This was going to be rough, but it had to be done. Billy had already chewed all his fingernails off. He’d been silent in the car the whole drive. He didn’t know if it was that he had nothing to say or that he was just scared to death.
Surely it wouldn’t be that big of a shock. He’d watched a building explode for crying out loud. He’d jumped from the top of a blazing barn, with a cat and a kid no less. This would be easy.
But Billy knew it wasn’t. Could Ian handle it? Could he handle it?
They had know each other for what? Twenty years? God, were they almost thirty? It seemed like just yesterday they were two scared teenagers sharing a dorm room together. Billy couldn’t stand quiet and Ian couldn’t stand chaos, but some how they clicked.
Ian had been there, every step of the way. What little family he had took Billy right into their hearts. Heck, they were more support when Donna died than his own huge crop of brothers and sisters. Surely they could get through this, too.
Granted, Ian backed off a little, a lot, when Vonnie was born, but Billy understood. She had to have reminded him of Ronnie. Ian tended to do that, back off when it hurt too much. He’d never said anything to Billy, but he knew. He knew every time Ian looked at Vonnie, he was dying a little inside.
They had made sure to include him in every thing, but always gave him an out. Ian always took it in stride. He never missed a birthday party, always accepted the sloppy kisses and little girl hugs. Things would be different now. This would change everything.
Ian had to know. Billy could never hide anything from him. One look, and Ian would know something was up. He had this second sense or something. He’d even shown up at the house not more than five minutes before the police came and knocked on the door to tell him about Donna’s accident. He swears he didn’t know, but Billy was glad he’d been there.
Ian had been through it himself. It almost seemed as if they were destined to share the same fate. Ian had lost his wife shortly after the two of them had met, and then a few years later Ian was right there to help him when a drunken trucker took Donna from him.
Now they were both single fathers. Fate, God, whatever had finally smiled on Ian Justyn. He had a great job, more success than either one of them had dared dream, and finally, finally Ian had his son back. It was another horrible and tragic circumstance in the life of Ian Justyn, but it looked like he would finally get his fair share of happiness.
Now, Billy had to tell him this. He shook his head. There was no way he could not tell him. He had no choice. Learning from his best friend, his brother of the heart, he would just put his head down, plow forward and get it done. They’d get through this too.
Billy only hoped it would still be together.
“Where’s your list, Baby Doll?” Tippy chirped from her handful of cards.
“What makes you think I have a list?” Ian turned from the steaming pot and looked at the group playing Rook.
“You still having people over on Saturday?” Colton tossed a card from his hand face up on the table.
“Yes.”
“You got a list then.” Jesse said as he smiled and swept up the four cards face up in the center.
“It’s in the drawer by the computer keyboard.” Ronnie said giving Jesse a dirty look when he forced out his Rook. He looked up at his father, catching the shocked look on his face. “It’s where you always keep it. I thought everyone knew.”
“Is that the one for the party, the one for work or the one for house work?” Colton asked.
“The one for work is his backpack.” Ronnie squealed again.
“I think the one for housework is there with the recipes and the coupons.” Tippy slapped her card down and looked at Ian. “Isn’t it?”
“Did you have something you wanted to ad…Granny…or did you just want to humiliate me?”
“I wanted to make sure we had enough furniture for the back yard. I’ve invited a few people, too. Is that alright?”
“Sure. I have some tables in the garage and a few more lawn chairs. I’ve rented a couple of things. Jesse, you still picking those up for me tomorrow?”
“Yup.” He confirmed. “As soon as Kellen gets up, we’re going to take Dad’s truck and pick it up. And before you remind me, on the way back from picking up the furniture we’re stopping and getting the fruit from Mr. Gray’s stand. Kellen will pick up the list from you before he comes over to the house.”
Tippy turned to look back at Ian. “You are training him well. I am very impressed.”
Ian saluted her with a large ladle. “Sloppy Joes are almost ready. Finish up the hand.”
Jesse flicked down his card. “My trick. I win.”
Ronnie smiled and laid the last card of the game down. “Think again!”
“Where did that come from?” Jesse was stumped. He wrapped his arm around Ronnie and gave him a playful noogie.
“One more hand Papa? Please?”
“After dinner. Set the table, Puppy.”
