His communication app didn't offer much emphasis or intonation unless he used exclamation points or question marks though I'd come to interpret the text-to-speech output with his personality. And as I learned ASL, I heard more of his voice in there too. Even with him in the back seat, I knew there wasa sassy, petulant expression on his face and that he would've signed all the exasperation he could conjure into those words.
"Yep, lots of corn to eat. Corn on the cob, corn cakes, corn dogs, kettle corn," I said.
"I can eat twelve corn dogs at one time," Percy said.
"Not at one time, please." Jude glanced at his son in the rearview mirror. "Individually. One after another. Unless you've learned how to unhinge your jaw and forgot to mention it to me. And since you didn't pack a barf bag, my friend, it probably won't be twelve but I admire the ambition."
"There were a few different corn chowders last year and lots of games," I said. "Oh, and all kinds of local whiskey and bourbon."
"You could've led with that last part," Jude said under his breath.
"Is that your way of telling me that I'll be the one driving us home?"
He laced his fingers with mine. "We'll see."
I gave his hand a squeeze. We didn't have much time left. He was due back in Michigan for Percy's custody hearing next week, not that we talked much about it. School started for me the week after and I really didn't know where any of that left us.
I wanted to ask but I didn't. Not when the answers would slice into the time we had left. It wasn't better this way, it wasn't easier. But at least I could pretend.
I had a lot of experience with that.
chapter fifty-two
Audrey
Today's vocabulary word: flourish
As we rolledto a stop in front of Shay and Noah's farmhouse, Percy asked, "Is that a pirate ship?"
"It is," I said with a laugh. "Noah's niece Gennie really likes pirates. He built a pirate ship clubhouse onto her swing set."
"Can I try it?" he asked.
"I'm sure Gennie would love to show you around. She's a little older than you. But I think you'll have a lot of fun with her. She's a really cool kid."
"Am I a cool kid?"
I shifted in my seat to face him. "You are one of the coolest kids I know and I've met lots of kids," I said. "Come on. Let's go find Gennie and check out this pirate ship."
As we spilled out of the car, Shay emerged from the house, a hand shielding her eyes from the sun. "You're here," she yelled, hurrying down the porch steps. She waved at Jude when she spotted him. "And you too!"
He raised a hand in greeting and he probably responded to her as well but I was too happy to see my dear old friend tonotice. I rounded the car, my arms outstretched toward her. "We wouldn't miss it." We rocked back and forth in the kind of soul-fortifying hug that only Shay could give.
"You look amazing," she said, holding me at an arm's-length. "Whatever you're doing, it's working for you."
"And you," I said, motioning to her newly bobbed hair. "I love this length on you."
She smoothed a hand over the rose gold strands, grinning. "Everyone gets a back-to-school cut around here."
"Speaking of which…" I glanced back to find Percy trying to disappear behind Jude. He had an arm hooked around Jude's leg but his face was mashed into his father's shorts. "Is your niece around? I'd like her to meet my friend Percy."
"Just one sec." Shay held up a finger before jogging up the stairs. She rang an antique brass bell mounted beneath the porch light and then returned to the gravel drive. She bent down, saying, "Hi, Percy. I'm Shay."
He offered a small wave and went back to hiding behind Jude when a bellowed cry of "I'm coming!" came from the far side of the yard. Gennie sprinted to the driveway, a pair of old mutts trailing well behind her.
"Aunt Audrey," she shouted as she skidded to a stop in front of us. She threw her arms around my waist, knocking me back a step. "I've missed the shit out of you."
Jude coughed. "What just happened?"
