“Cool! What’s the other guy look like?” Adele said smiling.
“Okay, that’s enough. Let’s rejoin the party and you two can keep catching up.” I herd them both toward the glass sliding door that led onto the patio and the greater backyard. Calvin and Adele were already two peas in a pod discussing the injuries Calvin sustained in the fight as well as how many stitches he got in the ER. She was rapt and in-awe of her father.
Right before we step outside back into the sunlight, Calvin took my hand, squeezed it and mouthed to me, ‘thank you.’
Chapter 38
CALVIN
Getting to know your own kid, who’s already more than halfway to adulthood was a trip. How she raised her eyebrows just like Ellison when you asked her a question, how she crossed her arms and tilted her head when she’s listening, exactly like I do. Her eyes crinkled when she smiled, just like her mom, and she’s got a laugh to die for. I watched her process all of this difficult information like a pro, and I was humbled by the outstanding job El did raising her on her own.
“Do you like Corn holes? Fox built me one after I had so much fun playing it at the motorcycle rally last year,” Adele asked me.
“Fox lets you go to motorcycle rallies?”
I was both humiliated and gracious, jealous and awestruck by how well my brother had stepped in in my place. Adele seemed so well-adjusted, so forthcoming and bright, no hint of dysfunction lingered over her like it did for us. Adele was a burst of fresh air and a delight to be around.
“So you’re going into fifth grade?” I asked her as I tossed a bean bag. I missed.
“Sixth. I have a late birthday, so Mom started me early.”
A sixth grader. Holy shit.
Adele tossed the bean bags easily into the hole, all six of them in fact, she’s better than I was.
“And you like school?”
“I like art and reading. I love science! Math is like, okay. Gym sucks because all the boys are sexist.”
“Really, how?” Give me their names, Adele. A list and I’ll change their minds.
“They never pick you for teams or they go easy on you because they think they’ll beat you just cause they’re boys. I’m the fastest kid in my class, by the way.”
Adele, you are an inspiration. I wish I’d known about you all those dark days when I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go on.
“Somehow I’m not surprised. You look really fast. Ten-year-old boys are the worst and they actually only get worse with time. If you don’t believe me, ask your uncle.”
Fox came over and handed me a beer, which I took gratefully. Ellison hung on the periphery, mingling, but keeping one eagle eye trained on Adele and me.
“She’s a cool fucking kid, Cal. At first, I took care of them both as my duty to you. But they’re family to me now, kid. I haven’t had any kids because the timing has never been right, but I always felt flush in that area of my life because of these two. Even after Mom left, I never felt like I didn’t have any family, you know what I mean?
Fox put his hand on my shoulder and shoved me back and forth a little.
“Don’t fuck it up, bro.”
“It’s too late for that. But I’ll do my best from here on out—whatever Ellison is willing to put up with.”
Adele ran up and handed me the six bean bags.
“I just saw Tessa is here. I’m gonna go say hi. Don’t cheat while I’m over there,” Adele warned me.
“She’s so well-adjusted.”
“She’ll be fine. Adele’s a smart and resilient kid,” Fox told me. “Don’t worry about Ellie. She’s pissed right now, Calvin, but deep down, she’s never stopped loving you.”
“How do you know?” I asked him.
“For one, she’s never dated. She gives all of these excuses like not dragging men into Adele’s life, but I know it’s because her heart belongs to you. It always has and it probably always will.”
“I’m afraid that ship has sailed. It’s not like I just fucked up once, I pushed her away every single time she tried—for years.” Fox picked up the bean bags and tossed them himself. He got five of them in perfectly and the sixth one slides off the back.
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” Fox said, looking me square in the eye. Before he could go retrieve the bags, one flew through the air and landed squarely on his back.
He turned in surprise and stared at the girl with the short Day-Glo red bob.
“Missed one,” she said playfully, even though she threw it as hard as she could. The two of them had chemistry and Fox got flustered.
“ Cal, this is Ellison’s spiritual guide Charlie.”
“Hey Charlie. What? Really?” I asked the eccentric girl.