“Oh alright.” Ronnie got up from his chair and looked at Jesse. “Ya skunked me tonight, but next week is pay back.”
“Bring it on Little Man, Bring…it…on!” Jesse teased him.
“I thought I smelled something back here.” Reese appeared in the kitchen door smiling.
“Uncle Reese!” Ronnie jumped into the man’s arms. “Are you back?”
“No, I’m just a figment of your imagination.” He pretended to bite the boy’s neck to shrill giggles.
Tippy gave the rowdy duo a hug. “We didn’t hear you come in, sweetie. Did you have a good flight?”
“Smooth all the way.” Reese took a deep breath. “Dinner ready?”
“Just in time. Getting ready to fill up the buns.” Ian said.
Reese hugged his father and reached over to give his buddy a squeeze around the throat. “Can it wait just a minute? I have a surprise for you.”
“One that can’t wait until after we eat?” Ian asked.
“I know how you don’t like to have your schedule interrupted, but I think you may enjoy this one.” He said.
“Okay.” Ian tapped the ladle on the side of the pot and put the lid on. “What’s the surprise?”
“It’s kind of big, so I left out on the back patio. Come take a look.” Reese beckoned him to follow with his finger.
“What did you find, honey?” Tippy was hot on their heels.
“Just this.” Reese opened the patio doors and in stepped the surprise.
“Billy.” Ian said softly, then whooped and grabbed the man by his neck. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming with Reese? I talked to you last night.”
“Didn’t decide until this morning. I wasn’t sure if I had arrangements for Vonnie or not.” He said.
Ian released his hold on him and pushed his buddy back by the shoulders. “You didn’t bring her with you?”
“No, Sparky’s got her for the weekend. They’re having girl time, so I thought this was a perfect opportunity to have to guy time with my best buddy.”
There was a moment of introductions, Ronnie being last. He’d been standing there just watching. Billy got down on his knees, eye to eye with the boy. “Hey Ronnie. Remember me?”
He nodded his head. “Yes, sir.”
“Are you doing okay?” He asked him, pushing a lock of hair of his forehead. Ronnie fell to him. Billy picked him up and held him close, rocking him back and forth.
Ian stepped in a rubbed the boy’s back. “It’s okay, buddy. Everything’s okay.”
Colton slipped his arm around Tippy, who put her head on his shoulder. Reese turned to his brother and whispered. “It never occurred to me that Ronnie have that kind of reaction.” Jesse nodded and put his hand on his brother’s shoulder.
“You okay, Little Man?” Jesse reached up and squeezed the boy’s trembling chin. Ronnie nodded, but didn’t loose his grip.
“Did I hear that dinner was ready?” Billy asked the boy. “What are we having?”
“Sloppy Joes.” He said.
“Cool.” Billy kept rocking the boy. “You know, I have a message for you. If I tell you, is it time to eat?”
Ronnie lifted his head from Billy’s shoulder and looked in his eyes. “A message for me?”
“Your Grampaw told me to tell you that he loves you, and the first thing I was to do when I saw you was this…” Billy turned the boy upside down and started kissing him all over.
Ronnie giggled, finally begging Billy to stop. “Is Granpaw coming to visit soon?”
Billy put him down on the floor, once again getting on his knee to look him in the eye. “Soon, Ronnie. There’s still a little to be done. Your Uncle Reese and I are gonna go back on Monday and help him finish up. Then maybe we can talk him into to coming back with Reese.”
Ronnie looked at Reese. “Will ya, Uncle Reese? Will ya?”
Reese got down and tapped him on the chest with his fingers. “I’ll do my best. You know he’s pretty stubborn, so it may talk some coaxing from you, but I’ll bring him straight to you as fast as I can, if he’ll just come.”
“Hey, Ronnie. I need to wash my hands before dinner. Will you show me where?” Billy asked.
“Sure. The place is purdy big, so stay close or you’ll get lost.” Ronnie grabbed Billy by the hand and off they went.
As soon as they were out of sight, Ian turned to Reese. “How’s Jude doing?”
Reese followed Ian and his family back to the kitchen table. “He’s in a lot of pain, Ian, but he thinks no one can tell.”
