Page 52 of Ten Years and Then…
Daniel had to laugh; what else was there to do? Even when he actually made an effort to move on, the universe worked against him.
Daniel, later that day
Daniel had forgotten how much he enjoyed playing Battletech. It had started raining five minutes after they got to the lake house, so there really wasn’t much else to do, but he got into the swing of it almost immediately.
The phone rang, but Daniel ignored it; this wasn’t his house. A moment later Bob called out, “The girls will be here in ten minutes. They’re bringing pizza.”
“We’re almost done anyway,” Daniel said. He had methodically crushed Phil’s forces, and now Phil’s last ‘mech was pinned in a corner of the map waiting to die. “Actually, this might be it right here.” He picked up the dice, and rolled two sixes. A hit. “Do we even need to roll for location?”
“No point,” Phil said. “Anywhere will be fatal now.” He laughed. “You were never this ruthless before, Daniel. But it was fun to play with you anyway. Rematch later?”
“Maybe you and Bob against me.” He grinned. “You might have a chance that way.” That was the sort of thing Nora would have said, if she ever played Battletech. If she was still in his life.
Phil shook his fist at Daniel. “Gloat now. I’ll have my revenge!”
It had been fun, and it was hard to recall the last time he’d just had fun for its own sake. Probably a year ago, on his birthday. But there was no point thinking about that night.
The girls showed up right on time. He would have known Emily was Bob’s sister even if he hadn’t been told; they had the same nose, the same eyes. Just like him and Lisa.
And Kim looked the same as she had last spring. “Hey, Daniel,” she said. She sounded wary. He couldn’t blame her; she probably expected him to ask about Nora.
“Hi, Kim. Please don’t worry—I’m not going to ask about her.” He knew there wouldn’t be any point even if he wanted to. Kim wasn’t living with Nora this year anyway, so what could she tell him anyway?
“Good,” she said. “I’ve barely spoken to her all year. She’s living in her own world, and I don’t think she really lets anybody in. But that’s all I want to say about her. Let’s just pretend she doesn’t exist while we’re here. Deal?”
Daniel extended his hand, and she shook it. “Deal.”
Daniel, March 14
Daniel opened the back door and took a look outside the house. There was a trail down to the lakeside, and it looked like you could walk all the way around it. Despite yesterday’s rain that had continued until after midnight, the trail was dry, at least as far as he could see.
It might be nice to go for a walk in the fresh air. There was a little breeze, and plenty of sun. Why not? It would even be healthy, especially after last night’s greasy pizza and the prospect of whatever alcohol Bob picked up at the liquor store later today.
Bob had complained about being volunteered to go to the store.
“Why do I have to go?”
Phil told him, “It’s your family’s house, so you’re responsible.”
“It’s not actually my family’s. And even if it was, Emily’s family, too, so it’s her house as much as mine.” he’d protested.
She pointed out, “You’re the oldest, so you’re responsible.”
Bob turned to Daniel. “Why can’t you go?”
“I’m not twenty-one yet.” Daniel threw up his hands. “Ask me on Wednesday when I’m legal.”
Bob finally looked at Kim. “What about you?”
“It’s not my house either, and I’m not twenty-one. Sorry, Bob.” And that ended the debate.
But maybe he’d go with Bob anyway. It wasn’t really fair to make him go by himself. In the meantime, though, the outdoors was calling. Or at least whispering.
He was only two steps out the door when he heard Kim call out to him. “Hey, you want some company?”
He didn’t, really. But that was rude, and not fair to Kim, wasn’t it? “Sure, come on.”
They set off, and Daniel quickly discovered that the trail wasn’t quite as dry as he’d thought. “Watch where you’re walking,” he said to Kim after he stepped into a patch of mud up to his ankle. He was glad he’d worn his ratty old sneakers that probably should’ve been thrown out six months ago.
