Page 56 of Nick

“I’m sorry. Remember the times you spent with him; it helps. I miss him too.”

“Thanks. I have to register for school tomorrow.”

“What grade are you in?”

“I’m a sophomore in high school.”

“Do you like school?”

“Yeah, I enjoy it. I know people think I’m crazy because I like school. I hope I can meet some nice kids.”

“Are you into sports?”

“No, I was on the newspaper and debate team. I might join the track team. I’m more of a nerd than into sports.”

“It sounds like you stay busy.”

“Sometimes. I change my mind a lot. My mom said she did the same thing. She didn’t get to go to college, though, because she became pregnant with me. I’ll go to college and make her proud.”

I wondered if she always told their family history when she first met someone. “What does your mom do?”

“My mom is a country singer.”

“Wow, so do I have a famous person living next door?”

“She’s pretty popular,” she said with a wink. She looked toward their U-Haul, “Okay, I have to take more stuff into the house. It was nice to finally meet you. Bye.”

“Bye.”

I went inside and showered before meeting the other Seals at the office. George and I walked inside. He went automatically to his bed in the corner. The first thing Lincoln Harper said as we walked inside was that he heard I had a singer living next door. “Vic’s great-granddaughter, that’s who lives next door.”

“I knew Gabby McKalister didn’t move into that old house. It looks like it needs a lot of work.”

Hmm… Is that who lives next door. She is famous.“It’s Victorian, so it is old. I’ve been inside that home. It’s beautiful. Everything is as if it was just built. The wood looks like it was just put in. Vic had a lady come weekly to do the dusting.”

“Okay, I didn’t ask for a lecture on the inside of your neighbor’s house.”

“Don’t be a smart ass. What happened? Didn’t you get any nookie last night?”

“Now you are being the smart ass. My brother got picked up again for fighting. He’s out of control. He’s taking my mom’s death out on me and anyone around him. This is the third fight he’s gotten into. He’s not even out of high school. His grades are just so low at the moment, I’m going to have to see about hiring someone to help get his grades up.”

“Damn, I’m sorry that you are going through that. It was a shock that your mom had that heart attack. What grade is Dustin in now?”

“He a junior. It’s been six months since mom died. Dustin act’s like it happened yesterday. It really hit him hard. I was eighteen when Dustin was born. Mom and Dad were in shock when mom found out she was pregnant. Then Dad died when Dustin was twelve, so it’s just been those two. I had to pick him up at the police station again. They would have taken him to juvenile hall if Michael hadn’t been working there.”

“Maybe he needs grief counseling.”

“I tried that. He’s not interested.”

I shook my head. I didn’t want Dustin going the wrong way. “Dustin’s a good kid. All I can say is to keep trying. The teenager who moved in next door might be able to help. She doesn’t know anyone, and she could use a friend. Plus, she’s smart. I’ll ask her if she can help get his grades up.”

“I’ll never stop. I’ll talk to Dustin and see what he says about letting her help him out. He won’t be playing football this year if his grades don’t improve.”

“Well that’s an incentive: He’s not going to like that.”

25

Gabby

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