Next year. I loved how easily we both talked about the future these days. The holidays. Graduate school. Next year. The year after. The magical someday when other dreams might come true. It all felt within reach.
“Do you have any new pictures?” Inez asked.
“Tons.” Levi set the box next to the plates so he could fish out his phone. “She’s a cutie. Can’t believe I’m a big brother. Luckily, Ed’s family has a lot of little kids running around, so she won’t be as much of an only kid as I was.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said as she admired all the pictures Levi was scrolling through. “My daughter and her wife are having a baby in April. They’re coming for Christmas to visit.”
“More people to feed!” Levi crowed happily while shooting me a glance.
We both knew what Inez didn’t. Dad had been ring-hunting, and her kids from her first marriage were both coming to Christmas so they could witness the proposal.
“I hope they like dogs.” I shrugged.
Dad and Inez could take the express train to happily-ever-after. They’d earned it. Just like Levi and I had earned our more slowly meandering walk to the same destination. He had a few more months under his agreement to live on-site here at the housing project. Eventually, we’d wind up under the same roof, one way or another. I believed in us.
“You’re getting a dog?” Levi’s utter delight was totally worth whatever furniture was inevitably about to be chewed on.
“No. We’re getting a dog.”
“Levi. Tell Joe you need a ring before a puppy,” Inez mock-scolded.
“Who says Joe’s doing the ring-buying or the question-asking?” Levi matched Inez’s fake indignation.
“Point taken.” Both Inez and Dad joined Levi in laughing, and I couldn’t resist the merriment either.
“Levi can ask all the questions he wants when he’s ready.” I already knew my answer. I’d make it easy on him. Always.