Page 40 of Until Now
Maxen
“Here we go!” I say, taking the turn toward Memphis. “We’re ten minutes away.”
“Off the road again,” sings a happy July.
My offer to be the driver was well received. One of us needs to be sober, and I’m the best choice. Everyone else is having a break from their kids. Free time, alone time, adult time is far and few between. As much as these people love their offspring, it looks like they are ecstatic to be without them for a few days. It’s comically obvious that parenthood requires short sanity breaks. Only Asher and November seem themselves.
“Champagne me!” Dominique says, lifting an empty red Solo cup in the air.
“Me too!” July slides over to where Wes stands and holds up a cup of her own. “There’s time for one more.”
“I want a beer. Baby get me one,” November calls.
Asher makes his way to the RV refrigerator and retrieves two beers. “You want one, Wes?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“The game starts at seven, right?”
Asher’s cell sounds, and he juggles the champagne bottle to grab it from his pocket.
“It’s Boone. Let me put it on speaker.”
“Hey! Good timing. We’re almost to your place!”
“It’s about time! Lucinda and I just had to start drinking. What kind of best friends are you?”
From the background comes a woman’s voice. “That is a fib! Boone started drinking two hours ago. I’m innocent.”
“Sweetheart, you are anything but innocent,” Boone answers.
I have a feeling I’m going to like this couple. Dominique said the whole family is fun to be around. They have these yearly parties that are now famous for fun. There’s a Firefly Ball or something like that. Halloween parties, and apparently invitations are scarce for all who want to attend.
I suppose when you are a baseball dynasty, you have the means to party. And the occasions. Like now, when the Memphis Mavericks are about to clinch their spot in the World Series.
“Hey! How are my godparents? You two behaving?” July says, chuckling.
“Honey, you know the answer to that,” Boone says. “Your godmother is continually leading me astray.”
That brings laughter from the entire crew, except me. I need to meet these people who seem to share the same kind of relationship Asher and November do. Long-term marriages that haven’t lost the spark. Shit. That’s the kind of marriage I want to have. Marriage? When have I ever thought about that?
“Just get your asses here so we can meet this Maxen fellow. You there, boy?”
I haven’t been calledboyfor a few decades, and it catches me off guard. After a few beats, I respond.
“I’m here and sober. The new guy always gets designated driver status.”
“Somebody’s got to do it. When you get here, I will make you the best drink you’ve ever had. Are you a Jack Daniels man?”
“I am, Boone. Did you know Sinatra was buried with a bottle?”
The excitement coming from the other side of the conversation is palpable.
“You are the first person I’ve met who knew that besides me! Lucinda, did you hear that?”
“It’s a sign we are going to be friends. I think we may be approaching your property. Here’s the turn,” I say.
“Okay. We’ll be waiting for you all. So happy you’re going to be here with us. Don’t mind the dogs! They’re going to be barking their asses off. See you in a few.”
