Bo bounced around between his friends all evening, all the while devouring a truly startling amount of food. Sarah challenged Walter to a lip-sync battle and got her ass handed to her with a vote of six to one. Caleb, of course, voted with his heart.
Robert held court with Jeremiah and Kevin most of the evening, discussing French cuisine. Adamir and I bonded over our love of plants, and I sent him home with a dozen cuttings to propagate when he cut out early.
Then, after a truly wonderful evening, the party died down a little after midnight. Walter caught a ride home with Jeremiah and Kevin. Caleb and Sarah stayed to help clean up. Not that Sarah isanyhelp in her current state.
“This was great, Win,” Caleb says, tying a garbage bag.
“I had fun,” I say, smiling into the sink as I wash wineglasses. “I hope Bo did too.”
“Sure seems like it,” Caleb says, peeking out into the living room. “I think we should get going, though. Have you got this?”
“Yeah, of course. I’ll just do the rest tomorrow,” I say, drying my hands on a tea towel. “Thanks for helping.”
“Any time,” he says, putting his arm around me as we turn the corner into the living room. I fall next to Sarah on the couch and begin petting her hair away from her face. “Time to go, babe,” I whisper. “You can sleep in your nice, warm bed.”
Sarah sits up, groaning.
“Ready, love?” Caleb says, bending over the back of the couch. Sarah stumbles over to him, then pets his face as he shakes his head affectionately. “Yeah, you’re ready. Okay, here we go.” He guides her to the front hall with a hand on the small of her back and helps her into her shoes and coat.
“Byeee,” Sarah whines out, waving from the door with her eyes mostly shut. “Robert, it wassogood to meet you. Bo, happy birthday. You’re great. Win…” Sarah opens one eye, looking at me with a soft, hazy smile. “Best of luck with all your future endeavours,” she hiccups.
“Nailed it,” Caleb says gently, rubbing her back. “Bye, guys. Happy birthday, man!”
“Thank you,” Bo says to them both. “Thanks for coming,” he repeats.
“Love you!” I shout after them as Caleb shuts the door.
“You’ve got a good group of friends, Robbie,” Bo’s dad says, sighing. “It’s nice to see.”
I glance between the men, but they both slowly turn toward me, smiling appreciatively.
“I’m very lucky,” Bo says softly—eyes held on mine.
I blush, but the dimly lit room is hopefully dark enough to disguise it well.
“I’m going to go take a shower before bed,” Bo says. “You okay?” he asks me.
“Of course,” I say, smiling up at him.
As soon as Bo’s out of the room, Robert stands and moves to the opposite end of the couch from me. “Thank you,” he says earnestly. “I like knowing my son is well looked-after.”
“Ah, well, it’s just a party.”
“No, it isn’t. He’s happy now. He wasnothappy last year. Who could blame him?”
“Sometimes I wish I’d known him then,” I admit. “I hate thinking that he felt so alone.”
Robert tilts his head into his palm, listening to me with a warm grin—an almost proud expression. “Joanna would have loved you, you know. You have her same… care. I can tell life has not been easy or always kind to you, but you haven’t let it turn you hard. Not like a stone. You became like water. You move with it all. You’re soft… but powerful.”
I immediately have to blink away tears, shaking my head. “Oh,” I say, sniffling. “That’s, um…”
“The odd musings of a drunk Frenchman,oui.”
“No, I mean… That’s very kind. Thank you. From what Bo has said, Joanna was a fantastic person. I certainly admire her taste in music,” I say, offering a piece of levity.
“WhathasBo said about his mother?”
I wince, hoping I don’t make Bo sound cold or uncaring. But I don’t want to lie either. “Not a lot, honestly. Just… how you two met. How much you both miss her. The music, and—”
