He showed me the picture and told me how they were going on a hike and he was going to ask once they got to the top.
“The only thing is that I want to have pictures, but I don’t think I can set up a camera beforehand.” He sighed.
“Can you hire a photographer to meet you up there? I bet you’re not the first person to want one. If you search locally, you’ll probably find someone.”
His eyes lit up. “Why didn’t I think of that? Thanks, Vail.”
“Sure.” I guess offering advice was the sisterly thing to do.
He told me more about his life with Laird and that they wanted to have kids someday.
“I’m not sure we’re settled where we are. I wouldn’t mind living around here. I could get a job at the hospital and Laird can teach anywhere.” Laird was a high school history teacher and also coached swimming.
“I mean, you could come back. There are quite a few houses for sale in the neighborhood. It’s a buyer’s market right now.” Who was I?
Dallas nodded and reached for another piece. “I’ll talk it over with Laird. I know he’s not super happy with his current school, so now might be the right time to make a change. We can also look when we come up. He’s excited to see you again.”
Oh.
“You could stay here,” I blurted out. “I mean, I have an extra bedroom.” At first I’d questioned the need for me to have three bedrooms when I was one person who only needed another bedroom that could be turned into my recording space.
But I’d absolutely fallen in love with the house and it hadn’t mattered. Guess now I’d be putting that other bedroom to use, finally.
“Are you sure? We wouldn’t want to crash your space,” he said, looking uncomfortable.
“You don’t have to, of course. It was just an idea, but the room is available if you want it. Wait, Laird isn’t allergic to cats, is he?” Plans had started spiraling through my head. New sheets and extra groceries and shifting my work schedule. Depending on when they were coming, I could take a few days off.
“No, he’s not. Let me figure out both our work schedules and we’ll give you some dates. We haven’t had a vacation in what seems like forever. Laird misses the beach. He also wants to take me sailing.”
So it was sailing he was into.
“Charles could probably take you,” I told him, and we both started laughing.
“That’s a fuck no,” he said. My brother and I were laughing together, and it was really, really good.
* * *
Dallas didn’t seemto be in a hurry to go anywhere, so we were still talking outside when Lea joined us, making sure she closed the door so the kittens couldn’t follow us outside. They hurled themselves up against the glass sliding door and looked so pitiful.
“I really need to get them a pen or something so they can come outside without needing to be on leashes,” I said as Lea looked from me to Dallas. She hovered by the door, as if she should run back inside.
“Lea, please come join us,” Dallas said, giving her a smile and pushing out another chair next to us for her to sit.
“I don’t want to intrude,” she looked at me for confirmation.
“Please. Sit down. Let me get you some iced tea,” I said.
Lea sat next to Dallas, and I went inside to grab another glass for her.
Brit and Tana were upset, so I distracted them with toys so they wouldn’t see me leaving them again.
When I returned, Lea and Dallas were laughing together like old friends.
“Thank you,” Lea said when I poured her a glass and handed it over.
“You’re welcome.”
Our eyes met and she blushed before sipping her drink and sitting back in the chair.
