Page 9 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

“It’s not a secret that there’s something about this place that makes me feel trapped.You know how that is.”

When Dad got out of the military and he moved the family here, she very nearly left him and ran back to Tucson.But she loved him too much.She found her own way to make it bearable, and over time, she fell in love with the place as well.She supported me when I left even though no one else did.

“I do.But I got over it, and you can too.You just need the right motivation to stay.”

“I’m not staying, Mom.”Not for all the money in the world.

“At least be open to the possibility that you can make this home base.You need one.”

“I’m not sure if I can do that.”First, I’d just be coming back here in between projects and maybe on holidays.That would morph into longer and longer stays, and suddenly everyone would expect me to just be here permanently.

The song ends, and Mom steps away but places a hand on my cheek.“At least use this as an opportunity to get to know us again.I feel like Abi is the only one who knows you now.We all miss you.”

A little boy walks up to her and tugs on her hand.“Nan, I want a cotton candy.”

She glances down at him and picks him up.“Olliekins, I’m talking right now.Have you met your Uncle Seth yet?”

He shakes his head and taps his little hand on Mom’s shoulder.“But Nan.Cotton candy.”

“Hello, Ollie.”I smile at him, but he shies away.Ollie is Jacob’s son, and they both live with my parents.I swallow as Mom walks away.My intention was never to hurt my family, but my actions did just that.And I’m not sure it’s fixable now.

I make my way back to the table with Noah, Mark, and now Levi.The conversation doesn’t stop, so at least they weren’t talking about me.But they’re talking about fishing, which in my opinion is the most boring topic on Earth.

Dad sits down next to me and claps a hand on my shoulder.“Son, it’s good to have you back.”

I nod because I can’t necessarily say I feel the same way, but I do have to discuss things with him.

“My cabin doesn’t have wifi.”

“None of them do.We live in God’s most beautiful country.We should take the time to appreciate it and talk to each other face-to-face.We don’t need to be connected to those damn devices all the time.”

“I understand.But, Dad, you brought me here to do a job, and I can’t do that without being able to talk to people who are not here.I need wifi.”

The table goes quiet, and I’m sure my brothers are wondering what I’m planning to do with the place.The truth is, I don’t know yet.

“There’s a whole building with several offices and a big conference room.You don’t need it in your cabin.”

I’m grateful and a little surprised they even have that.Dad refused to put internet in our house, and I grew up having to use the library computers.He always said computers cost too much money.

“Actually I do.Some of the people I work with are in completely different time zones, and I might not be in the office when they need to reach me.”

“I’m not paying thousands of dollars to send the internet to the other side of the property.”

“I’ll pay for it.I just need contact information.”

Dad blinks at me for a moment.Money is a sensitive topic for our family, and we never talk about it.Not when I was young and we were broke.Not a few years ago when upgrades were needed, and Dad took out another mortgage.And even now, I don’t have a good feel for the financials because when Dad called me up and said he needed help, he was very vague.

“Fine.I’ll get you the information in the morning.Just don’t tell anyone.Before you know it, the boys who work for us will want it in their bunkhouse too.I don’t like it at the campground at all.”

“Done.”

“Hey, what about our house?”Mark asks.

“What about it?”Dad eyes him, an annoyed look on his face.

“You said no when we asked you to run a line out to it.”

Dad pushes away from the table.“You never offered to pay for it.”Then he walks away.I know this is hard for him.He grew up with people not caring that there was no radio, and we were practically teenagers before we even had a TV.But now, everyone is addicted to their phones.He just doesn’t get it.

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