Page 50 of Higher Notes

“Jason, I’m so proud of you!” Dana was the first to congratulate and hug him. “You worked so hard for this and never once gave up.”

“Thanks, Mom. This is major. I wonder if we have a chance to hit platinum right out of the gates?” Anything was possible but I was so ridiculously proud of our man.

“Congratulations, Jason. I haven’t had a chance to listen to your music, but I promise I’ll download the CD tonight. Shall we continue so you can get to your party?”

“Thanks, let’s get to it.”

Appliances were in, including the washer and dryer. All fingerprint resistant stainless as Dana and I had picked out. I’d settled for a less expensive Quartz countertop, but it would work just as well for what we required. Friday, the three of us planned to hit the grocery store and stock up. The less stress after the move the better. Taking time to get settled in was important, especially where kids were involved.

“The landscaping looks great.” Jason opened the sliding door and stepped out onto the patio. “The kids will finally be able to play outside without us worrying.”

“Needs a jungle gym.” I’d already picked one out as a surprise. It’d be here any day now and the contractor agreed to install it for us.

“You didn’t?” Jason’s smile countered the harsh tone he’d attempted but failed to take with me.

“Oh, but he did,” Snipe ratted me out.

“Here are your keys and one last thing. Easton has decided to make this a gated community, so you’ll see the installation of the gates and guard shack in the coming weeks. The binder with everything you need to know along with emergency phone numbers is on the kitchen counter. Welcome to the neighborhood, we’re happy to have you. You’ve designed abeautiful home we know you’ll be happy in for many years to come.”

“Thank you for everything,” Jason said as we each shook his hand.

I handed out the keys, Dana was all smiles as she took hers.

“I have no words. What you three have done for our family deserves sainthood.” Tears welled in her familiar eyes, the same shape and color as the man Snipe and I had fallen madly in love with. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

She’d thanked us a million times already, each one just as heartfelt as the last.

“You’re welcome.”

“Come on, Mom. Let’s get you back to work.” Dana had taken a long lunch to complete the walkthrough with us but was saving her vacation days for this summer to be home with the kids.

It would be nice to be able to have her stay home full-time, but we knew she’d never go for that. She insisted on paying a portion of the combined living expenses but the three of us already agreed to only let her pay for groceries. Sometimes, but definitely not this first expensive stock up. She had no clue how much Snipe and I consumed. That reminded me, I wanted to add a deep freezer to the garage.

Today we swapped Jason’s car with Dana’s van. The kids were on spring break so the three of us were babysitting. The days we couldn’t Gabe watched them.

“You’ve been quiet today, Gabe,” I heard Jason say. Snipe and I were in the front seats, the twins were in their car seats in the middle, and Jason and Gabe were in the third-row seating in the back.

“Don’t wanna move.”

“Why? The place we live in is a dump and here you’ll have your own room.”

“What about my friends? I’ll have to make new ones. Rich kids hate poor kids.”

Before I could interject where I wasn’t wanted, Jason did. “Rich kids hate poor kids? Where’d you hear that crap and who’s rich and who’s not?”

Gabe huffed. “My friends said we’re rich now, so I don’t like them anymore. I never said that, but they won’t sit with me at lunch now.”

I’d never understand the mind of a child.

“One, we’re not rich. Two, we’re moving to Mill Creek, not Medina next to Bill Gates. And three, if they treat you that way they weren’t your friends to begin with.”

While Jason was dead correct, I saw Gabe’s side, too. Kids could be cruel and during a time when you’re teetering on the brink of those angsty teen years, everything sucked.

Mental note, get the kids involved in activities where they’d meet other kids with like interests.

Thinking like a parent was exhausting…

Gabe grumbled and turned away from Jason, though I heard what he said. “I wish my dad was around.”

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