Page 43 of Uproot

I frown looking over at my phone as Bobby talks to me through my speaker. I take off my reading glasses and place them on the dining room table, massaging my forehead.

“What’s going on?” I grumble, even though I’m not ready to hear the answer.

“Benito, the President of Global Games finally flew into the States, but he’s only going to be here foroneday before he heads to Germany. Guess who he wants a meeting with?” Bobby asks, speaking rapidly.

I sit up in my chair, the tiredness from my 4am wake up fading. “No shit?”

“No shit, brother! Marcus and I just set it up for tomorrow afternoon at 3pm. Figured you and I can go out for a celebratory dinner afterwards, cause I know this will go through!” Bobbyexplains excitedly. “But Benito made it clear that he wants to seeyouface-to-face.”

My eyes move to the window across from me as the sun begins to rise, and I process Bobby’s words.

I’ve been waiting for the chance to meet with Benito Valdez forever. Even though he owns Global Games and has created some of the most innovative technology of the past decade, he is still very old school with how he runs his business.

He doesn’t like having meetings over the phone, or via zoom, and that makes getting a meeting with him incredibly difficult considering his traveling schedule.

I don’t blame him for his methods because I very much understand the importance of sitting across from someone and getting a read on their body language and looking them in the eyes. It can be risky to make judgements across the world from someone you want to do a huge deal with.

The problem is that I can no longer just up and schedule things as easily as I used to now that I am taking care of Edison. I have to think about who will get him to and from school tomorrow if I have to be in New York by 3pm.

It takes a while just to get to the airport in Redland from here, and then the flight, driving to my office, and meeting with Bobby and my team to do a presentation rehearsal. That will all take hours, and there’s no way I can leave here past 7am and make that happen.

“B, you good? I know it’s a lot to take in. What can I do to help you?” Bobby asks, pulling me from my rapid thoughts.

“I’m good, Bobby. That’s incredible news, really. This is what we have wanted for fucking ever. Let me go and get Helen over here so we can contact my pilot and start planning, ok?” I tell him, getting up and pacing the dining room.

“You got it man. I’ll handle everything on our side here. I’m about to send out an email to our team and get the ball rolling. Call me later when you have time,” Bobby says, before hanging up the phone.

I spend the next hour making arrangements with Helen. I talk to Dragana as soon as she wakes up and she tells me that she will handle things with Edison here while I travel. I just need to figure out his transportation since she doesn’t drive, and the school bus unfortunately doesn’t run by our very isolated set of rental homes.

I wake up Edison and help him get ready for school before we run out the door. On our drive over, I explain to him about my meeting and that I will figure out a way for him to get to school tomorrow.

“Can Ms. Selah take me!Pleassse! She’s a safe driver, Uncle Beckett! I rode in her car before,” he exclaims, eagerly smiling at me from the rearview mirror.

I realize that in all of the time I was trying to figure out how to make tomorrow work I never considered asking Selah for help.

After I left her house last night, we spent some time texting each other once I got home. I fell asleep late, but it was worth every minute getting to learn more about her.

“I’m not sure, Edison. I’ll see if Ms. Selah would feel comfortable doing that, ok?” I say, turning into the parking lot.

We get to his classroom and I help him take off his backpack, then give him a hug before going over to greet Selah. She’s writing on the large white board and lowers her marker as I walk over to her. Her sweet face lights up when she sees me, and it makes my heart do something strange.

“Good morning, angel. Here’s your lunch,” I say, handing her the bag I brought for her.

She gives me a nervous smile before taking it from me. “Good morning Beckett. You know, I can pack lunch myself now. I promise I’ll still bring one each day. I don’t want you to have to go out of your way to-“

“It’s not out of my way at all,” I interrupt her, gently rubbing her cheek. “Dragana makes the lunches for everyone each day, and at this point there’s no turning back. If I tell her you don’t need her to make one for you anymore, it will break her heart. You don’t want to upset a sweet, elderly lady. Do you, sweetheart?”

She covers her mouth to stifle a laugh, knowing I’m full of shit. “Ohhh. Well of course I wouldn’t want toeverupset Dragana. Thank you, and tell her thank you as well,” she says amused.

I nod, looking around the classroom. “Can I talk to you about something quickly?” I ask, gently pulling her over to her desk.

“Of course. Is everything ok?” she asks, sitting down at her desk.

Her smile falls and I realize she thinks I’m about to say something about us. “Everything is fine, sweetheart. It’s not about us at all. I really enjoyed our date last night, I just have to ask you something. A favor,” I respond.

She nods and I give her a quick explanation of what I spoke to Bobby about this morning, and my sudden need to travel.

“That’s so exciting Beckett! I hope it all goes well! And don’t worry about Edi, I’d be happy to drive him. Your place isn’t too out of the way for me, but you do have to sign a form in the front office giving me permission,” she explains.

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