“Do I have a choice?” I drawl before taking a sip of my soda.
“You know that funeral Ford and I went to a few months ago?” he asks, and I nod. “Ricky Murphy was the guy, and I met his son when we were gettin’ ready to leave. He’s thirteen. I told him I know exactly what he’s going through since I was his age when my dad died too, and I told him if he ever needed anything to come find me at the station.”
“That was nice of you,” I say. “I’m sure he appreciated that.”
“Well, he showed up at the firehouse lookin’ for me today.” Remington shifts in his chair so he’s fully facing me. “He asked if he could come live with me.”
My brows pinch. “What?” I don’t know what I expected him to say, but it certainly wasn’t that.
“Yeah. I guess his grandma, who he’s been livin’ with since his dad died, is movin’ all the way to North Dakota in a couple months, and she said if he found somewhere legitimate to stay, he didn’t have to come with her. That’s nuts, right? He’s thirteen!”
“Wow,” I huff. Thatisnuts… But at the time, it makes sense why the kid would ask Remington.
The server drops off my Reuben, then lets Remington know his will be out in a minute.
“So, what did you say?” I ask. “To the kid.”
“Lukas,” he offers. “That’s his name. And I told him I needed some time to think about it. I mean, it’s abigask, and we don’t even know each other. And he’s a kid! I can’t do that, right?”
“I don’t know what you’re askin’ me for,” I say with a small chuckle. “It ain’t my house he’ll be stayin’ in. And based on the fact that you didn’t tell him no straight away, I’d say there’s a part of you that’s considerin’ it. Am I wrong?”
In all the years I’ve known Remington, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so torn. It’s clearly weighing on him.
“I feel for him, you know? After my dad died, the last thing I would’ve wanted was to be uprooted. Lukas has lived in Wilbur his whole life. And yeah, Wolf Creek isn’t Wilbur, but at least he wouldn’t have to switch schools and make all new friends.” He runs a hand through his hair. “But he’s a thirteen-year-old kid. What the hell do I know about being a good…father figure? That’s what I would be, right? I don’t know the first thing about being a good anything to a teenager.”
He gets on my nerves nine times out of ten, with his constant flirting and sarcastic remarks, but hearing him fight with himself about what he should do, admittedly, tugs on my heartstrings. So much so, that I say something I never expected to say to him.
“You’re a good man, Remington. The fact that you’re even considerin’ letting this kid you barely know stay with you speaks volumes about your character.”
“Wow, thanks,” he murmurs. “That’s…oddly nice comin’ from you.”
“Yeah, well, don’t expect it to happen again.” A deep chuckle rumbles from my chest. “But look at it this way: who better to take in this thirteen-year-old boy, who just lost his father in a fire, than you? Like you told him, you know what he’s goin’ through; you’ve been there. You may be exactly what he needs to get through this time in his life.”
“Hmph, I didn’t think of it like that.”
“And yeah, it sounds a little nuts, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it… Only if you want to. But from over here, it kind of sounds like you do.”
“What if I fail?” he asks, concern shining in his eyes. “What if I let him down? I don’t know anythin’ about him, nor does he know the first thing about me.”
“Nobody says this has to be a permanent thing. It sounds like if it doesn’t work out, he has a place in North Dakota with his grandma. But you can’t let fear stand in your way. If this is somethin’ you feel inclined to do, then do it. It’s not like you don’t have the space in your life to do it, and again, you can relate to him and help get him through it.”
He ponders my words for a moment. I can practically see the wheels turning in his mind. “Thanks, Gentry,” he says genuinely after a minute. “That actually helped… a lot.”
Now, if only I could help myself.
“Good, then let me eat the rest of my meal in peace.”
Remington’s food arrives not long after, and aside from some small talk or commentary about his food, he actually does leave me alone. Once I’m finished, I end up paying both tabs before I leave. Comforting my son’s best friend was the last thing I expected to do today. But I have to admit… It sure did wonders on getting my mind off that absurd doctor’s appointment.
Pottery.I huff a breath.How fucking ridiculous.
Hell would freeze over before I ever did something like that.
Three
Remi
The kitchen is warm, smelling of lemon chicken and the vanilla candle my mom has burning on the table. Standing in the doorway, my hands shoved in my pockets, it’s like I’m sixteen again and about to confess to something stupid.
