Page 7 of Whiskey Wednesdays

Liam was three years older than me, and he worked as an engineer for a tech company of some kind. I didn’t fully understand what he did.

“How’s Dad doing?” he asked.

“He seems a little lonely.”

“What makes you think so?”

I put my mismatched plates and bowls into the cupboard. “I haven’t heard him talk about any friends here. And Connor McCoy isn’t like Paul. I’d be surprised if Connor could recognize Dad if he saw him on the street.”

Liam hummed. “You might be judging him too harshly. Doesn’t McCoy have three or four houses?”

“Probably. But his younger brother is a complete asshole. And he seems to let Noah do and say whatever he wants.”

“Is it that bad?” Liam sounded skeptical.

I told him about Noah trying to make Dad wash and gas up his car on Dad’s day off. I didn’t tell him about Noah cornering me against Dad’s car and manhandling me.

“Dad also told me that Noah screamed at Connor’s new assistant a few days before she quit, and he wrecked one of Connor’s motorcycles. He also leaves beer cans and trash around the estate when he’s there.”

“Does Connor know about all this?” Liam asked.

“I have no idea. But if he doesn’t, he should. And it puts everyone in an impossible position since it’s his brother doing it.”

“You’re right. I definitely want to come visit him now.”

“You should, and not just to check in with Dad. I miss you too, Waldo.” When Liam started working, it seemed like he was always out of the country somewhere. I couldn’t keep track of where he was half the time, so I’d started calling him Waldo.

He chuckled. “Love you too.”

Early that evening, I punched my dad’s code into the front security gate and drove into Connor’s estate. I’d texted to let him know I was almost there.

I hadn’t been back since October, and I worried about running into Noah again. As I pulled up to Dad’s little place on the estate, I regretted not talking him into coming over to my apartment for dinner instead.

Dad walked out when I pulled up. “Hey, you made it.” He waited until I got out of my car, then gave me a big hug and pulled me off my feet.

I laughed and hugged him back. “Dad, I’m not five anymore.”

“You still weigh about the same though.”

It was so good to see him, I hugged him again. “I have a couple of weeks off before my clinical hours start. It’s more time than I’ve had in years.”

Dad nodded. “I know. I had to spend the holidays with just Liam last year.”

They’d ended up going to a little place in Mexico to fish and watch the whales migrate. I didn’t feel sorry for him at all.

I felt a prickle between my shoulder blades, and looked over to see Noah standing in Connor’s driveway, watching us. He gave me the creeps.

Dad patted my arm. “Let’s eat. I made butter chicken and blueberry cobbler.”

I loved it when Dad baked, and he didn’t skimp on the best ingredients.

While we ate, I reviewed my winter schedule with him. “The pediatric clinic takes Fridays off. I’ll be working over the weekend during a few of the home games with the hockey team, but my schedule is completely manageable.” I clapped my hands together in happiness.

While we talked, I absently wiped the sauce off a few choice pieces of chicken and cut them up into small pieces. Dad’s little cat, Shawnda, waited patiently under my chair. I was a sucker, but I didn’t care. I loved that little furball.

After dinner, I fed her my chicken scraps and we cleaned up. Neither of us felt like playing a game, so we took drinks out to his back patio and talked and enjoyed the quiet evening. Around eleven I decided to go home so I could get up early and finish unpacking.

On Sunday morning, I ran over to Town Bagel Bakery to get a fresh bagel with jalapeño cream cheese. I didn’t have any groceries yet, so I decided my splurge of the week would be breakfast. The little bagel shop was packed, but I got in and out quickly. I made coffee and ate my breakfast at home while I unpacked.

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