She smiles at me. “Call Aubree. She wants to see you. She knows you’re back and is waiting for your call.” Aubree and I go way back—played basketball for the same club as teenagers. She married an AFL player, Hunter, and they live on the Glenelg esplanade, within walking distance of my home. While we drifted during the last five years, she checked in on Mom regularly, promised not to tell me about Mom until she was ready.
“You’re right. I’ll call her now.” I walk inside to find her number.
“BJ.” I don’t miss the relief in her tone.
“Hey. Sorry it’s taken me this long to call.”
“Please don’t apologize. I’m sorry your family is going through this.”
“Yeah. Thank you for coming to visit Mum. She told me what you did for her.”
“It’s fine. I’ve known your mum since my teens, and I was happy to help in any way I could.”
“Yeah, well, I feel like the selfish son who ignored his mother’s well-being while I was on the other side of the world.”
“You’re not selfish. You had a dream, and you were living it. Your mum understood, and there was nothing you could do if you came home before her surgery. She knew that. I understood it as well because my dream of playing ball in the US was stolen from me. I wouldn’t have it any other way because I love my husband and kids, but you had a vision, and your mum was not about to steal it from you.”
“It still doesn’t feel right.”
“She’s on the mend. We’re all here for her. And you’re here now. That’s important.”
I nod even though she can’t see me. “She’s doing better.”
“That’s great. And I’m guessing she told you to go out and have some fun.”
“Yeah. I want to see you, but…” I choke up.
“Hey. We’re not going out anywhere for people to get excited to see you and ask questions about you being home. Seriously, the whole city was behind you in the championships, and you’ll be mobbed at any bar for photographs.”
I moan at the thought because I’ve avoided anywhere public as much as possible.
“Come to mine. It’s close enough for you to go home if… you need. We’ll keep it small. Just Maddy and our families.”
I smile. “That’s not intimate with all your kids.”
“No. It also helps me out so I can put Iris to sleep here.”
“Baby number four. You’re a machine.”
“Is that a compliment?” She laughs. “We’re all looking forward to seeing you and Charlotte.”
We strollalong the beachfront path to Aubree’s house as I hold Charlotte’s hand.
“Please remind me of the kids’ names again,” she asks.
I start to name the kids, but it’s a test even for me, with years between visits.
Aubree has four children, and Maddy and Luke have two.
“My challenge in life is remembering kids’ names.”
I smile, loving that she’s trying. “No one expects you to. It’s overwhelming, even for me. It’s been a long time since we all hung out, and none of us are the same people we used to be when we were friends in our late teens and early twenties. Though Aubree’s eldest son is Brandon, you can’t forget his name.”
She giggles. “Impossible, and I remember from the last time I was here. Have Maddy and Aubree remained close?”
“They have even though Maddy moved to the outback to manage a station.”
She frowns at me. “Oh, the ranch. It’s coming back to me now.”
