Page 107 of Off Season

I grab her hand, and we walk out of the bedroom and into the kitchen area. Gemma is sitting on the counter next to the stove with Fletcher on her lap, both still in pajamas. Trey is at the stove flipping french toast while alternating between feeding Gemma and Fletcher fruit, followed by kisses to them both. Gemma and Fletcher are both giggling uncontrollably. They may be the cutest family ever created.

Fletcher is a true combination of his parents. He inherited Gemma’s unique emerald-green eyes that she shares with Grammy Jane, but he otherwise looks like Trey with wavy dark hair and a chin dimple we used to love to make fun of.

I catch Kam staring at me staring at the DePauls. She releases my hand and exhales a long breath.

We hear Grammy Jane’s voice. “Good morning, you two. I hope you slept well, and I hope you have a big appetite. Trey makes the absolute most divine french toast in existence.”

Kam pinches her eyebrows together. “I didn’t realize that Trey is a gourmet chef.”

Trey shrugs. “Mostly just breakfast foods. My sister is a professional chef. She’s taught me a few recipes throughout the years.”

Gemma nods enthusiastically. “She’s an amazing chef. She and her wife own a restaurant in Connecticut. It’s the best food you can imagine.”

Kam offers, “Can we do anything to help?”

Grammy Jane, who’s sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee, motions toward the chairs at the square, modern, dark gray stone table. “He doesn’t like anyone besides Gemma in his kitchen. And he only lets her in to fondle her. He doesn’t actually let her cook anything.Thankfully. There’s fresh coffee in the pot. Have a seat and relax.”

Gemma lets out a laugh. “Yep, he’s all about the fondle.”

I pour us two coffees, making Kamryn’s just as she likes it, and we sit at the table. I ask, “What’s today’s theme at the pool?” I turn to Kam. “They always have themes. On the fifth of each month, it’s always cinco de whatever month it is. There are margaritas and other Cinco de Mayo decor. On the last day of the month, it’s always a New Year’s Eve theme. On the twenty-fifth of each month, it’s always Christmas. You get the point.”

Kam smiles. “That’s fun.” She holds up her hand to Grammy Jane. “Don’t tell me. I want to try to figure out what today could be. January second…hmm…what famous things happen on the second of a month.” She’s quiet for only a few seconds before she perks up. “Groundhog Day is the second of February.”

Grammy Jane gives an impressed nod. “You got it. Since no one has a groundhog and the weather here doesn’t get cold, it’s morphed into the one day each month we’re allowed to bring our pets to the pool.”

Kamryn’s face lights up, and I chuckle. “Now you’re speaking Kam’s language. She loves dogs.”

Gemma asks, “Do you have a dog, Kam?”

She shakes her head. “No, I can’t with our travel schedule. The second I retire, it’s the first thing I’m doing. I want, like, ten dogs.”

Gemma smiles. “Did you have one growing up?”

Kam’s face immediately falls. “For a few weeks until mymother killed him. One of the millions of reasons she’s currently suffering eternal damnation in the fiery pits of hell.”

Well…that’s an oxygen sucker.

Everyone is silent as Kam stares off into space. She shakes her head. “I didn’t grow up with Christmases like you all. My house wasn’t full of happiness and cheer. My sister and I weren’t showered with love and gifts. Honestly, being with Cheetah’s family last week was the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

I see concerned looks spread across both Gemma and Grammy Jane’s faces.

Kam continues. “But one year, I think my father felt particularly bad. It was the year my mother’s alcoholism hit new heights. I won’t bore you with the details of the things she’d do when she was trashed, but it was extreme. Worse than you can imagine.” She cracks a small smile. “On Christmas morning, I was awakened by a lick across my face. I opened my eyes, and the cutest golden retriever puppy was sitting on me. I named him Gilmore after the showGilmore Girls,which my sister and I were obsessed with at the time. We called him Gilly. We had a very small backyard, but it was fenced in. I came home from school every day at lunchtime to let him out. One day, I had detention, and Bailey had a teacher meeting. We asked my mother to let him out that one time.Onetime.” Tears fill her eyes. “She was blitzed and mistakenly let him out the front door instead of the back. A car hit him, and he died immediately.”

Gemma and I exchange looks. She knows I brought Kam here to brighten this difficult week.

Gemma slides down from the counter and hands Fletcher off to Grammy Jane before rubbing Kam’s back. “I’m so sorry, Kamryn. That must have been devastatingfor you.”

Kam wordlessly nods, in another world right now. She then shakes her head a few times. “Shit. Sorry to put a damper on the morning. I haven’t thought about that day in a while.” She cracks a smile. “One day I’ll get my dog. Anyway, I’m excited for this french toast, Trey. Did you know that french toast didn’t even originate in France?”

Trey shakes his head. “I didn’t.”

She nods. “It was ancient Rome. And it was how they found a use for stale bread. Instead of throwing it out, they soaked it in eggs and butter to soften it. It was served as a dessert with honey and sugar. It was called something else. It only evolved into french toast when it came to America, and that’s because it’s made like other French dishes.”

Grammy Jane asks, “How did you know that?”

Kam gives her a mischievous smile. “I’m a wealth of useless information. Ask Cheetah. He knows.”

I nod. “True. It’s endless.” I wink at Grammy Jane. “Kam told me that over sixty percent of seniors are still sexually active.”

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