Page 43 of Mark Us Little Bear
“No sweetie, she missed you. She’s just having a rough week.”
“Yeah, knowing I’m here has already made her unbearable. And it’s so unfair because I brought my friends but we can go to Bradley’s. His family lives here.”
I pull back to look at him and focus on the gold that blends with the honey in his irises, loving how much they look like mine.
“I missed you, Dad.”
His smile widens. “I missed you more.” His shoulder-length, brown hair is slicked back and his short beard looks a little longer than on our last video chat.
I spin around to meet Ronnie and Bradley’s warm gaze. “This is my dad, Johnny. And this is Ronnie and Bradley.”
“Nice to meet you.” He meets them halfway and shakes their hands. They immediately greet him with “Nice to meet you, Mr. Turner.”
“No, call me Johnny. Amber said your folks live here, Bradley, which family?”
“The Meiss’s.”
Dad cocks his head to the side, “Drew’s family?”
“Yeah. We’re the only Meiss around here.”
“Hmm.” He contemplates something, maybe reflecting. “We used to go boating together before… I’m sorry for your loss. He was a good man.”
Bradley nods in gratitude.
“I’m sorry if this sounds weird but you look so young.” Ronnie addresses my Dad’s appearance and makes him peel with laughter.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Bradley adds. “I didn’t expect to see an actor when we walked inside like the one from that TV series everyone watches right now.” And he immediately gets a pat on the shoulder from Dad.
“He looks like a cowboy,” is the first that comes to my mind, “Straight out of modern western.”
“Yeah, that’s the one.”
“Thanks guys, please continue to flatter me.” Dad deserves all the praise.
“My parents had me when they were eighteen, I wasn’t exactly the plan.” I spew as I open a lid and dip my nose inside a dish with red meat, mushrooms, onions, and rice—soaked in a rich creamy sauce—smoked paprika and hints of mustard coat my nose and I inhale it again. I move to the next pots and boxes placed on the kitchen counter and do the same.
I missed Dad’s cooking.
“But you didn’t stall it either. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me—my biggest accomplishment.” His hands are resting on the guys’ shoulders, slightly towering over them and shaking them a little while he grins at me. “Are you hungry?”
“I puked all the way here so I think it’s too early for that,” Ronnie says with a sheepish grin and I smile at his softness that captivates me every time.
“He thought our sidewalks needed a makeover.”
Dad barks a laugh at Bradley’s joke, Ronnie shakes his head yet a smile pulls at his lips even when he tries to bite it away. They are so right for each other, it was evident the first day I met them, and I’m so lucky they want to spend their time with me. I still can’t believe they write fantasies about me and those become more vivid every time they write a new one.
This week I dared to write an erotic scene about us and I can’t wait to grab Ronnie’s laptop later and continue.
“Did you know she was coming,” Mom storms into the kitchen, waving her finger in accusation. God forbid if I came to visit without her knowledge. Most parents would be happy but not her.
“Melanie, stop it right now,” Dad warns, his voice is stern but still soft. “She just walked in here and you didn’t even let her breathe before you attacked her with countless accusations.”
I’ve had enough of this.
Moving from room to room restlessly, I lounge myself up the stairs and yank my sister’s door out of its hinges. “Kat, are you…” my eyes land on her standing next to her window, sneaking a boy outside the house. “Are you sneaking a boy out?”
Drawing the curtains dramatically, she spins on her pink shoes fast. “What? No. It must be the drive over you’re hallucinating.” She pulls her shoulder upright, folding her arms across her chest and jutting her hip out.