“He just lost his daughter in a horrible, horrible way. Of course the poor thing’s in pain.” Tippy said getting two extra plates.
“Tippy, Jude has cancer. Ronnie doesn’t know.” Ian said.
“Ian, Billy and I are the only people he’s told.” Reese pulled a chair from the corner and helped rearrange the settings. “That’s one reason why Ronnie’s here. He doesn’t want his grandson to see someone else…”
“We understand, son.” Colton started putting silverware by the plates.
“I want him here.” Ian said firmly. “With us.”
“He won’t come?” Jesse asked. Ian and Reese shook their heads. “Is there any way you can talk him into it?”
“Jesse, honey, that could be a good thing and a bad thing.” Tippy said. “He’s got a point, very unselfish. Let’s try to understand and not force our own selfish motives on his wishes.”
“You’re right, Tippy.” Ian began filling rolls and putting them on a plate. “But if we can get him here. I’m sure we could get him better care than back home.”
Colton nodded. “I’m sure, but with what’s happened Ian. You have to keep in mind that that may not be what he wants, and forcing him will do more harm than good.”
“The we’ll just find a way to make him want to come.” Ian’s mind was made up.
Food was placed on the table, and the mood changed. It was something Ian had never had and was enjoying every time it happened, a big, loud family meal. They teased, they told stories on each other, they laughed. They were silent, they exchanged glances, they were.
It took forever and ended all too soon, the meal was finished, the dishes washed and everything put away. As always they gathered in the living room and drank coffee, tea or soda. It was the time that those with out don’t realize they miss, being in a room where nothing important happens except the exchange of air between persons who want nothing more than to do nothing with each other.
Billy had been given the tour. He couldn’t quite get over it. He kept teasing Ian that his house was bigger than the whole town they came from. Ian was enjoying the look on Ronnie’s face as he pulled Billy from room to room, pointing out everything he thought was important.
Ian couldn’t help but feel there was something on Billy’s mind. He smiled and laughed and was the Billy he had always known, but there was something behind it all, in trepidation, like he’d drawn the short straw.
He would wait. Some time later in the evening they’d be alone. Once Ronnie was in bed and Ian was safe from the clutches of that cat, he’d get Billy out on the patio, a couple of glasses, crack open a new bottle and they’d talk.
Reese sat down on the coffee table right in front of Ronnie and rubbed the boys knees. “Hey, buddy. I want to chat with you just a minute.”
“’Kay.” The boy chirped.
Billy nodded and got up from the couch and walked outside. Reese slipped over right beside the boy, where Billy had been, and slipped his arm around Ronnie. “Listen, you know where I’ve been this week, right?”
Ronnie nodded, but said nothing. “There’s not a whole lot left, but your Grampaw, and Billy and I have been working real hard to clean everything up and make it…well, at least look nice.”
“I know.” Ronnie said. He started to skooch forward a bit, but Reese pulled him back, as far into his lap that he could.
“We’ve found a few things, not a lot.” Reese made the boy look at him. “But a few things we thought you might want to have.”
Billy re-entered the living room and put a cardboard box on the coffee table in front of them. He looked at Reese and the boy and sat down on the edge. “Buddy, you may not be ready to look at this stuff yet, but someday you’ll want to. We’ll put this anywhere you want, until you’re ready to go through it and remember.”
Ian got up from his chair and went over to the boy. He kissed him on the forehead. “Ronnie, I know it’s hard, believe me I know exactly how much it hurts, but hopefully it will bring back as many good memories as bad.”
“There’s a box for you, too.” Billy said.
“Actually, there’s a whole lot of stuff in the plane.” Reese kept softly rubbing Ronnie’s arm, but looked at Ian. “We just pulled out the two boxes we could fit in the back of my little compact. The rest we’ll get out when you decide…”
“I will, if you will.” Ronnie interrupted.
“What?” Ian asked.
“I’ll go through that box, if you’ll go yours.” Ronnie said.
Ian couldn’t help but catch the look in Tippy’s eye. “Right now?”
“Right now.”
He nodded his head and Billy got up and went back out to the patio. Jesse picked up the box for Ronnie while Colton moved the coffee table. Ian sat in the floor by the couch as Billy brought a cardboard container and sat it in front of him.
