Page 67 of The Cannon

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“Your voice,” I say feeling the lump in my throat rise.

“Don’t make me start crying again, brother.”

But I think she’s doing just that.

“Okay. I’m fine.” I inhale a calming breath.

“Maybe if you have the time you can call me later. I’m only able to speak for short periods.”

“I will. Definitely. And I want to tell you something.”

“What?”

“I love you. Never stopped.”

“Me too! I’ve waited to say those words for twenty-six years. I love you more than you could know, Sawyer.”

I’m grinning like a baboon.

“I’m going to call you later, when I get home. I’ll text you.”

“All right. I’m going to say I love you one more time before we go. Okay?”

I chuckle with her question. “Yeah. Do it.”

“I love you.”

“And I love you right back, sister.”

She disconnects and my heart couldn’t feel any fuller than it does right now. All is right with the world.

Stepping back into the party, I’m hit with the noise level. It’s the pent-up energy of the final game.

“Sawyer, over here!”

Lucinda waves me over through the crowd of people.

“It’s a party,” I say leaning in for a kiss on her cheek.

“It’s the Atticus and Sawyer effect, darlin’. Next year you’ll be in the playoffs.”

“God willing. It can’t come fast enough for me.”

“Here’s a little libation for you, son.”

I take the Gentleman Jack.

“Thank you, Davis. Where’s Birdie hiding? I want to say hello.”

“She’s over there with the boy. I lost her the minute she knew Jude was here.”

“That kid’s easy to be around. Bristol and I have gotten to know him well. He reminds me of myself when I was his age.”

“How so?” Lucinda asks.

“There’s some sadness there. But he doesn’t like to talk much.”

“He’s a foster child, right?”

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