Page 205 of Finding Hope

“Did you tell her?”

“I did, I promise. I told her, and she said she’s really excited about going back to school because she misses you. She told me she loves you.”

“I love her too. She’s like my aunty.”

I scrunch my eyes tight and look up to the ceiling.

Bambiecould’vebeen her aunty. Once upon a time. In another life. But inthistime, inthislife, I messed it up.

“You can see her again soon. She’s excited to see you at school.”

“Do you think she’ll come back here and skate? I didn’t finish learning yet.”

No. I don’t.“I think she’s not allowed to skate right now, because she has a sore arm. But maybe in a few months. You could ask her at school.”

I’ll make myself scarce. My family loves her and she loves them. I’ll give the estate a wide berth to allow Bambie space to visit, if that’s what she wants.

Blinking back the tears that burn my eyes, I lean down and press a kiss to my niece’s hair. “Come on. Let’s get some ice-cream. My treat.”

She giggles sadly. “Ithasto be your treat. I don’t have a job yet.”

“When you’re a famous fighter, you can pay me back.”

“Iwillbe a famous fighter. I’m gonna be a world champion.” Her declaration is so confident, so sure, I don’t doubt her for a second. Therewillbe a second generation of Kincaid champions. “I’ll keep the belt in our gym. I promise.”

“I believe you, Bug. And I’ll be your corner man.”

“You promise?”

“I promise so hard. Not even Biggie will be able to take my spot in your corner. Come on,” stepping back, I grab my keys and hat, “let’s get some ice-cream. Go and get Bean, too, if you want.”

Ten minutes later, the girls are buckled into my Mustang and we’re heading toward town. I didn’t miss the hesitant smiles from my sisters, or the low-fives Evie got for coaxing me out of my house.

She might’ve been tasked with getting me out, but her tears and remorse for what she said to Bambie weren’t fake.

“Do you guys want ice-cream on a stick from Jonah’s, or you want the good stuff from Dixie’s?”

“Dixie’s.”

No doubt my expensive ass nieces choose the eight-dollars a scoop ice-cream, rather than the two-dollars on a stick.

Nobody ever said we weren’t raising high-maintenance princesses… the issue comes with the fact they also know how to fight.

Good luck, world.

Using my knees to steer, my good arm to downshift, and my chin to correct my shitty-knee-steering, I roll into the parking spaces on the street and pull on the handbrake.

Turning in my seat, I grin as both girls rush to undo their belts. “Let’s go, ladies.”

Evie’s sassy smile stops me before I turn away. “Are we on a date, Uncle Jack?”

“Uh-huh.” I reach back and chuck her chin. “Don’t tell the others, but you two are my favorite. We’re the OG, ladies, and it’s my pleasure to take you on an ice-cream date.”

Climbing out of the Mustang, Evie hooks her arm around mine, then Bean hooks hers around Evie’s. We step onto the sidewalk, then I push the heavy door open with my hip and inhale the icy cold air-conditioning.

“What flavors do you want?”

“I want chocolate,” Evie answers instantly.

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