“If there’s a cat in this box, you are both dead meat.” Ian said, breaking the tension with laughter.
“Actually, the kitten has already been taken care of.” Reese said.
“There was another kitty?” Tippy asked.
Billy looked up. “My daughter found the Mama cat and the other babies. My sister took in the mother, I let Vonnie have one and my oldest brother gave one to his grandson. That left just one.”
“David Turner wanted it.” Reese said.
“Mr. Turner?” Ronnie looked up.
“Yep. Called me all the way in Virginia and told me to bring it to him. He was waiting on the tarmac when we landed.”
“I am surprised.” Tippy said.
“It was love at first sight.” Reese said. “Poor little thing was so scared the whole flight. As soon as it took one look at Mr. Turner, he jumped right into his arms. Mr. Turner just held it and stroked it to sleep. When the limo pulled away he had a huge grin on his face.”
“I’m glad.” Ronnie said. “Mr. Turner needs somethin’ to love and somethin’ to love him back.”
“But a cat?” Ian curled his upper lip.
“Hey!” Ronnie looked at his father. “No comments from the peanut gall’ry.”
Ian opened the lid to his box. He looked in and immediately looked up at Billy. “Why did you guys save this thing?”
“What is it?” Tippy peered into the box.
He reached in a pulled it out.
“Okay…that’s hideous.” Colton agreed. “What is it?”
Ian rolled his eyes. “It’s a wind chime I made in the sixth grade.”
Ronnie giggled. Ian looked at him. “Remember that laugh when you bring a shop project home. ‘Kay?”
“Do you remember what you did with it?” Billy asked.
“I gave it to Aunt Hil. She smiled and said she loved it, then hung it in a far corner of the house where no one could ever see it. Even she knew it was awful, but she was kind enough to spare my feelings.”
“She didn’t think it was awful.” Billy said. “The first time I met her she took me right to it. She was so proud of it. She told me you had made it for her and she hung it outside her bedroom window. She said every time she heard it, it made her feel like you were thinking about her.”
“And now it’s passed on.” Tippy smiled. “You know my grandmother once told me that wind chimes were the doorway to heaven. That people in heaven could look out through them when the wind blew, kind of like curtains on a window.”
“I’m not sure whether that’s sweet or creepy.” Jesse said.
“Oh you…” Tippy walked over and took them out of Ian’s hands. “These aren’t the prettiest I’ve ever seen, but I know the perfect spot to hang ‘em.” Off she went.
Ian looked over at Ronnie. “Bubba, what you got in there?”
Ronnie opened the lid to his box and his eyes got large. “My tractor!” He reached in like it was Christmas pulling out a large metal tractor with wheels. In swift order, out came a carrying case, a little melted, that contained five little matchbook cars in good condition. There were a few other odds and ends, a few books, a jacket and a stuffed monkey named Bertie.
Bertie went to the laundry room, everything else was arranged in places of honor in Ronnie’s room. There were a few other things, Ian was informed, things belonging to either Janie or Kyle still safe in the plane. They would be brought over and stored until Ian felt Ronnie would either be ready or old enough to appreciate them.
Ian’s box was mostly roots wrapped in wet newspaper. What was able to be rooted and transplanted from the mass of shrubs and flowers around the house where brought to California to take root in a new home. Ronnie obviously a budding gardener, wanted to get them in the ground immediately. Tippy and Ian talked him into waiting until the morning.
As Ian made sure his son was fast asleep and the feline demon spawn was purring away beside him, he kissed the boy’s forehead and closed the door. Billy was getting unpacked and most of the others had left for next door.
Tippy was still in the living room cleaning up a few stray bits of mess. “He asleep?” She asked. Ian nodded. “Well, Baby Doll, I’ll run home. I promised Ronnie I’d come over first thing and help in the garden. He’s so excited.”
She kissed Ian on the cheek and squeezed his hand. “Breakfast here in the morning?”
Ian nodded. “Tippy could you stay and help me just a minute?”
“Sure, Baby Doll. What you need?”
Ian went to the closet and pulled out an old crock and another box. “This is stuff we brought back the first time. I just shoved in here and didn’t want to think about it. Will you help me put it away?”
Tippy smiled. “Of course, Baby Doll.”
