“But, Duncan…”
“Can hang out with me,” Austin calls out. “I want to run the dogs, so we’ll go out in the fields and down to the river. There’s something peaceful about that place and he may dig it.”
“When you’re back, I’ll make us ice cream sundaes,” Mom begins, then sees Austin and me catch each other’s eye and make faces. “Stop that. I see you. You’ll eat my ice cream andyou’ll enjoy every bite of it. Then, we’ll talk about a lawyer and next steps, but that doesn’t have to be tonight. We can do it tomorrow.” Mom points to where my keys still sit on the desk where I’d tossed them when I came in earlier. “Go.”
Nodding, I do as I’m told, if for no other reason than to stop her from talking about her ice cream. We’re a mere mention away from her opening her own ice cream parlor.
I cross the barn floor in a few long strides, turning around as I slide the giant door open to go. Mom’s already standing behind Austin, peering over his shoulder at the laptop and pointing to what he sees.
“That’s a good list. Bring that thing down to the house where we’ll be closer to Duncan,” she commands.
“Yeah, he’s been playing that video game long enough,” I add, but my offering is met by the glare of two sets of eyes.
“Go,” my mother repeats, pointing to the world beyond the barn door. “Now.”
Austin can’t hide his delight at my being scolded, and even though I’m madder than I’ve been in a long time, it makes me grin. This is family. Coming together for a common goal. I love them, they love me. I want to give this to Duncan. Tom saw something in me, in my family, that he trusted me enough to give this to his son. I have to honor that.
Climbing into my SUV, my mind is blank and whirling all at the same time. Turning the keys in the ignition, I let the car warm up as I let out a giant breath of air.
I don’t know where to go, yet there’s only one place I can think of that I want to be right now and only one person I really want to talk to.
However, there’s someone else I need to go see first.
SEVEN
Levi
In the fun way small towns work, of course I called our family lawyer and asked if I could stop by to get his advice on something. Did you think I was going to sit here and be served papers by Lorna quietly?
Buzz Sherman has been our lawyer and family friend for as long as I can remember. When everything went down last year and I found out about being Duncan’s guardian, I’d asked him to look over all the paperwork and to be available in case I needed him. Look, this is the first time I’ve been “willed” something, and for it to be a human life, I want to make sure I do it right.
When I turned into Buzz’s driveway in town, he was already sitting on his porch waiting for me. He always reminded us of Santa Claus growing up—in fact, one year, Mom had him come out to the farm and play Santa for Austin and me, as well as for his two kids, who are both grown and gone now. I think one went to Los Angeles and is now a lawyer, too, following in his father’s shoes. The other owns a taco stand somewhere in the Florida Keys. It’s like he couldn’t have two more different kids if he tried.
“Thanks for seeing me on such short notice, Buzz,” I call out, slamming my car door and walking across the lawn.
“Anything for you kids. You know that you and your mom mean the world to us.” He stands, indicating I follow him inside.
The old Victorian home sits on the edge of Sweetkiss Creek Park, one of the best spots to live in my opinion if you’re going to dwell here in town. You get the benefit of a green space across the street from your front yard, and you’re still a quick walk into the shopping district if you want to do anything or grab a bite to eat.
We settle in his study, Buzz taking a chair across from me, grabbing a legal pad and a pen. “May I see the papers you were served?” he asks. I comply, handing them over and then I settle in to wait for him to review them.
It feels like ages, but he finally grunts his dissatisfaction.
“Well, she’s going to try to make things difficult for you, isn’t she?” Buzz angles himself in his chair so he’s facing me. It’s late afternoon now and the sun is starting to get lower in the sky, but it hasn’t started to disappear yet. Its warmth still emanates enough heat that I can feel it through the window panes sitting here in Buzz’s study.
“I guess so. I mean, I know she wasn’t happy that I was chosen to be guardian, but…” I shake my head and run my fingers through my hair. “I don’t know what to do, Buzz. He needs to settle in and something like this could ruin the work we’re trying to do to help him.”
“No, I get it. Mary told me about Duncan. I know he’s a bit quiet and still in some shock, as I’m sure you can understand.” Buzz’s features are soft, but his mouth is drawn in a tight line. “I hate these cases because the child can quickly feel like property.”
“I don’t want that,” I offer.
Buzz reaches out to pat my shoulder. “I know, I wasn’ttalking about you,” he says knowingly. “This can go a couple of ways, depending on the judge you get, really. They could try to show you as unfit to be his guardian because of the amount of time you’re on the road for football.”
I’d wondered if that was going to be a problem. “Doesn’t it count that it’s the way I make money and I’ll be able to provide for Duncan by doing my job?” Tom and Katie had also left him a sizable trust fund which he'll be able to access when he’s old enough, and provisions while he’s under my care so he never has to want for anything, but still. If I’m going to be a dad, I’m going to be a dad, you know?
“Funny enough, because you’re single, that could hurt you. Doesn’t matter that your family is tight and your mom or brother can step in at any time, nor that you’re making a decent salary in the NFL. Duncan’s grandmother may try to show you as unfit.”
“This is insane, right?” Folding my arms in front of me, I can’t help but to throw myself back into the chair with a little anger, to the point the chair rocks for a second before it stops and stays still.
