Page 15 of Red Mountain Burning
Zack shrieked, and Brooks jerked his head toward the closet and growled.
The boy he was coming to love yelled louder this time, and the feeling of fatherhood rose up through Brooks and bloomed into a smile. He was so happy to be there for Zack and to give him the life Brooks had never known as a child. What was even more beautiful about their relationship was that it wasn’t one-sided. It wasn’t about Brooks helping a young boy who needed a father figure. This relationship was good for Brooks too. And whether they were playing games or fishing or chatting about life, Brooks enjoyed their time together as much or more than Zack did.
With his smile still stretched wide, Brooks crept toward the closet and whipped open the door. “You’re mine!”
Zack sprang out with a shout.
Brooks snatched up Zack and squeezed him tight, feeling the boy’s heart pounding with excitement. Dropping him on the bed, Brooks commenced to tickle Zack until he screamed “Uncle!” at the top of his lungs.
As they descended the stairs in exhaustion, both red-faced and breathing heavily, Brooks rubbed Zack’s head. “Let’s sneak up on your mom,” he whispered. “I think she needs a good scare.”
They both snuck down the stairs, careful not to let them creak. With Brooks at the lead, they slipped through the hall toward the kitchen. Brooks saw the hot plates of enchiladas Adriana had prepared for them steaming next to the stove, and the kitchen was thick with the aromas of Mexican cuisine.
Adriana had taken her seat at the table to drink coffee and was looking at her phone.
Brooks and Zack crept toward her, one quiet foot at a time, both barely able to suppress their laughter. Just before revealing themselves, Brooks caught a glimpse of the image on Adriana’s screen.
Palm trees, white sand, and turquoise water.
Florida.
He stopped and let Zack go ahead of him. A frown rushed over Brooks as he now knew for sure that he was losing her, little by little, day by day. It had been a while since he’d seen her looking at tropical pictures. He’d hoped she’d changed her mind.
Apparently not.
Sometimes, she made it so damn hard to love her. He was all in, but he needed her to be committed too. As he’d told her before, there were no winemaking gigs in Florida to be had—at least, none that he’d be interested in.
Zack put a hand on his mom’s shoulder. “Mommy!”
Adriana let out a yell and nearly jumped out of her chair. Before acknowledging her son, she quickly put her phone face down on the table mat.
When she turned, she grabbed her son’s shirt. “Not nice, young man.” Then she looked at Brooks.
He had to dig deep to force his lips to curl up and pretend he hadn’t seen the truth of what was on her mind.
