Page 18 of Spit Screen

“You do?”

“Of course.”

I sigh.

“We’ll talk about everything when you get home,” Emma says. “Something tells me you might need to spend some quiet time tomorrow with your friends Tylenol and water.”

I chuckle. I’ve never been much of a drinker, so it doesn’t require much for me to sport a hangover. “I didn’t drink that many margaritas.” I unconsciously sigh again. “Boston? Geez, Em. My dad will see Tam more than me.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

I grumble. “I’m happy for them—for Christie. I just—it’s so far.”

“Mm. Well, Vicki reminded me today it’s only a plane ride—which is the same as it is now.”

“You told Vicki about their move?”

“I hadn’tplannedto say anything to the kids. Vicki is intuitive, Addy. You know that.”

“How did she take it?” I ask.

“Better than either of us. Be prepared for her to make a compelling argument for us to move to Boston."

I chuckle. Of all our kids, Vicki is the closest to Tamara and Christie. Tam loves Vicki as much as Vicki adores her. I think a big part of the reason Tam wanted children with Christie is because she’s so close to Vicki. Their unique connection can still surprise me. If I’m honest, Vicki reminds me a lot of Tamara. She isn’t fearless, but she is adventurous and strong-willed. Sometimes, her daring nature makes me anxious, but Vicki has always been eager to immerse herself in adventure. I recognized it when she was a baby, and Emma would take her into the pool. Vicki loved it when Emma would blow gently in her face and dunk her quickly under the water. She would push with all her might against Emma’s legs to try to break free from Emma’s grasp.

Vicki has been like that with nearly every new thing she’s tried. Believe me, she’s had more than a few skinned knees and bruised elbows, but she always gets right back up and tries again. Sherry says Emma was similar when she was a child. That doesn’t surprise me. Emma is determined and competitive. And there’s no way she would let her brothers show her up by doing something she couldn’t do. I see reflections of Emma in all our children. It leaves me wondering how Emma is feeling about Tam and Christie’s move.

“Em?”

“Get some rest, Addy. Enjoy the next few days with Tam. We’ll talk about everything when you get home.”

“Everything?”

Emma giggles. “Go to sleep, Addy.”

“I miss you, Em.”

“I miss you, too.”

“You do?”

“Always,” Emma says. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Emma tells me. “Sleep.”

“Morning,” Christie says.

“Hi, Chris.”

“Headache?” she asks.

“No. I think Tam might have one when she gets up, though.”

Christie nods, pours me a cup of coffee, and slides it across the breakfast bar. “You look like you could use that,” she says.

“I didn’t get much sleep.”

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