“I was just thinking that probably no one wears white shorts.”
“Definitely not, but you should come. We usually start around six. Come whenever.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“Come. Maybe Ben will see the fire and stop by. His parents usually have something over at their place with Branson and Brenna.”
“Thanks, I’ll stop by. Not because Ben might show up, but because I don’t want to be alone on the Fourth. So, thanks.”
“Great. See you then.”
I jumped into my car before I could say anything else, afraid I might cry.
I’m a long way from home, Toto.
12
Ben
As I drove over to my parents’ place on the Fourth of July, my phone rang. For a second, I wished it was Murphy, but we hadn’t exchanged numbers, and I was taking it slow as promised. It had also slipped my mind that the Bean would be closed today, and I couldn’t sneak in to get a peek at Murphy and maybe get her number.
“Hey, Hunnie,” I grumbled into the Bluetooth. The woman was like a dog with a bone when she wanted something.
“Ben. Sorry to bug you on the Fourth, but ...”
I rolled the window up all the way so I could hear. “I’m on my way to my parents’. I’ll talk to them about the goats and reindeer and whatever else you want to have out there for the kids to pet.”
“Thanks, but that’s not totally why I was calling. But yeah, I was going to remind you. Ha.”
Typical Hunnie.
“You okay?” I asked. Typically, people called me when they needed to see a doctor. Whether it be an ortho they needed or just a referral, they called. I was the doctor, not the person they called just to chat. Even though I’d lived here most of my life, having an MD after my name made me an outsider.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Nothing like that. We’re doing our usual bonfire with my brother and the kids, and I invited Murphy. I was going to see if you wanted to stop by.”
I sighed. “Hunnie, you aren’t playing matchmaker, are you?”
“Who, me?” she said innocently, and I could practically hear her blushing across the line.
“Yeah, you. I’m doing you a favor by talking with my dad. Leave it alone.”
“Okay, okay,” she grumbled. “But stop by for one of my s’mores. You can’t say no to a little chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker with a real honey drizzle.”
“I’ll see how my timing works,” I said, noting the increase in my pulse rate. Of course I wanted to go. “And you know it’s not the honey drizzle drawing me,” I said without thinking.
Her tone knowing, she sang, “Oh, I know.”
“Good-bye, Hunnie,” I said and then disconnected the call.
Rolling the window all the way back down, I let the fresh air wash over my heated body.
I always did July Fourth at my folks’ house, even when I was a teen. Every year, the town had a small parade down the main street in the morning for little kids, but otherwise, there wasn’t much unless you wanted to head toward Burlington. If the Fourth happened to fall on the same day as the farmers’ market, there was live music and more hot food, but this year would be quiet.
I suspected Branson was upset with me because he’d hoped I would take him to Burlington, but this was a busier day for me. The start of a holiday weekend meant a lot of accidents. The next few days would be worse. Between all the biking, hiking, skateboarding, and swimming, coupled with drinking and a few days off, this was usually one of my busiest weeks of the year.
Now I was torn between being a good uncle and spending time with my parents, and leaving early to go see Murphy.
* * *
