Page 24 of The Night We Lost Him

My father would often joke that Joe got the looks in the family, but it always felt like my father was trying to give Uncle Joe any leg up that he could. He didn’t like that Joe was often unfavorably compared to him while they were growing up. Joe was considered to be more of a troublemaker, less motivated, less brilliant. My father would swat away the comparisons. He was fiercely loyal to Joe in that way. In all ways. From my vantage point, my father and Uncle Joe had that loyalty in common.

He smiles at us. “Sorry for the chaos.”

Sam stares him down. “He was going to sell the company to Cece? How long was he keeping this from us?”

“Hello to you too, Sam.”

Then Joe turns toward me. “I didn’t know I was getting you.”

He leans down to give me a hug hello, which is more like a back pat and somewhat awkward. It’s also out of character, but I know why he does it. We haven’t seen each other since I lost my father. Since we both lost him. So I reach up to offer him a hug back.

“How you holding up, kid?”

“Okay. You?”

He shrugs. “Certainly have had better months.”

Sam looks between us, aggravated. “We all have. Where can we talk?”

Joe eyes the movers and staff circling around. “This way,” he says.

We follow him into the house, which is lovely—complete with its original oak floors, high vaulted ceilings, and a U-shape courtyard. But it’s even more chaotic inside than it was outside. A woman is on a headset directing staff. People are milling through every room.

“What’s all this?” I ask.

“Your cousin’s engagement party.”

Sam looks confused. “That’s this weekend?”

He nods. “It sure is. I think you replied that you were going to be in Australia for work. How’s your trip going?”

Then he turns to me.

“Don’t look at me,” I say. “I didn’t even get an invitation.”

“And if you had?”

It’s a fair point. My cousin Diana is Joe’s only daughter and ten years younger than I am. I didn’t even realize that Diana was getting married, let alone that they were celebrating her engagement this weekend. I haven’t spent much time with her. Not long after Uncle Joe went to work with my father, he came out to California to manage Noone Properties’ West Coast expansion. Joe met Diana’s mother, who was born and raised in Santa Barbara. They bought this house and made a life here. A world away from my life in Croton.

Diana’s mother took off when Diana was really young, which left Joe to raise her on his own. He has done so lovingly. A bachelor since, but a completely devoted father. I know from my own father that Joe has been something of a serial monogamist over the years, but that too hasn’t been a part of his life I’ve seen firsthand.

Joe leads us out to the courtyard, which is a quiet respite. Beautiful succulent plants line the perimeter, a firepit lit up in the center.

He motions to the chairs surrounding the firepit. We all take a seat, Sam tossing the manila envelope onto the table.

“What’s happening with the Salinger Group, Joe?” Sam asks. “Why did I find deal terms for a sale of Noone Properties?”

“Cece was after Noone for years. That can’t be news to you.”

“What’s news to me is that Dad would even consider it, let alone get lawyers involved in drafting possible acquisition plans. These are signed and dated earlier this year.”

“It didn’t get as far as you’d think.”

Sam points at the manila envelope, like a certain kind of proof. “Really? ’Cause this seems pretty fucking far.”

“Okay. Let’s calm down.”

“How did no one tell me?”

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