“Me too,” I say, pulling back with a smile. My eyes catch on a new Alcoholics Anonymous medallion hanging like a pendant around her neck. “You earned a new coin?”
Her green eyes sparkle. “I did.”
“Mom!” I pull her into another tight hug as Julia and Tuck pause their game long enough to congratulate her. “I’m so proud of you!”
“Thanks, Son. I’m proud of myself, too,” she says, eyes a little teary.
Julia resumes throwing pepperoni at Tuck’s face. “I’m so happy all our schedules finally coincided! I’ve missed these Friday nights.” Julia speeds her timing, forcing Tuck to swerve and dart to catch them.
“Julesh!” Tuck pants, mouth full. “Shlow-dowhn.”
We burst out laughing, and Mom pulls my best friends into a hug.
“See?” Mom says. “What would pizza night be without you guys? Just like old times.” She turns to Tuck. “Does Heidi still want us to come over tomorrow for that barbecue?”
His light brown hair flops as he nods. “Last I checked.”
“Hon, are you gonna be able to make it to the Sandersons’ tomorrow?” Mom asks.
A grin pulls the corners of my mouth. “Wouldn’t miss it. Now should we cook these pizzas, or what?” I stroll over to the oven, making a show as I thoroughly check inside it before setting it to preheat. “Let’s give the fire marshal the night off, shall we?”
Mom swats me with a dishtowel. “You are such a butt.”
I laugh, drinking her in. I like to see her like this. Face animated and flushed with a healthy glow, acting all silly and sassy.
Taking a soda from the six pack, I pass one to Mom before tossing cans to Jules and Tuck, then I hoist myself onto the countertop.
“Hey Tuck, how’s that work project going? The manifold stuff?” Julia asks.
I pop the top of my can. “Yeah, howisthat going?”
Tuck grins. “You guys just had to go and ruin it, didn’t you?”
“Huh?” I say.
“I was gonna tell you guys later tonight, but my latest prototype didn’t show any of the old defects. I think the technology is sound enough now that I can reach out to EcoSphere and see if they still want to buy it.”
We all congratulate him as Julia claps, sliding off the counter to give him a hug.
“I knew you could do it!” she says.
Tuck draws a breath as he rests his chin against her shoulder.
“Thanks, Jules, but the game isn’t over yet. Their team’s gonna continue testing the prototype until it fits their criteria, so it still could fail. But now it’s just a waiting game.”
“If anyone can do this, it’s you,” she says.
I catch Mom out of the corner of my eye, typing on her phone with a sullen expression.
“Is that Chaz? Where is he, anyway?” I ask.
She plops the phone onto the counter. “He’s working late at the auto body shop.” Her mouth tightens the tiniest bit, but enough that I notice. “He’ll probably be home later.”
Unease curls in my gut, but I swallow my soda. This precious moment suddenly feels like a house of cards, one gust from toppling over.
One look at that bronze coin around her neck reminds me thatsheis the house of cards and Chaz the burly breeze. My fist tightens, and the aluminum can crackles a bit.
I hate that I can’t fully enjoy the good things in life.
