Page 6 of Rocky

“Have you met his mom?”

“Miss A? Yeah, she volunteers in our classroom sometimes.”

“Is she nice?”

“Yeah. You like her or something?”

“No, I don’t like her. I just met her today.”

“She’s pretty. All the boys whisper about her when she comes to our class. Briar hates it.”

I bet they do, and I bet he does.

“Maybe we can set up a playdate so you and Briar can hang out on the weekends or during the summer.”

“Really? That would be cool.”

We continued to talk while waiting for our food. Once it arrived, there wasn’t as much talking. RJ damn near inhaled his burger. I couldn’t imagine what our grocery bill would be like in a few short years because the boy could eat.

About an hour later, we arrived home. RJ had completed his homework at the center, so he began to prepare for bed after greeting his great grandparents in the family room while they watched TV.

“What’s up, old people?”

I hugged and kissed them on the cheek before sitting on the loveseat on the opposite side of the room. Colten and Aveya Rush were in their seventies and, thankfully, still in great health. I could never repay them for taking me and my brothers in after our mother, their only child, was murdered by our father.

Of course, when the three of us got older, we moved out on our own. However, after Roman died, Russell and I bought a house big enough for all of us. The devastation of losing Roman caused the pain of losing our mother to resurface, not that it ever went away. Being close to each other was what we needed. Most people probably thought it was strange for a thirty-three-year-old man to live with his thirty-year-old brother, nephew, and grandparents, but I had no regrets and wouldn’t change a thing.

“I got your old, knucklehead.” My grandfather greeted me.

“How was your day, grandson?” my grandmother asked.

“It was kinda busy because we’re getting ready for summer enrollment.”

“That’s good, right?” she asked.

“It is. Next week, we start interviewing high school and college students for the group leader and counselor positions. We should have everyone in place within the next two weeks.”

“That’s good. It sounds like you’re really getting the hang of running the business side of things,” my grandfather commented.

“Slowly but surely.”

We sat quietly for a few minutes before my grandmother spoke. “What’s on your mind?”

“Who me?” I questioned.

“No, the boy next door.”

I shook my head at her sarcastic remark, and my grandfather chuckled.

“You’re sitting over there like you’re contemplating your next major move. Tell us what’s on your mind. Maybe us old people can help.”

I sighed because I couldn’t understand why Rue was still on my mind, even though she’d left my presence hours ago.

“I had a run in with a parent at the center. I’ve been replaying the incident in my mind, and I wonder if I handled it correctly.”

“Tell us what happened, and we’ll let you know.” She pressed for information.

I shared with my grandparents what happened with Rue. They listened without interrupting, but as soon as I finished, my grandmother had plenty to say.

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