“It’s a small thing, Jem.But I wish someone had told you that.”
“I wish someone had toldyouthat.”
Tean’s smile was dark and winging, and in his mind, Jem saw a blackbird.
“You know what I think?”Jem asked.
Tean shook his head.
“I think it’s okay to be mad about the past.But I also think, hey, look at us now, we’re pretty great.”
Tean laughed again.
“We are.You’re this badass wildlife veterinarian.I’m a badass, uh, call center guy.”
“I’m not very badass.”
“Yeah, you are.And you’re all these other things, Tean.You’re a hard worker.You’re so sensitive to what’s wrong in the world, and you care so much about making it right.You’re such a kind person.You’re so compassionate.I don’t think I’ve ever met someone so caring.And I don’t think you’d be that person—not exactly, anyway—if you hadn’t grown up the way you had.Yeah, it’s shitty they treated you like that.Yeah, I wish it had been different.But you—this you, the one I love—wouldn’t be here if everything had been easier.”
Tears spilled down Tean’s cheeks, and his voice had a rasp when he said, “I suppose you’re right.”
“And if I’d grown up like Maeve and Milo, do you think I’d know that you can ask the people at McDonald’s to put shredded lettuce and special sauce on a McDouble, and it’s basically a Big Mac?”
“I honestly have no idea what you’d be like if you’d grown up like Maeve and Milo,” Tean said with a wet laugh.“But I’m glad you are who you are.I love who you are.I wouldn’t trade this Jem for anybody else.”
“Right?So, fuck the past.And fuck all the people that fucked us up.And let’s have really, really good lives.Starting right now.”
Tears made silver tracks on Tean’s cheeks in the emergency lights.But he was smiling.And he nodded.
The sounds of bickering came from inside the theater.Milo was screaming, “Give it back!”
“Should we check on them before they kill each other?”Jem asked.
In answer, Tean cupped the back of his head and kissed him.
“Never mind,” Jem said when they broke.“Let ’em kill each other.We’re still running a two bang deficit.”
Laughing, Tean took Jem’s hand and led him toward the theater.
“It’s my turn,” Milo was shouting as Jem followed Tean through the doorway.The kids were just inside the theater.Milo was holding a flashlight.And Maeve was sitting on a folding chair, a briefcase open on her lap.
In the beam of the flashlight, a gold monogram flashed G.F.
Milo wheeled around to face the adults.“Jem, tell her it’s my turn to sell tickets.”
“Hello, sir,” Maeve said in a play-acting voice.She pretended to type, as though the briefcase were actually a cash register or a computer or something.“Do you want a ticket for the show?It’s five dollars.”And in a normal voice, she added, “Now you give me the money.”
36
Back in the lobby, Jem sat on the floor, the briefcase next to him.He could tell at a glance that the locks had been forced.Inside, a pile of documents waited to be examined.
“We didn’t break it,” Milo said.
Which Jem took to mean that theyhadbroken it.But all he said was “Is this Gerald’s?”
Maeve answered, “We were just playing with it.”
Which Jem took to mean that yes, itwasGerald’s.He said, “That’s okay.I know he wouldn’t mind.Did you know a lot of people have been looking for this?”
