“You’re acting like we walked into a biohazard zone. They’re not sick, Karissa. If they were, they wouldn’t be there.”
“You don’t know that,” she fires back, voice sharp. “And even if they weren’t, they could still be carrying something.”
I don’t say anything, just grip the wheel a little tighter and head out onto the road.
By the time we get to the big house, the tension between us is thicker than I’d prefer. We haven’t had a single moment like this before, and it pulls up memories I’d rather forget. When things are rocky in a relationship— Well, not that we’re in a relationship, I guess. I don’t know. I don’t even know what I’m trying to say. All I know is I don’t like the tension.
We get inside my parents’ front door and Emma’s wide awake, looking at both of us. Karissa pulls her out, says sheneeds to feed her before we sit down to eat, and is already reaching in the bag.
I watch her head toward the living room, tossing a blanket up over her. I turn the corner into the kitchen where Mom, Ella, Jesse, and Cora are.
Mom and I meet eyes first, then Cora sees me and smiles.
“Where’s Dad?” I ask.
“He’s changing. The shirt he wore was making him itchy…I don’t know.” She gestures with a sigh, like every aging day comes with more ailments.
A hand hits my shoulder. “Got all the rods in my truck,” Mason says.
“Good. Dad know where he wants to go?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know.”
“Well, you guys can figure it out over lunch; this is ready,” Mom says, carrying a steaming hot pan to the table.
I hear the front door open and look to see it’s Wes and Addie, laughing about who knows what. They’re in their own world half the time. All young and in love and crap.
“Shouldn’t you be with your dad?” I ask Wesley.
“Rude…” Addison scolds, but she knows I’m just yanking his chain.
“I was this morning; we got breakfast.”
“Good.”
Addison gets closer to me, her voice quiet. “Did you like your little Father’s Day slashnotFather’s Day gift?” She bats her eyes.
“How’d you know about that?”
“Because Karissa asked me if I thought you’d think it was weird.” She smiles. “I said I thought you’d love it.” She nudges my arm and I shoo her off of me, trying to act like I’m not thankful for her having common sense.
* * *
Mason’s got his line cast out, Jesse’s sitting on the cooler putting another worm on, and I’m beside Dad, who’s gulping Mom’s lemonade out of the thermos she packed for us.
It’s quiet and peaceful; the kind that I forgot existed, if I’m being honest.
Dad casts his line again, then leans back in his seat. “Alright.” He breaks the silence with an easy tone. “Let’s hear it.”
Jesse chuckles. “Hear what?”
“You know the drill. I only get all three of my sons alone about once a year. Spill the beans…how you all really doing?”
I groan but grin. “You’re not supposed to interrogate us onyourday.”
“It’s Father’s Day. This is the point.”
We all laugh, and Jesse sets his rod down. “Got us there,” he says. “Well…if you really want to know, Ella and I have been talking about baby number two.”
