Page 29 of Here's to Now

“My feet are too swollen for me to walk. There’s no way I’ll be able to drive.” She stops talking as a coughing fit rumbles in her chest. It’s loud, sad, broken. She’s getting worse, sicker and sicker by the day. Pretty soon she won’t be able to drive at all, and I’ll be doing more favors for her. As wrong as it is, I’m looking forward to that responsibility because it will mean I get more time with my siblings.

“You will need to take Graham.”

The saddest part of this entire conversation so far is how unsteady that request makes me. Graham and I…we’re complicated. Yeah, he’s only eight, so complications shouldn’t be an issue with us, but they are. Big time.

She coughs again, and I feel terrible for worrying about how to talk to my little brother rather than my ill aunt.

Asshole.

“Mercy—”

“And,” she interjects loudly, “the twins and Gia will be going with you.”

Silence. Dead fucking silence. From both parties.

Shewantsme to take the kids out? She’slettingme take the kids out? Mercy istrustingme to take the kids out? I glance around the shop suspiciously, looking for a hidden camera, because this has to be a joke. It’s been about two months since she’s let me take them anywhere. I don’t know what happened, but ever since I took them to a barbeque at Hudson’s a couple months ago, she always comes up with a reason I can’t take them out again—not that I take them out often. In fact, I’ve probably only had six total unsupervised outings with them since I’ve been wiggling my way back into their lives.

“Now, please understand this would not be the case if I were able to go myself. This does not change things.”

“It could.” The words tumble from my mouth. My immediate reaction is regret, but I take it back quickly, because I mean it. Thiscouldchange things. Iwantit to change things, but her deafening silence on the other end is a sure indication it won’t.

Finally, after what seems like hours, she speaks.

“We will see.”

Three words.

Three measly, fucking insignificant words.

They change my entire day.

I end my call with Mercy on a high note. I shove away any shred of worry I have regarding her health, selfishly not wanting it to ruin my buzz, and bring up the contact list on my phone. My hands shake with excitement as I call Harold, hoping he’ll give me the last-minute schedule change I’m about to ask for.

“Harold’s Pizza. We make it great, or else.”

“Is that really the slogan?”

Harold laughs on the other end of the line, momentarily drowning out the background noise of the staff bustling around. “I’m testing it out. Not a winner?”

“Ya know, I kind of like it.”

“It’s nixed then.”

“That hurts, Harold.”

I don’t have to be standing in front of him to know he shrugs. I’ve known Harold for years. If anything good came out of the first ten years of my life, it’s him. He was my father’s best friend. After everything went to shit the second time, he was there to help put me back together. Next to Horton, he’s the best thing to ever happen to me.

“So, listen…”

An easy chuckle filters through the phone. “I knew this was a favor call, kid.”

“Now come on, old man. I’m notjustabout favors.”

“But mostly,” he teases.

“Whatever. Anyway, I was hoping to have the night off tomorrow…”

“Tomorrow? Hell, why don’t you have tonight off too? You’re fired.”

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