He handed her the crock and slipped the box out. “And this…what do you make of this?” Ian turned around holding up the painting Ronnie had found in the barn and traded for things now in ashes on the ground.
Tippy’s mouth dropped open and looked at the painting in the stairwell on the other side of the room. “Where did you get that? It looks almost like…”
Ian nodded his head. “Ronnie said he and Kyle found it in the barn. It has Herman Elysian’s signature on it. Any idea how it made it from this house to Lost Mountain?”
“Baby Doll, I wouldn’t have the slightest idea.” She looked closer. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’m wondering if maybe our little Untitled Masterpiece there is actually a series…obviously it is of at least of two.”
“Herman painted all the time.”
“What happened to it all?”
“He gave it away. Like the one in your office, he gave that one to David Turner, but I’ve never seen anything else like that one until now. What are you going to do with it?”
“I’m not sure.” Ian flipped it so he could look. “My study. I love looking at the other, it inspires me for some odd reason. As soon as I’m sure it doesn’t bother my boy, I’ll hang it in the study.” He leaned it against the wall and picked up his box and went back into the living room.
Of course, Tippy was busy picking up the little objects that had been dropped in the old crock. “This is cute.” She held up a little old man with wings.
“There’s a little old woman in there somewhere to match.” Ian put his box on the couch and folded back the flaps, first pulling out an old black skillet. “I’m going to put this in the pantry and just use it to make breakfast on special occasions.”
“No honey.” Tippy shook her head. “Your Aunt Hil wouldn’t like that. You put that with the other pans, and use it everyday.”
He nodded. “Most of this is stuff that Janie gathered. She said it was things that Aunt Hil had told her over the years she wanted to make sure I got.”
Tippy stopped taking kick knacks out of the crock and went to sit beside Ian. She rubbed his back and looked in with him. “Her Bible.” She smiled.
Ian took it out and held it close, smiling as best he could. “Her family Bible.” He opened it up and carefully turned some of the yellowing pages. He stopped a moment and looked up. “She has my name and Ronnie’s written in it.”
“Of course, she does.” Tippy said softly.
When he closed it, Tippy took it and tenderly laid it on the coffee table. His face brightened when he took out the next, a big cedar box. It took most of the bottom of the box. Ian held it to his face and breathed.
“I always loved the smell of cedar.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“I was never allowed in her bedroom, but from the door I could see this sitting on her chest of drawers. She kept everything she thought was important in here.” Ian moved the now empty box from the coffee table and placed it tenderly there. He carefully opened the lid.
“This is so well made.” Tippy touched the wood.
“Her grandfather probably made it for her. There’s a rocker, too. I know he made that. Reese made me bring it. He said he’d put it somewhere until I needed it.”
“Needed it?”
“To rock my own babies in, the way Aunt Hil rocked me and my mama.” Ian took his fingertips and touched a few of the pieces of cheap jewelry the box contained. There were some folded papers, a few coins, the sort of keepsakes that no one could possibly think was worth saving, but the person who put them there. “Aunt Hil…” was all he could say.
Tippy looked up and saw Billy standing there. “Is that…?” Billy got on his knees beside Ian and looked with sad wonder at the contents.
“Did you know Miss Hilary, too?” Tippy asked.
Billy smiled, not looking up. “Oh, yeah. She loved every one she met. When I came to visit the first time, she stole my heart and never gave it back.” He picked up a little blue string of glass beads. “Vonnie loved these. Any time we visited Miz Hil, she’d let her wear them. Vonnie thought she was so grown up.”
“Vonnie?” Tippy asked.
“My daughter. She’s four.” Billy said.
Ian pulled out the string and put them in Billy’s hand. “Here, don’t let her ever forget.”
Billy gave them a kiss and put them back in the box. “They belong here. Some day, when Vonnie’s older you can give them to her. We’ll make sure she never forgets.”
Tippy slipped out, leaving the two men on their knees in the living room sharing silent memories. They picked up little pieces, passing them back and forth like they were gold, instead of inexpensive odds and ends that for the moment made some one they had both cared about deeply live again.
The old man held the cat in his lap. It was curled into a white spotted ball in his lap purring. He stroked it gently and smiled. This was a good thing.
He lay back in his chair and sighed. It had been a long time since there had been anything else in this place at night but him. He looked down again at the cat.
