Page 53 of Home in the Country
When it’s all said and done, we have one hopeful jar with blue water and one with green water. Briggs is a sticky mess, but he’s happy andI’mhappy.He runs down the hall to wash his hands, and I do the same in the kitchen before pulling out my phone.
FALLON: Thank you for the surprises on our doorstep
OTTO: How do you know it was me?
FALLON: It wasn’t? Should I be thanking someone else?
OTTO: You’re welcome
FALLON: I knew it (winking emoji)
FALLON: But seriously, it was perfect and Briggs is so excited to see the flowers in the morning
OTTO: I’m glad.
OTTO: Enjoy your night and the snacks
FALLON: You too. I mean if you have snacks—you have snacks, right?
OTTO: Always snacks. It’s the number one rule, if your girl says she doesn’t want anything you ALWAYS pick somethin’ up just in case.
FALLON: Your girl?
OTTO: Girls can be friends…
17
OTTO
“Man, that looks good,” I say to Case as we admire the last paver on the massive walkway. We made this project from hell our bitch, but I’m not sad to say goodbye either.
My phone rings in my pocket, and I pull it out without looking at the screen.
“Hello?”
“Oh, Otto, thank God.” Fallon’s voice is breathy and panicked.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t have anyone else and this is such a big ask and—”
“Fallon…”
A heavy sigh comes over the line. “Can you pick up Briggs? I can’t be there for another few hours, and the girl I hired to watch him after school can’t do it anymore and my parents are visiting my sister and I couldn’t get ahold of anyone and I just—”
“No problem. I’m on my way now.”
Waving to my brother, I jog to my truck and climb inside as the Bluetooth picks up the call.
“Is he going to be okay with me gettin’ him? Or the school? Do I need to show them my license or something?”
“Yes to the license, and Briggs knows you, but…”
She clears her throat and lets out a nervous chuckle.
“We have a safe word to use in case of emergencies.”
“Somethin’ to think about…” I say to lighten the mood. She laughs, and a smile pulls at my lips.
