“You’re going to have a wonderful life, Ella Mae Gonzalez.You’re going to make the world a better place just like your mama wanted.”
“Come on, Dad.We haven’t even passed a car in like ten minutes.No one would know.It’ll be fine.”
Nash Cooper glanced in the rear-view mirror.His boy was old enough not to need a booster seat anymore, but the fact that he wasn’t old enough to sit in the front annoyed the ten-year-old.He’d been complaining for days that the view from the rear seat sucked.“Nice try bud, but it’s still a no.”
Charlie sighed dramatically making Nash grin.When he glanced in the mirror again, Charlie smiled back.“It was worth a try.”
This kid.He looked so like his mom that it nearly ripped Nash’s heart from his chest.There’d been complications during the birth, and she’d only lived long enough to hold her beautiful baby for moments.
He was glad she’d had that.Charlotte had been born to be a mom.She’d wanted a whole brood, but the pregnancy had been challenging.Then things got worse.
Nash blinked away the emotion and the memories.It might have been over a decade, but losing the love of his life was never not going to hurt.He’d mostly learned to live with the ache.
Their bright, happy son made it easier, even when he whined.
On cue, Charlie piped up.“Are we there yet?”
When Nash shot him a look in the mirror, the kid cracked up.“The last sign we passed said we’ve got less than five miles before we get to Phail.If we drive a mile a minute, we should almost be there.Are we still stopping in the town first?”
Nash nodded.“We are.I don’t want to arrive on their doorstep without a full load of food and supplies.You eat like a polar bear.”
Charlie laughed.“I’m not eating raw seal.”
“Chicken.”
“Yep, I’ll take chicken before raw seal any day.”
Laughing, Nash pointed ahead.“I see signs of Phail.”
Charlie leaned forward even as he scrunched up his face.“Don’t these people realize how that sounds?It sounds like you’re saying you see signs of failing.”
“I agree.But Phail is my buddy Troy’s last name, and his ancestors settled the town.”
“Maybe we can tell him to change it.”
Nash laughed.“Probably not the best thing to suggest when you first meet him.”
Charlie grinned.“Probably not.He’s the friend who lives in town, right?Not on our apple farm?”
Nash’s heart warmed.His kid was amazing.They hadn’t even arrived, and he was already sayingourfarm.“Right.You met the other guys on video chat the other day.Do you remember their names?”
Charlie frowned.“I think so.Gray, Knox, and Dodge?”
Nash laughed.“Yep.But Dodge’s real name is Ford.”
“I wonder what they’ll give me for a call sign when I join the army?”
Nash could almost hear Charlotte protesting from the beyond.She’d never been a fan of Nash being in the army.It was one of the reasons he’d been considering not re-upping.Then she’d died, and the choice had been accelerated.He would do anything for their son, and staying stateside had been an easy choice.And the right one.
He hoped moving from Florida to Vermont would be the same.
They passed the I-Phail tower and Phail Fire Hall.He slowed when they reached the business district of the town, which was a whole two intersections after theWelcome to Phail, where we Succeedsign.
Charlie’s neck craned from one side to the other as he read off the names of the businesses.“Doc’s.The Saloon.Phail General.Phail Central.No Fail Diner.Phail Phoods.”
His son was cackling by the time he finished reading them all.“I guess they like the name.I don’t think they’re going to want to change it.”
Nash parked in the lot near Phail Phoods and across from Phail Way Park.“I think you’re right.They’re obviously okay having fun with the name.”