It needed a little cleaning up, but it looked healthy. He shook his head and smiled.
“A barn cat.” She scrunched up her nose, suddenly there. “That’s the last thing we need is a mangy old barn cat.”
“I thought it might keep you company.”
“I just need you to keep me company.” She sighed. She looked down at the four-legged creature rubbing itself against his legs. “Where did you get that thing anyway?”
“It was by the side of the road. I passed it this morning and it was still there when I came back tonight. So I brought it home. I thought you’d like it.”
She put her hands of her hips. “You thought I’d like trash someone didn’t care enough about to even put in the can?”
“It’s not trash, sweetheart.” He told her. “It’s a cat.”
She looked at it again. It looked back and took a smooth feline step toward her. “Ugh! Don’t let that thing near me. This is Chinese silk. It’ll ruin it.”
David reached down and picked up the stray, cradling it in one hand and rubbing it’s head with the other. “It won’t hurt your dress. See how gentle it is?”
“Get rid of it!” She whined. “Take back out to the road and dump it where you found it.”
“That’s cruel.”
She balled up her fists at her side and puffed. “Get…rid…of…it!”
David nodded. “There’s a farm down the road. I’ll take it there in the morning.”
Before he could turn away, she reached out and snatched the cat from his arms. She grabbed it by the head and cracked it like a whip. David heard the snap and saw the cat go limp. Hiking up her blue Chinese silk, she stomped over to the trash and slammed the body in.
She brushed her hands and looked down. “Oh, look what you’ve done! She stared up at him. “I have that nasty cat hair all over my dress.” She stomped up stairs and left him standing there.
David shivered until he was old again. He looked down in his lap, making sure it was just a dream. The little thing raised its head and looked at him.
“Patches.” He smiled and stroked the fur contented. “I’ll call you Patches.”
The half empty beer bottle dangling at his side, Billy stared with awe into the back yard. He was staring at the pool. He shook his head. “Can I swim in it naked?” He slapped his hand over his mouth, obviously that slipped out.
“Why not, everyone else has.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind.” Ian tilted his head toward the balcony. “Com’mon let’s go enjoy the evening until you feel like you need to turn in.”
Billy followed Ian down the back steps and to the table by the pool. As Ian sat a bottle of scotch and two glasses in front of them, Billy kept looking around. He finally put his hands to his head and shook it.
“Man, I can get over this. You must drop a load in your pants every time you come in this place. I just can’t believe this is really yours.”
“That makes two of us. It is now officially mine, but I expect to get a call any day from somebody informing me it was just a dream.” Ian filled both glasses and slid one over to Billy.
“Even if they ask you to sign the contracts in blood. I’d do it.” He looked around again. “This place is worth your soul.”
“Beats the hell out of the shack I grew up in.”
“Bets the hell out of the shack almost anybody grew up in.” He raised his glass in salute and then tipped it back. Bill’s head whipped toward the bushes.
“What?”
“I thought I saw something moving over there.” Billy pointed. “Over there.” He looked a moment. “Probably just a bear or a bobcat.”
Ian laughed. “You are not going to get me with that, again, besides there aren’t bears and bobcats around, unless they’re on chains with diamond collars. We’ve got…uhm…coyotes, maybe.” Ian looked in the general direction. “It’s probably just Ralphie. He likes to root around in the hedges.”
“You have a coyote named Ralphie?” Billy smirked.
“No, neighbor’s dog.” Ian craned his head around. “Yeah, Kellen’s home, he’s probably let Ralphie out to do his doggie business.”
Billy refilled both their glasses.
“Bill, I’m throwing a little causal work day for my staff here at the house on Saturday.”
“That’s cool. I’ll just you know, get a cab or something and sight see.”
“No need, I think you’ll enjoy it. You’ll get to meet a lot of people. You can go home and tell ‘em you went to a swanky Hollywood party. Talk it up. You don’t have to let anyone know it was hot dogs and beer in the back yard.”
“Movie stars?”
“Maybe, no guarantee, but I’ve made a few friends.”
“Saxon Allen, maybe?”
