If you’re getting married today, I hope she makes you feel invincible and tongue-tied all at once. The best kind of love turns you into a moron. It may be a pain in the ass at the beginning, but it’s so worth it in the end. I loved your mother from the first day I met her, and I hate like hell that I’ll be leaving her soon. If you aren’t getting married, and you know a girl that does that to you, don’t be an idiot and wait. Take it from me, life is far too short to hesitate.
Other than that, I think fatherly advice is a moot point now. You lost me, but you had a ton of people who loved you and who I knew would look after you. As I leave for wherever I’m headed, that gives me more peace than you’ll ever know.
So, Jack, congratulations today. Whatever stories you’ve heard about me, know this: You were my pride, my joy, and my hope. And from wherever I am right now, you still are.
Love always,
Your father
I dropped my head to my knees. The letter knocked the wind out of me. I folded it and slid it back into the envelope. I may not have known Jack Taylor, Sr., but I always felt his absence. Today, it felt as though he were here with me. I smiled and shoved the letter into my dresser drawer.
“Jack?” My sister’s tiny voice filtered in from the doorway. “Can I come in?”
“Sure, PJ.” She was fifteen and growing up way too fast. She was petite like my mother and every bit as feisty, and she’d followed me around since she was able to walk. That was both good and terrible.
“Listen, you can have the basement.” Her brown eyes pleaded with me as she came over to where I sat on my bed.
My brows knit together. “The basement? What are you talking about?”
“I heard you talking to mom. That you don’t want to fight me for the basement. If you stay, you can have it.” Her eyes fell to the floor. As much as she aggravated me at times, it was difficult not to baby her. A smile tugged at my lips as I pulled her into a hug.
“I appreciate the offer, baby sister, but that’s not why I’m leaving. I need to be on my own. I’ll be around. I have to be. Dad made me promise to keep the boys away from you. I intend to do my job.” I kissed her forehead.
“Not you, too.” Her eyes rolled. “Dad already asked me to change. He said the dress is too short. Mom waved him off, but he keeps motioning for me to pull it down.” She huffed and shook her head. Dad needed my help, all right.
“I’ll be right out.”
She nodded and rose from the bed. Her long auburn hair flowed over her shoulders, and nothing about her seemed as though it belonged to a kid. I had a fleeting thought of unpacking my bags and staying to scare off any idiots who came by.
“I love you, Jack.” Her voice was small as she leaned against my doorjamb. “It’s cool that you’re a fireman today.”
“I love you, too, Peege.”
I sighed and took a long look at my sister. Nope, she didn’t look fifteen at all in that dress. Not to me, and probably not to the 350 graduating members of the Fire Department of the City of New York today.
“You don’t have a dress that’s longer than that?”
“Ugh,” she groaned and stomped down the hallway.
“It’s the fire academy graduation? I thought the Rangers were playing today.” Uncle Evan smirked as he shook Dad’s hand.
“Sorry, Uncle Evan. Madison Square Garden is boring today.” He pulled me into a hug and slapped my back, holding my gaze for a long minute after he pulled away.
“You . . .” He shook his head. “You look so much like him today.”
“He sure does.” Aunt Paige’s glassy eyes locked with mine as she adjusted my cap. “We are so damn proud of you.”
“Thanks.” I took in her tired eyes. Sometimes she did too much and made herself flare, and Mom said she’d been extra tired lately. My father was right about her sickness being permanent, but it never stopped her.
“How are you feeling?” I squeezed her hand.
“I’m fine,” she scoffed, waving me off. “Do you really think I’d miss this today? I’d crawl here if I had to.”
Aunt Paige was like a second mother to me. Aunt Kate was the fun aunt who liked to throw money around, but Aunt Paige treated me like one of her own kids. I always thought of her as a link to my father since they were so close. He never had to worry about me keeping an eye on her. I loved her too much.
“Hi, Jack!” My cousin Alex was a year older than my sister. She was beautiful and brilliant and never made a wave or a fuss. Her sister Lucy was a completely different story.
“Congrats, Jack.” Lucy ran over to me in a dress so short it made my sister’s look like a nun’s outfit. At times, I was surprised Uncle Evan still had hair on his head. We grew up as best friends, but her antics at times were just as taxing on me. I smiled to myself, remembering what my father said about Aunt Paige. I supposed that was another tradition I had to keep up with—policing my flaky cousin.
