“Really good,” Lark says, and she’s practically glowing. They both are, actually, and I’m thrilled for them, for the life they’re building together. I ignore the brief thought of Emma that flickers through my mind.
“It’s so much fun working with this production team,” Lark continues, her excitement contagious. “I mean, we’re still early on in the new album, but I’m having an absolute blast.” She looks up at Jack with a smile, who presses a kiss to the top of her head.
“Oh! Almost forgot.” Jack sets Chloe down and digs into the bag he dropped by the door. He pulls out a mini racing helmet with the official Ferrari logo, and across the back in sparkly pink letters: CHLOE M. - JUNIOR PIT CREW.
“Is that real?” Chloe whispers, like she’s afraid speaking too loud might make it disappear.
“Custom made,” Jack says. “You’re officially on the team now.”
She takes it from him with trembling hands, stares at it for exactly two seconds, then jams it onto her head. It’s too big and slides down over her eyes immediately, but she just tilts her chin up so she can see out from under the rim and announces, “I’m never taking this off.”
Jack catches my eye over her head and winks. Favorite uncle status secured for another year at least.
After dinner, we migrate to the deck as the sky goes fully dark and the first stars start appearing overhead. The morning’s drizzle cleared hours ago, but the chairs are still beaded with moisture, so we grab towels and wipe them down before settling in.
It’s cold out, a sharp November cold, but between the fire pit table and the outdoor heaters I invested in last year, we’re plenty warm. Hot toddies help too. Maren’s recipe, heavy on the whiskey.
Chloe’s running around with sparklers that Lark brought, making wild patterns in the dark while Laila chases after her. Maren’s pulled her chair right up next to Lark’s, and they’re still deep in conversation. Someone’s phone is playing music low in the background, something melodic that Lark probably picked.
Calvin’s next to me, nursing his hot toddy. Jack and Alex have been thick as thieves all night, feeding off each other’s energy the way they always have. The two youngest, roommates until Jack left for racing, and the reason Mom started locking the liquor cabinet when they were fourteen.
Between them they hold the family records for groundings, broken bones, and times someone had to be picked up from the principal’s office. Right now they’re both watching Dom with the kind of coordinated focus that never leads anywhere good, while Dom scrolls through his phone and pretends not to notice.
“Dominic, you never shared what happened earlier this week,” Alex says, glancing at Jack with that smile that means trouble.
“Oh?” Jack perks up immediately. “What happened earlier this week?”
Dom doesn’t look up from his phone. “I know what you’re referring to, and it’s not interesting.”
“A woman asked Dominic out on a date,” Alex announces tothe group. “Right next to me while we were working out. Really pretty, too. He told her he was too busy.”
“That’s because Iamtoo busy, and I’m perfectly fine on my own, thanks,” Dom says, still scrolling through his phone with the measured patience of an oldest sibling who has spent his entire life dealing with exactly this kind of nonsense.
Alex laughs. “Come on, man, I’m not saying you have to marry her. I’m just saying it might loosen up that stick you’ve got permanently lodged up your ass.”
I glance at Calvin, who catches my eye and grins. We’re both watching the whole thing with the same quiet amusement.
“You’re single, too,” Dom points out, finally glancing up at Alex.
“Yeah, but I date,” Alex says. “I go out, I meet people, I have a social life outside of work and the gym.”
“I like the gym,” Dom says. “I like home. I like my routine.”
“Wow, you should put that on a dating profile,” Jack laughs. “‘Likes routine. Seeks a woman who won’t disrupt it.’ Very romantic.”
Dominic glances over at Calvin and me. “Any backup here?”
I exchange a look with Calvin and we both shake our heads. “Nah, you can handle it. Besides, it keeps you sharp, battling it out with the terrible twosome over there.”
Dom rolls his eyes.
“Relax, Dom,” Alex says cheerfully. “We’ll let it go. For now at least. But I’m revisiting this at Christmas.”
“Can’t wait,” Dom says, and there’s the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.
I lean back in my chair and let the moment settle over me. This is everything I wanted. My family here in my home, on this property I’ve poured years into building. Everything I worked for, everything I planned and executed and made real with my own two hands.
And still, something’s missing. Someonemaybe.