“Maybe.” Ian put his glass on the table and pushed it around a bit. “If she hasn’t been whisked off to some exotic location by her boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” Billy looked up. “I thought, that maybe…you know the way the TV made it look, that you two were finally…”
“Bill, Saxon and I are old friends, hell the two of you are old friends. That night was no different for the two of us than if you had taken her to the Academy Awards.”
Billy cocked his head and looked at Ian, still fiddling with his scotch glass. “You sure?”
“Yup.” Ian picked up the glass and drained the last of the liquid. Reaching for the bottle and pouring another round, Ian looked at his friend.
“Ronnie seems to be doing good.”
Ian nodded his head. “I worry constantly, but the doctor’s all assure me he’s doing fine. He seems happy most of the time, sometimes a little overwhelmed, but I’m the same way.” He sipped from his glass. “How’s Vonnie?”
Billy smiled. “Untamable. I put her in a new day care and she hates it, but I think she finally understands that there’s not much of a choice.”
“I thought Donna’s mother was watching her.”
“She married some obnoxious guy and moved to Florida. We rarely hear from her. Vonnie’s still at the age where if it’s not within sight constantly, it doesn’t seem to bother her.” Billy pushed his glass around on the table a little. “How about you? How you doin’?”
Ian smiled. “Just fine. Things are settling down. I’m still getting used to a lot of things, but things are good. Why even ask?”
“Because I know you.”
“Back at ‘cha, Billy. So you wanna talk about the elephant by the pool or you just hoping it falls in and drowns quietly?”
“Which one?”
“Which one you wanna talk about?”
Billy sighed and looked at the tabletop. “What’s there to talk about, Ian? I’m just trying to decide if I screwed up or I’m finally facing something I’ve been refusing to admit.”
“Renee?”
“Among other things.”
“What happened?”
Billy sighed. “It was just time. She wanted more. I wanted less. She cried. I cried. Ironically, I think we’re still friends.”
“She’s a nice girl.”
“Crazy about Vonnie. She still comes by once a week and they go out for girlie stuff.”
“That’s good. It’s nice that she still wants to be a part of her life.” Ian watched Billy smile and nod his head. “And hey, buddy, thank you for still being a part of mine. I’m glad you came. It was a nice surprise.”
“Me, too.”
“Oh, before I forget. Are there are bills yet?” Ian asked.
“Bills?”
“You know for hauling, and carrying stuff away. If they want payment up front, I can give you a credit card number. Just have them call my…”
“Ian…Ian…everything’s taken care of.” Billy chuckled to himself.
“I need to remember to get receipts for the motel bills from Reece, too.” Ian took another drink.
Billy looked up, and took a deep breath. “There won’t be any. He’s been staying with me.”
“That’s real nice of you, Billy.”
“It’s not that far of a drive, and believe me when you finish up for the day, you want to get as far away as possible.”
“I’m sure Vonnie must love having another person in her universe.” Ian smiled.
“They’re like frick and frack.”
“He’s not much of a morning person. He must love it when Vonnie pounces on the couch at the crack of dawn.”
“He’s not sleeping on the couch, Ian.” Billy drew circles on the tabletop. “He’s sleeping with me…in my bed.”
Ian sat back in his chair. “When did this happen?”
“I don’t know.” Billy said. “We spent so much time together that day. Got to know each other, and when he called and said he was flying back down, I offered the couch and well…he sort of never made it there.”
Ian looked up at his friend. “Billy, I don’t know what to say.”
Billy nodded his head. “I thought…” He took a deep breath. “I thought I had all that under control. I was honest, you know that, Renee knew everything but there was just this nagging inside me….”
Ian shook his head. “I don’t know whether to say I’m sorry or be politically correct and say congratulations, and it’s not like we haven’t had this conversation before.”
“I know. I can’t do it again, buddy. I just have to face the facts. I thought that was all behind me. I met Renee and there was never a doubt in my head.”
“Guess the wrong head had its doubts.”
Billy closed one eye and gave him the finger.
“I wish I could help more, Billy. The only thing I can say is that no matter what happens it doesn’t change the way I feel. You will always be my bro.”
“I’ll just be your ‘mo bro.”
“I think we’ve had enough scotch. You’re starting to rhyme.” Ian smiled and pulled the bottle away from Billy. “So, do you want to call Reese and tell him he’s welcome over here?”
