It’s been a couple years since I last saw Rita. We came on a road trip to Santa Fe two summers back. Mom and I took turns with the driving, the kids in the back. It was the closest I’d come to a real vacation, and I’d messaged Mo to tell him what an awesome place it was.
When we finally pull into Rita’s long, gravel driveway, relief floods my veins. My ass cheeks are in agony. Even my balls ache with the pressure of being sat in the saddle all day.
I kill the engine and pull off my helmet. My head and neck are drenched in sweat. Hollie’s car follows me in. We’re surrounded by flat lands, green fields, a sprawling, two-storey house, a large barn behind it, a couple more outbuildings and trees dotted across the landscape.
Rita comes striding out the house at the same time Hollie’s gettin’ out her car. My aunt has flowing, unruly hair, the waves a shade of deep gray with a streak of white through it. She wears a chunky knit cardigan paired with a full-length denim skirt and boots. She’s not as glamorous as her sister.
When she sees me, she comes crashing to a halt, her palms clasped together.
‘As I live and breathe. Ajax Callahan. Noah Brady. My, my, Noah, you’ve grown more than eight inches, I swear it.’
I give her a hug. ‘Hey, Aunt Rita.’
She bundles me up, pressing me tightly to her chest. ‘Still as handsome as ever, AJ. Come on over here, Noah.’
She opens out one arm. Noah drags his feet, enters our embrace. She squeezes us both hard.
I step back. Hollie’s stood there all alone, clasping her fingers together.
‘This is Hollie,’ I say to Rita.
‘The young lady you told me about?’
‘She’s the one who found Noah. Took him home. Helped me get him here.’
‘Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Hollie. Our whole family owes you thanks.’
I watch Hollie step forward and shake her by the hand. ‘Lovely to meet you too.’
Rita looks stunned, because let’s face it, Hollie sounds like a princess when she opens her mouth. ‘Oh, now, you don’t sound like you’re from the south.’
‘I’m from England,’ Hollie states. ‘You have a lovely farm.’
‘Well, somebody’s a long way from home. Thank you, come on in, I’ll give you the grand tour. I saved y’all some lunch. Y’all must be starving.’
Rita leads the way. I follow with Hollie. I glance back at Noah, taking in the acres of space around him, like he’s trying to get to grips with his new surroundings.
‘Noah,’ I bark, beckoning him.
He follows, kicking up dust under the soles of his sneakers, which blows away on the breeze. I glance across at Hollie, who’s looking at me kinda funny. ‘What?’ I mumble.
‘Nothing. I didn’t know your real name was Ajax, that’s all.’
‘Only people who call me Ajax are cops and the DMV.’
‘And your aunt. How come the teachers didn’t call you Ajax in high school?’
Fuck, am I blushing?‘Because if they ever called me Ajax, I’d always be sure to set ’em straight. Why, what did you think it stood for?’
‘I don’t know. Anthony James or something.’
‘Yeah, well, now you know.’
We follow Rita through the house, then out the other side onto a veranda, containing a circular table and chairs. Dreamcatchers of all sizes hang from the beams above our heads. Hollie looks up and starts admiring them all, one by one.
Lunch is hard-boiled eggs, a salad with buckwheat and diced tomatoes, homemade guacamole and roasted zucchini. Noah rests one elbow on the table, his chin on his hand, and uses his fork to push the food round his plate.
‘Not hungry, Noah?’ Rita asks.
