My mother-in-law had warmed up to me after Trent was born. Though Shay probably still resented how I stole her daughter and grandsons, she couldn’t deny they were happy in Baton Rouge. I especially got a kick out of how she hung a copy of my baby picture in her hallway with the other family photos.
“Though Clint was always calm as a kid, Elle had a devious side,” Shay explained. “Of course, she also had a bunch of cousins to keep her in check. Trent only has Sutter, who thinks his antics are hilarious.”
I couldn’t deny that Trent was a funny kid. He hammed it up constantly, especially for his grandfather. Ford couldn’t get enough of Trent’s antics.
“Trent might be a comedian,” Elle claimed one night while we rested in our dark bedroom.
“He’s supposed to grow up to take over my club.”
“Don’t pressure our son to be you,” Elle said and cuddled against me. “Besides, you weren’t Zodiac Bondi as a little boy. Michael was too busy focused on surviving to ham it up.”
Elle was right, of course. I was worrying about a distant future rather than allowing my son to find his way.
My wife was always sharp, and I learned to use her as a sounding board whenever I had issues. Considering how she viewed Black Rainbow as an extension of me, my club brothers’ problems became hers.
Elle juggled home life, the Sabine Women’s Center, and even a daughter to the family. Despite how busy she became, I never felt forgotten. Elle was more than my sexy wife or sounding board. She was the best damn friend I ever had.
We were always on the same page, like when we decided to adopt Ashleigh. The girl was a mini-Elle, from her big mouth to her fearless temper to the way she thought I was fucking great.
Every summer, our family—often with Ford and Shay along for the trip—took a vacation to wherever Sutter’s new brainiac camp was located. The kid was like a sponge, soaking up everything he encountered. He blew through high school classes by ten and was finished with college courses by thirteen. He had his PhD in quantum physics by eighteen.
Sutter stayed in Baton Rouge for as long as he could, rejecting better schools than LSU to get his education. But the time eventually came for him to branch out into the world.
Sutter had turned down offers from the Los Alamos and Argonne National Labs, plus a dozen private companies and several universities. He picked Oak Ridge because its location would allow him to frequently visit home.
“I’m only eighteen,” Sutter said, sounding younger on his last night before the move. “I want Mom to feel okay with me being gone.”
After her firstborn boy moved to Tennessee to work at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Elle got moody and often burst into tears. Meanwhile, Sutter struggled with homesickness. It was my idea for her to stay at his condo for several weeks to help him adjust.
“We’re on our own, guys,” I told Trent and Ashleigh after we dropped Elle off at the airport.
“I’m the new mom,” Trent announced instantly. “I will cook pasta, clean up tiny poops from the yard, and compliment Dad’s muscles.”
Though Trent hid his feelings behind his humor, I knew he missed Sutter. Elle sent photos and videos several times a day. She and Sutter explored his new home, making it less stressful for him.
Despite her frequent calls, Trent broke down one night while he sat with Ashleigh and me watching a football game in our massive family room. My ten-year-old son was tall for his age and held himself with a maturity I didn’t notice in other kids.
But as he hid his face in his hands and cried, I saw the little boy who’d once tripped over his feet in his hurry to get to me when I’d arrive home. Trent loved his people with everything he had, just like Elle did.
Ashleigh was more like me, keeping her feelings hidden. Yet, I saw her panic when Trent began to cry. Her hazel eyes flashed to me, hoping I would fix his pain.
Rubbing Trent’s back, I explained, “Mom and Sutter had years together before they met us. They need this time alone to deal with living apart.”
“I hate when Mom cries,” Trent said and then voiced what he was really struggling with, “Why can’t Sutter work in Baton Rouge?”
“Sutter’s too close to his family to stay away for long. Once he’s set financially, I believe he’ll move back home and teach at the university.”
“But that won’t be for a long time.”
“And until he returns, we’re going to miss him,” I said and rubbed Trent’s head before doing the same to Ashleigh. “Years ago, your mom and Sutter had a lot of trouble moving to Baton Rouge. It’s normal to be sad in these situations.”
Trent looked at me with his pale blue eyes and wiped his cheeks. “I don’t want to make you pasta.”
“So you don’t see a future as a chef?”
Trent and Ashleigh shook their heads in unison before he said, “We’re going to take over Baton Rouge once you’re tired of being the guy in charge. Ash and I make money and take care of you and Mom.”
Trent wasn’t kidding. My goofball son and feisty daughter had planned out their futures. After finishing high school, Ashleigh andTrent spent a year traveling the world. Sutter decided to take a long break from work and join them.