Billy smiled. “Tonight, I think it’s just you and me.”
Ian thought a moment and sighed. “Billy, is this something that you’re going to, you know…” Ian put his hands to his face. “Oh God…”
“Are you asking me if I’m going to come out of the closet?”
“Is this something any of your family knows?”
“Sparky does. I mean, she doesn’t know about Reese or at least she hasn’t said anything, but as soon as I’m a little more comfortable with it, yes. Yes, I’ll tell them.”
“Vonnie?”
“She’s four, Ian. How do you tell her? I figured I’ll wait until she was old enough to start asking questions, but she’s kind of gonna have two Daddies.”
“And Renee, you told her. That’s what lead up to…”
Billy nodded his head. “I wasn’t involved with any one then, but yeah that’s what I told her. That I didn’t feel we had a future as long as I had these feelings.”
“Is it serious, with you and Reese?”
“I think it could be.”
“Bill, please be careful.”
“We use…”
Ian chuckled. “No, no, but good. I mean, be careful with Reese. He’s been through a lot, hurt a lot.”
“I know everything. That’s kind of what kicked this off. That day, waiting in hospital rooms, police stations…we both kind of spilled our guts.”
“This is a really dumb question, but do Colton and Tippy know about your relationship?”
Billy grinned. “Are you kidding? Tippy’s got radar or something. I think she knew the moment I walked in the house. Reese is probably having a similar conversation, but he’s dated men before and this is California.”
“Tippy will probably come stomping over here first thing in the morning demanding to know when she gets to meet her grand daughter.”
“She seems like a very great lady.”
“She is.” Ian assured him. “Not that she won’t make you want to kill her from time to time, but once she decides you’re a part of her life you just know that was they way it was always meant to be.”
“Colton?”
“The exact opposite and exactly the same. Colton is the warm fuzzy compared to Tippy’s lovable windstorm. He’s much quieter. You don’t hear as much from him, but you know he’s always right there at your back, and when he gets a chance to open his mouth it’s exactly what you needed to hear.”
Billy nodded his head. “It’s good to know you have people like that in your life.”
“I got lucky, mo bro. Tippy and Colton, and Jesse—he’s a hoot, think Sparky with abs, even Kellen next door. I got plopped in the center of a great universe, and now I’ve got my boy.”
“Why do I get this feeling then?” Billy asked him.
“What feeling?”
“The feeling that you’re not telling me everything.” Billy leaned over and looked at Ian. “That look is still in your eyes. And don’t give me that what look. You know what I’m talking about.”
“I think it’s the scotch red eye.”
“I think it’s the Justyn bullshit.”
“Things are good, Billy. Things are great, but I just keep waiting for God to smack me across the back of the head and say ‘Not Yours’. I can’t help it, but I’m talking with someone.” Ian put up his hands. “Before you make a big deal out of it, Saxon helped me find someone for Ronnie to talk with and he thought it was important that I set up some sessions for myself.”
“He’s right. Not that I think you’re crazy.” Billy defended himself. “I know you’re an idiot, but that’s beside the point. It’s good.”
“It’s soooo California.” Ian laughed. “I’ve only had two sessions, but you’re right. It’s kind of nice to have someone to dump stuff on. At the price he charges, I’m gonna make him earn every penny.”
“Ian, between the beer, the scotch and the trip…”
“You’re beat.”
“I’m beat.”
“You go turn in buddy. We’ve got the whole weekend. You have a good rest.”
“You, too.” Billy stood and walked toward the back door. He stopped and started to turn and say something. He suddenly realized that it was something they’d already said, and went ahead in the house.
Ian put the scotch in the cabana and looked the door. He picked up the two glasses and carried them inside, rinsed them and tucked them in the dishwasher. As he went past the big guest room, he saw the light under the door go out.
He paused outside of his son’s room, peeking in just a minute to watch him sleep. Satisfied the dreaming boy wasn’t a dream, he walked up the stairs to his room. He stood at the windows and gazed out into the stars.
A tinkling sound caught his attention. He opened the one door that would by hand and looked. In the far corner of the balcony, Tippy had hung the chimes he’d made for Aunt Hil.
Ian smiled. Maybe it was true. He felt like someone who loved him was watching over at last.
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