them.”
“Did he really?” June asks.
“Why so surprised? You said it needs to be done.”
Jack folds his arms. “But do you know it?”
“Of course I do. We’ll always be friends and think fondly of each other.”
“Speak of the devil,” June says, glancing out the window. My heart clenches as I watch Micah greet my family. Aunt Dina offers a hug and Cain a high five.
We head outside, and when our eyes meet, my stomach flutters like it always does—especially recollecting him in the throes of passion last night.
He hesitates behind an open seat at the table. “Hope it’s okay John invited me.”
June smiles. “It’s all good.”
“Glad to have you,” Uncle Chuck says as Micah plops down, relief in his features.
Now I wonder if he was late because he was nervous about what my family would think. But none of them act surprised to see him. We’ve always been tied at the hip, legally separated or not.
“Just like old times,” Micah blurts, then winces.
Everyone grows quiet because it’s actually not, in any way, shape, or form. Not without our three missing family members, preceded by Micah leaving well before the accident.
Right on cue, Frank shows up. He only joins us occasionally, though the invite is always open. “If it were like old times, Mr. McCoy would be yelling from behind the grill for someone to get a move on, and Mrs. McCoy would tell him to pipe down.”
Everyone laughs, and it’s enough to break the tension.
“Yeah, and Dan would be playing ball with Cain in the middle of it all.”
“Shit yeah, while I tried to keep up.” Cain chuckles humorlessly. “He would always make me try other sports.”
“That’s because he didn’t want you to break your neck on the waves,” Jack reminds him, and Aaron frowns.
“But it was okay on the football field?” Cain replies with a snort.
“Somehow, it seemed safer to him. And look what happened anyway,” June bites out, then gasps. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that.”
“It’s okay. We should talk about them more,” I say to try and smooth it over. “It feels good to remember them as they were.”
June squeezes Cain’s shoulder. “Your dad loved you so much, and yeah, was always worried about you.”
Cain shakes his head. “I wish…”
“Yeah, I know, I wish too.” She swipes a tear before clearing her throat.
“Somebody get me a drink!” Frank says, and Micah chuckles, settling in with his own glass of wine.
Soon enough, dinner is ready, and I place the ribs on a large platter in the center of the table while June retrieves the side dishes from the kitchen.
As we pass around the food, it feels comfortable having Micah here—maybe a little bit like old times. I can see how pleased he is to be around my family again. He picks up where he left off by teasing Cain about girls and sparring with Jack about local politics.
“Does Aqua Vista have a historical society?” Aaron asks, throwing Micah a look, and I have no doubt it’s because of his grandfather’s property.
“They do,” Uncle Chuck replies after wiping his mouth. “They have records dating back nearly two hundred years.”
“No way.” Aaron’s eyes light up. “I’ll have to check that out.”
“Uh-oh,” Jack teases. “You have no idea, but you’ve just opened a can of worms.”
Aunt Dina grins as she studies Micah shoveling a forkful of food into his mouth. “Did you miss my famous potato salad?”
He nods as he swallows. “John’s cooking too.”
“Seriously? This guy’s cooking?” Jack eggs Micah on, and I narrow my eyes at him.