Page 260 of Mountain Grump

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Today was… everything I’ve ever wanted in a family.

Funny, snarky, peaceful.

No fighting.

No name-calling.

No shaming.

Just an enjoyable time.

Ethan even clapped Fisher on the back by the end of it. But I think we all could tell his earlier mean mugging was just show, something he did because he’s the older brother. Because he cares. Because he’s a protector.

A sparkly string wraps itself around my heart.

A string that feels like family. That wants to tie all my broken pieces together.

And I want to let it.

I want to stay here, in this family, with these people.

I want to stay with Ethan.

Here or at my house.

I just want tostay.

I want to keep feeling safe and loved. And…

And I need to tell him.

I need to tell Ethan how much he means to me.

Tell him that we may have started because of Uncle Jack’s scheme. But it’s not a scheme anymore.

Without the money.

Without an inheritance.

I’d still pickhim.

I’d staywith him.

My inhale feels choppy.

You can do the hard things, Matty.

I believe in you.

I reread Uncle Jack’s letters last week, wanting to feel closer to him.

Wanting to thank him for pushing Ethan and me together.

We’d already met. And I like to think that even without the whole ruse, we’d still have found our way together. But I still feel like I owe Uncle Jack for speeding up that timeline.

These last couple months would’ve been lonely without Ethan.

“I’m gonna take a quick shower.” Ethan steps into the kitchen through the deck door. “I smell like the grill.”

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