Page 11 of Wild For You

As we pulled away, our hands slipped apart, the last point of contact a brush of fingertips like a spark extinguished toosoon. I gathered my camera bag, the weight of it suddenly more profound, as if it carried not only lenses and film but the gravity of tonight.

“Goodbye, Nico.”

“Until next time, Josie.” His reply was hopeful, a tentative beacon in the uncertainty.

With one last glance, I crossed the threshold of the hotel room, the click of the door sounding much like the closing of a book—one whose ending was unwritten.

7

Nico

A couple days later, I was still thinking about Josie. The night we shared together proved maybe it was time to open myself up to someone new. It was time to move on and be happy. Even though my ex left us to travel as a nurse, I still loved her. Or at least I thought I did. Now, after spending time with Josie, and gaining feelings for her, I was ready to move on. Not right away, but soon.

“Daddy! Daddy, your phone's ringing!”

I get up off the porch and go inside to grab my cell phone and see Chase’s name on the screen as I accept it.

“Hey, is everything okay?”

“Dad hasn’t been home for a couple of nights. I don't know where he is but I’m starting to get worried.”

“Okay. Don’t freak out. I’ll call around. I’ll drive out there tonight and get you. I’ll call you back in a minute.”

I hung up with Chase and immediately called the Lawson Ridge Police Department, which informed me that Michael went to jail the night of the wedding for a bar fight and was charged with aggravated battery. He was still in jail awaiting his sentence. No telling how long he would be there for and Chase had no one. I knew it wouldn’t be long before he messed upagain but I didn’t expect it to be the same night I showed up back in town. Maybe my mom was right. Michael didn’t like me, but maybe I brought out the worst in him. I couldn’t leave Chase alone right now. He needed me.

“Hey sweetie, go ahead and pack a bag. We have to go see your cousin Chase tonight.”

“Oh, really Daddy? We get to go back to Lawson Ridge? Can we go to the wedding again?”

“No, no wedding this time sweetheart. Just to see Chase.”

I grabbed a couple drinks from the refrigerator and threw them into a bag for the drive. The only thing I could do tonight was go be with Chase and figure out a plan. I would hate to get the law involved, especially because somewhere down the line, Michael might get better and taking guardianship over his son would only deter him from me further.

I dialed Chase back.

“Yeah?”

“Haley’s grabbing some stuff and then we’ll head that way.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in a couple hours.”

As I get Haley all buckled up in the car I quickly realize that I failed my nephew. All the times my brother had been to jail and not once have I brought him to live with me. And as much as I have a problem with my brother, one day he will become a better father. He just has to let go of all the dark things in his past, and want to become a better man. Maybe this is what he needed; someone to show him that if he doesn’t change his actions, he will lose his son forever.

As we take off down the highway. I wondered if it would be better for us to just pack up and move to Lawson Ridge. I’ve been saving up to open my own auto body shop and garage for years and there’s no other reason to stay. Opening my own shop in Lawson Ridge could be a smart financial move and I could stayclose to Chase for the time being. Everything was cheaper in that town.

I couldn’t leave Chase there by himself. It wouldn’t be the first time I had brought up moving there to Haley. She loved the idea of being closer to some of our family so she wouldn’t mind it. However, there are so many dark memories in that town and only one light.Josie.

I didn’t make life decisions based on others besides my daughter, but if we did move there, Josie and I could see each other again. If she wanted to. When she left that night, I never thought I would see her again, because I disliked that town, but with me possibly moving there, it changed everything.

“Daddy? I’m tired.”

“Take a nap, sweetie. I’ll wake you up when we get there.”

The four hour drive let my mind roam on different topics. My brother needed to learn some hard truths and one of them was being a father wasn’t a given. It was a privilege to be in your child’s life especially when you were constantly doing things like that. So, instead of involving the law, I would stay in Lawson Ridge and give him the chance to better himself after this visit. If not, I would go to the courts and try to get custody of Chase. As much as I hated that, my nephew deserved a stable home with a parental figure in his life. Michael wasn’t doing much but showing him how to become a delinquent.

As the mile marker signs whirred passed me, I came to the conclusion that what was best for everyone in this situation was for us to move there. So, I turned around and went back to the house and packed up some more suitcases with things for Haley and I to take with us. I could always drive back up here if needed in the next couple of weeks, but it was time for us to start over fresh in Lawson Ridge.

8

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