More money is spent than we initially expected, but whoever moves in will have everything they need. Liam even offers to give Aiden some money to pick up some essentials for the duplexes tomorrow like linens, cups, plates, and bowls.
Liam takes us back to the house to grab our cars and we head to the bar. This requires a celebratory drink. A drink turns into two. The memories we share of our parents have us smiling and laughing. The way our mom always used to wake us up an hour before we needed to be up because it took forever to get out of bed. Or how our father would take us fishing every Saturday he had off, and we’d spend the whole day fishing and joking around. Things like that, we really miss.
“I think they would be proud of us today. You know how they always wanted to make a difference. Well, their money helped us do that,” Aiden says.
“Cheers to that.”
All the bottles clink.
I wonder what Tessa and Emily are doing right now.
Me: I’m out with my brothers. Just signed the finalized paperwork. Duplexes are officially ours!
Tessa has become like my best friend, and it’s nice to have someone in my life that I can spend time with. Now I can see where this can lead for us, and with her living in the duplex, it will be easier for her not to feel obligated to say yes when I ask her out.
Tessa: Congratulations. Looks like you will finally be able to help people like you always wanted. Proud of you. Carol would be too.
I love that I can talk about my wife with her. Aiden and Liam always tell me it’s time to move on. They just don’t understand what it’s like for me. All those years spent with Carol, happy, dreaming up our future together to have it all taken away. How do you move on from that? From the person you thought you were going to spend the rest of your life with?
“Earth to Damon.” Liam claps his hand down on my shoulder. “You still here?”
I laugh. “Sorry. I guess I’m a little tired is all. Been one hell of a day.”
Aiden can go out and party after work until three in the morning. I can’t. I’m the oldest and I’m normally asleep by ten. My brothers like to refer to me as the old man sometimes. A little joke between the three of us.
“You better head home... Is Tessa still staying there?”
“Until the duplexes are ready. Sure is.”
“You guys getting close?”
“I know what you are referring to, and no, we are not sleeping together.” When will my brothers give up? “I’m gonna head out. My eyes are getting a little droopy and start time comes faster than you think.”
I promised Emily we would watch the Animal Planet special on monkeys. No way am I going to disappoint her on possibly her last night with me.
“I’m home. Just in time for... monkeys,” I say, taking off my coat and hanging it up.
“We were just waiting for you, bigshot. Saved you a spot right here,” Tessa says, patting the seat next to Emily.
Nights are just as they have been since they began staying with me. Lots of laughter and smiling. What am I going to do when they move into the duplex? My nights will go back to just me and Chicago Fire. What a sad world that will be.
***
AIDEN: All right. They helped get the furniture into the duplexes. That’s done. I’ll go ahead and put all the stuff up before I leave. It’ll be ready for your friend and Liam’s to come stay tonight if they want.
Me: Thanks, bro. I’m glad you were off. I’ll let Liam know.
Liam and I are sitting around the table, playing cards.
“It’ll be ready to go tonight. Might let your friend know.”
He gets up and pulls the phone out of his pocket. “I’m gonna call her now. Thanks.”
I’m not looking forward to the conversation when I get home, telling Tessa that it’s finally ready for her. I don’t want her to think she has to leave, but I don’t want her to feel like she has to stay. It’s like a teeter-totter... already trying to balance between the two. I don’t want to lead her on, but I don’t want her to leave either.
Then there’s Emily. I can’t fathom not having her around every morning and night. It truly brightens my day, and I want it to stay that way.
Liam comes back to the table. “She’ll be there around seven tonight. I told her I’d meet her there with the key.”