Page 66 of The One I Want
“Red six. Uno.”
I know I shouldn’t do this, but you play to win.
“Uno reverse. Which leaves me also with Uno.”
We get a chorus of “oohs” from the table as I lay down my card.
Betsy leans in and whispers to me, “You’re really going to Uno Reverse your own kid?”
I let my hand fall under the table, giving her leg a squeeze. “I never said I play nice.”
She shakes her head, but the smile on her face tells me she is remembering exactly what I am. We’ve come such a long way in such a short amount of time. And we’re just getting started.
“Oh man! Dad! Why’d you have to do that?” Hank says, slowly looking over his single card, his head shaking like he doesn’t know what to do. That’s until he looks up. “Then again, if you wouldn’t have done that, I couldn’t do…this!”
With all of the flare and dramatics he can muster, Hank lays down a Red Draw Four. “Pick up four, Uncle Ollie. And I believe I have just won.”
The room erupts in laughter as Oliver is left wondering what just happened. That only makes Hank laugh harder.
This. This is what I wanted tonight. Good times. Good company. Nothing but good to lead us into the New Year.
“I’m going to go get a refill,” Betsy says as all the kids scatter from the table now that this round is over. “Anyone want anything?”
“I’ll come with you.” That comes from my brother Luke’s surprise guest tonight, Olivia. “That taco dip is addicting.”
The two women head back toward the kitchen as Oliver, my dad, me, and Luke stay at the table.
“Well, this is nice,” Oliver says, breaking the awkward silence. “Thanks, Mr. Taylor. Always great to be back at your house.”
“Cut the crap, Oliver,” he says. “I need to talk to my sons.”
“Okay then,” Oliver says as he stands up. “I’ll just be—”
My dad signals for him to sit back down. “No. Stay. I need you to make sure that this one over here”—he points to me—“isn’t trying to blow smoke up my ass.”
Oliver slowly sits back down as Luke and I look at each other, wondering what we did. If he’s finally going to yell at us for breaking the patio window, then he’s about fifteen years too late.
“I’d like to think that we’re close,” he says. “Wes, we’ve always had that kind of relationship. And Luke? I’m passing my construction company to you. Those are special bonds.”
We look at each other again, both clearly confused as to what’s about to happen.
“So, I’m just wondering why Luke has a girlfriend and we’re just learning about her tonight. Oh, and not to mention that we just finished the remodel of her house a few weeks ago.”
“I—”
“Shush,” Dad says, holding up his finger. “Then there is my oldest. The one fresh off a divorce but is apparently already datinghis nanny? Am I right on these things?”
Neither one of us say anything. We can’t lie. We might be grown men, but we both remember the wrath of Henry Taylor.
“Anyone?”
“Yes, I’m dating Olivia,” Luke says. “But I promise you, it didn’t start until after the remodel. I know the rule about not dating clients.”
Dad looks over to me. “Wes? Anything?”
“I, well, see…”
“Oliver? Is he blowing smoke?”
