“I live here too. I have a right to be included in decisions affecting me!” Josh shouts.
“Art has been going through a tough time since Cole’s death. He’s spiraling down a dark path, and I know I can help him. He needs to be surrounded by love.”
Neither Ricky nor Josh talk much about their family. In Ricky’s office, I saw a picture of him along with two other men. The similarities between the three are uncanny. I guessed they were his father and brother. Something terrible must’ve happened to cause a rift between them. Mom and Ricky had been dating for about a year when his nephew, Cole, tragically lost his life. He didn’t want us to go to the funeral, so we stayed behind. I did overhear that Cole’s older brother, Art, attempted suicide by slitting his wrists.
Josh laughs sarcastically. “Surrounded by love? This is fucking bullshit.”
“Hey, watch your mouth!” Ricky yells.
“You let the devil in your house, you’ll get burned.”
“That’s enough. He’s coming to stay with us!” Ricky bangs his fist on the table.
Josh leans back against his chair, crossing his arms across his chest like a two-year-old.
“I’ll need you to help me clear out the spare bedroom before Art gets here. The furniture is being delivered on Friday morning. I want to have everything done by Saturday so he’ll feel welcomed.”
Josh clenches his jaw.
“Cin, can you help too?” Mom asks.
“Sure.”
“I’ll cook a special dinner on Saturday night. I’ve been eyeing this new recipe I want to try,” she announces enthusiastically.
Oh God, no, please help us all.
The conversation stops as we all zero in on my mom. She can’t cook worth shit. That’s why we’re eating Christmas dinner over at Thomas and Katrina’s tomorrow evening. Either Ricky or I do all the cooking. My grandmother on my father’s side is a great cook and taught me very well when we lived in Phoenix. I spend every summer there, though I don’t see my father as much as I’d like since he’s a CDL driver. He’s on the road most of the time. That’s why my parents decided to call it quits. Also, Mom and my grandmother constantly bumped heads.
“Whatever you cook, I’m sure he’ll love it,” Ricky replies.
“I’m outta here.” Josh leaves the table.
Ricky closes his eyes, rubbing his temples before letting out a long sigh. My mom leaves her chair to stand behind him and massage his tense shoulders. He places a soft kiss on her hand.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be okay. Cin and Josh didn’t get along at first. Give it a month,” Mom says.
“I hope you’re right, and I hope I’m doing the right thing by bringing him here. Maybe I’m in over my head. Maybe he can’t be helped.”
“He can be helped. Like you said, he needs to be surrounded by love.”
My mom kisses Ricky’s lips when he lifts his head towards her. That’s my cue to leave. I don’t want to see this.
“I’m going for a run,” I say, leaving the table.
“Okay, don’t be gone too long,” she tells me.
“Mom, you know I have to get ready for track season. It starts in about two months.”
“Fine, just be careful. I don’t like when you go running at night.”
“I’ll be fine,” I say, kissing her cheek before leaving the dining room.
I climb the stairs then turn left before stopping at Josh’s door. I knock lightly.
“Go away,” he yells.
“It’s me.”
