She scoffs.
Scoffs!
“Look, I love cats, I really do, buteveryonehas told me about the cat. Can you give me some new material?”
“Excuse me, did you want to hear my vulnerable story or not?” I squeeze her, and she drops her head to my shoulder, laughing.
“Okay! I’ll listen!” She wiggles, trying to break free.
“And you won’t interrupt?” I keep squeezing.
“Promise!”
I loosen my hold, and she settles back against my stomach, eyes trained on the sky.
“So the house had this cat, Percy. He was a big, fluffy, gray cat. I’m talking about sixteen pounds of fat and fur. He was actually mine. I raised him from a kitten, and he was my buddy. He’d follow me to the house in the morning for work, stick around for the day, and follow me home at night.”
Liv listens, pulling and twisting absentmindedly at a loose fiber of the blanket.
“One day, when I went to find him to head home for the night, he was curled in my dad’s lap, while my dad slept in his recliner. I tried to coax him to come with me, but he didn’t. He refused to leave, stayed at the house from that day forward, and I couldn’t understand it.”
Liv twists to look at me, but I train my eyes on the stars.
“We learned about my dad’s cancer diagnosis not too long after. I think Percy knew he was sick before we did.” Feeling the familiar sting in my nose and knot in my throat, I pause and wait for the feeling to pass.
“Percy never left the house after that. He stayed there until Dad passed away and then, well, until he died too. Maybe he wanted to stay with my mom, so she wouldn’t be alone. I’m not sure.”
I inhale deeply, preparing to voice something I’ve never said out loud before.
“So in a way, I didn’t just lose my dad, I lost Percy too, which feels really unfair.” I clear my throat, swallowing the emotion that threatens to overwhelm me. “It seems selfish to feel that way, let alone voice it. So, consider yourself special because this is the first time I’ve ever said that out loud.”
She studies my profile before she leans over and brushes a kiss, softer than a whisper, against my cheek.
“Thank you for sharing with me.”
We sit in silence for a few minutes, and then Liv fires her next question.
“So, tell me about your sister. You had to babysit the other night, Josh said, but you also watch your niece during the day sometimes too? Seems like a lot…” Her voice trails off.
I can almost feel her retreat into herself as soon as the question is out.
“Sorry. That was nosy. Not me being too intense. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“Haven’t I told you? I like this about you. Don’t apologize for who you are.”
Liv releases a breath, lips parting, then nods. “Okay.”
“Zoe’s husband, Roger, is… Well, he’s tough to like. Roger has always had his issues with alcohol, and it seems gambling has joined the party from time to time too. Zoe has the patience of a saint. She’s given Roger so many chances to clean his act up, but he just falls back into his ways.”
“That must be tough to watch. Is he a good dad, at least?”
“Yes. When he’s home and sober, he is. As a husband, he’s not the best for my sister, but Piper adores him. I guess I just wish Zoe found the sort of love my mom and dad had. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime loves everyone wishes for.”
“Do you wish for that?” She tilts her head in my direction, nose grazing the stubble of my beard.
“I used to. But now, my focus is this family and the bed-and-breakfast, and that can make it tough to get out there and meet people.”
“I get it. My Gram and Pop had that kind of love—like your mom and dad. I always dreamed I’d stumble upon it myself someday, but it turns out I’m a workaholic who is shitty at small talk, and if someone doesn’t see those things as flaws, then I eventually find their flaws myself. It’s just easier than getting attached only to find out they’ve cheated on you and will eventually leave anyway.”
