“Yeah. Just got a lot on my mind…”
I packed my bags and carried them downstairs to the sidewalk.
My dad got out of the Range Rover and came around to help me.
Bear had his head out of the back window, his tongue hanging out with his tail wagging.
“I can get my bags, Dad.”
He pulled them out of my hands forcefully and carried them to the rear. “Bear is excited to see you.”
I went to the window and scratched him behind the ears. “You’re my date this weekend, alright? We’re gonna snuggle under one blanket in front of the fire, share s’mores, get some sun. It’s gonna be so romantic.”
As if he understood, Bear gave a bark.
Mom was in the passenger seat. “Bear isn’t going to share his s’mores.”
I got into the seat next to Bear, and then we left the city. The traffic was already bad because everyone was leaving the city for their vacation homes in the Hamptons and elsewhere. Bear sat next to the other window behind my dad so he could stick his head out.
Dad would check the rearview mirror often, not to look at me, but to look at his dog.
He was obsessed with the dog.
His hand was on the center console, holding my mom’s hand, his thumb gently brushing over her wedding ring.
“How was work this week?” Mom asked.
“Same ol’, same ol’. What about you?”
“One of my clients had the President of the United States in his residence, so every single client in the building had to hand over their information to get clearance. First time that’s ever happened.”
“Whoa, did you meet him?”
“No. But I was in the room with him.”
“That’s crazy.”
“The clients were pretty annoyed they had to give up their information, even if it was to the Secret Service. The building is their home. It’s not a hotel. I understood their irritation, and they asked me to prevent it, but there was nothing I could do.”
Dad kept one hand on the steering wheel. “By asking everyone to provide that information, they’re basically announcing to everyone that he’s coming, so that seems counterproductive.”
“How are things at work, Dad?”
Dad looked at me in the rearview mirror. “Well. Our research was approved for clinical trials, so we’ll be starting that after the holiday.”
“That’s great. What exactly is your research?”
“The regrowth of damaged alveoli and other tissues in the lungs. It’s designed for COPD patients who are lifelong smokers. By removing damaged tissue and restoring healthy tissue, it will not only cure COPD but also significantly lower their chance of developing cancer.”
It took me a second to digest all of that. “Wow…that’s amazing.”
“We’ve had success with mice, and Dr. Beaumont thinks that if we’re successful in humans, it could give us a better understanding of cancer cells and healthy cells, and perhaps turn cancerous cells into healthy ones. I agree.”
“You talk about it so nonchalantly, but this is a pretty big deal.”
“I never said it wasn’t a big deal. But it’s still early in the game, and more often than not, research doesn’t go the way you want. So, I haven’t gotten my hopes up just yet.”
The driveway filled up with cars, and soon the entire family was there.
Bear was swimming in the lake, chasing fish. Dad was at the grill, flipping burgers in his black apron. Derek was teaching Little Deacon and Cam to fish at the edge of the dock, while Ryan sat in my mom’s lap in front of the fire. He had a stick in his hand, and he would burn each marshmallow until it dissolved in the fire. Mom would just put on another one, and he would do it again and again.
Dex carried Jeffrey in the baby sling in front of his chest, a beer in his hand.
It was perfect—like every other time we came to the lake house.
When the sun was gone and the crickets sang their song, we gathered around the fire, all of us having marshmallows on sticks.
Well, except my dad.
Most of the babies were asleep, bundled in blankets on top of someone’s chest.
Dad had his hand on Mom’s thigh while she held Ryan in her arms. “We did pretty good, huh?”
She smiled as she looked at him. “Because you’re so damn fine.”
He gave her a dark look with a slight grin. “Not as fine as you.”
I looked away because that was TMI for me. Jeffrey was asleep in his sling, so cute with his chubby cheeks. He had a beanie on his head to keep him warm. “I can’t wait until the fireworks tomorrow.”
“Me too,” Dex said. “This is my favorite time of year. Well, besides Christmas.”
“How’s your practice?” I asked.
“Busy,” he said. “It’s always busy. And then I got two babies at home, a sexy wife, and a dog.”
“Where is Riley?”
He nodded farther down the deck.
Bear and Riley were asleep in the same dog bed, getting some warmth from the fire.