Page 19 of Fresh Start
I threw my hands in the air and gestured for a time-out. Andy could go on like this for hours, and I didn’t have the energy for that. Not after the breakfast experience I’d already had.
“You’re right, bro. You’re right. Now, will you please let me take Summer to the painting class? Because I’d really like to spend some time with my niece,” I said.
“Uncle Leo.” Summer appeared behind her dad and ran into my arms before he could stop her. “You came.”
“Of course I did. I promised you, didn’t I? How would you like to do some finger painting today?”
Summer clapped her hands together.
“But first we need to ask permission from your dad,” I said when I saw the glare Andy was giving me.
“Please, Dad, please. Can I go with Uncle Leo? Can I? Can I?” she said jumping off me and hugging her dad.
“Summer, you’re nine, not two. Stop it,” he said, but Summer wasn’t defeated. If anything, it made her louder and whinier.
I didn’t know her yet, but I thought she was doing it on purpose.
“Fine. Fine. You can go. But you better pick up your phone when I call and send me updates of where you are at all times.”
I stomped my foot on the ground and gave him a soldier’s salute to show him I understood.
“Don’t worry, there’ll be pictures too,” I said, and as Summer went to put her shoes on, I gave my older brother a kiss on the cheek.
To my surprise, he didn’t try to push me off or lean away from me.
Maybe there was hope for us still.
Since convincing Andy had taken longer than anticipated, we went straight to the finger-painting class and had fun painting all sorts of butterflies, caterpillars, and even a seagull. Summer was a very creative girl who loved color and glitter—how could anyone not love color and glitter?—and she loved to talk about everything.
“I hope you’re not upset with Daddy. He’s been like that since Mommy died,” she told me when we walked out of the class with stained hands and lots of paintings to take home.
“Don’t worry, sweetie. I’ve known your dad for a long time. I know what he’s like,” I said, but I knew it was a lie.
I didn’t know him anymore. I only knew the man he used to be.
“We keep hoping he’ll find another girl to fall in love so he’s happy again, but he works too much,” she said.
“People tend to work a lot when they lose someone and can’t deal with the pain,” I told her.
She nodded sadly and dropped her chin to her chest.
“How about we get some donuts for lunch? With extra icing.” I said, and that brought the smile back on her face.
“Do you have a girl you love?” she asked me.
I shook my head.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m more into boys, sweetie,” I said.
“Oh!” she said and stared at me.
I tried to interpret her reaction.
Did she even know anyone gay in this town? There definitely hadn’t been anyone around when I was growing up, which made my accepting myself all the harder and my need to leave this place more intense.
“So you’re in love with a boy,” Summer said and let the last word draw out as if she had a secret and teasing me with it.
