Page 30 of Beckon

“I call bullshit.”

Chandler didn’t respond, instead, he turned the key again with the same result.

“The car won’t start. Piece of shit, I knew I should’ve gotten it serviced.”

“You’re pulling my leg.”

“I assure you, I’m not, look.” Chandler turned the key again and nothing. “See?”

“Not about the car, jackass, about the girl.”

“Not yanking your chain on either count. The car won’t start, and her name is Tamitha.” Chandler pulled the lever to pop the hood and got out. Tate followed, scrolling through his phone.

“I’ll be a monkey’s fucking uncle… how?”

“Because I’m just that good,son.” Even though the car wouldn’t start, and they’d just dealt with heavy shit, it was like old times. They were grown-ass men who acted like frat boys, and he had zero shame about that. This was the way they’d interacted with each other before…

“I hope you’re as good as you think you are because it looks like you might need to call her for a ride.”

10

TAMITHA

“Bye, Harold. Thanks for coming.”It felt weird saying by to him while her mother was clinging to his arm like she was afraid he’d float away if she let go.

Since her mother announced her plans, Harold had spent every free minute he had with Tami and Chester. He was really making an effort to get to know everything he could about the family.

The way he spoke about her mother when she wasn’t around was all Tami needed to know about him.

He was one of the good ones.

“Like Chandler,” she mumbled to herself.

Harold had even told Tami that until Chester and she gave him the approval, he would push the wedding. Never mind that the all-inclusive resort was already booked and nonrefundable.

“I know that if you two have any doubts whatsoever, it will devastate your mother, and I won’t see her torn. I’ll walk away before I do that to her. So, I can wait. I’m a very patient man and in prime health for my sixty-three years. I have all the time in the world for what matters. And you three are what matters to me.”

He’d won her over the second those words left his mouth.

After Harold was gone and they’d put Chester to bed, Tami and her mother settled in for one of their talks over pie.

“I know I’ve already told you this, Mom, but I wholeheartedly approve of Harold. I can’t wait for the wedding and Chester can’t wait to have an official grandpa. Although I need to warn you, he’s trying out new names for him. Gumpy is in the lead, followed closely by Pop-Pop. I am pushing for the latter, but you know how he can be. He likes the way Gumpy feels in his mouth.”

It didn’t escape her how much her son was like her. He inherited her quirks and oddities.

Her mother laughed.

“For you it was Zipper. You said it tasted good to say.”

“Zipper,” she whispered, followed by “Ricochet.” She loved both words for how they felt to say.

They shared a special smile. One they had since she’d learned to smile. It was that smile that got her through so many of the rough spots growing up. It was her mother’s smile that said she wasn’t weird, she was perfect.

“I am pulling for Pop-Pop myself. Gumpy sounds like an old fogey and Harold is certainly not that.” Her mother’s smirk coupled with a lip bite had her torn between screamingooo, grossand being happy for her mom.

The second won out and she turned, hiding her facial expression that hadn’t gotten on board with her decision.

“Well, for Harold’s sake, I hope you get your wish.”

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