Page 67 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

“Uh-huh,” I said, smirking hard. “You know I’m not five anymore, right, Mom? I’m not going to cut some crap out of cardboard and stick it together to make you something you’ll love forever and ever.”

She sighed and pressed her hand to her chest. “Ah, those were the days. You know I still have most of your cardboard creations.”

Picking up my bag, I followed her inside. “You know, I think you might’ve been on to something, keeping those things. You could probably sell that crap for a bazillion dollars now.”

She gasped in horror. “Never!”

We walked into the kitchen, where Dad was working away, cooking up a storm—something bacon by the smell of it. “Hey, Dad!” I said, dashing in to give him a hug. “What’s on the menu today?”

Dad was a self-proclaimed cooking addict. He lived and breathed food. If he wasn’t so into healthy shit, I was sure he would’ve been the size of a whale. He dropped his spoon on the tray and turned to envelope me in one of his big bear hugs. “Hey, Son. How have you been?” he said, patting me on the back. “I’m just whipping up some good old-fashioned leek, bacon, and pea risotto.”

I chuckled. “I don’t think that’s old-fashioned, Dad, but it sure smells good. Is Carly here yet?”

“She is,” he said, squeezing my shoulder. “She’s just upstairs, changing Liam. Paul’s outside.”

“Let me guess. On the phone?” I said, quirking an eyebrow.

Carly walked around the corner with a very excited Liam on her hip. “How did you know?”

“Hey, hey, hey, little man!” I said, scooping Liam out of her arms and swinging him around. “My goodness you’ve gotten big. Look at you!”

“Don’t worry about your big sister or anything, will you?” Carly said, rolling her eyes.

Sitting Liam on my hip, I gave her a kiss on the cheek and pulled her into a one-armed hug. “I never stop worrying about you. Tell dickless to get off the phone for a change.”

She swiped at my arm. “Watch your mouth. And leave him alone. He’s trying to close a deal. It’s an important one.”

I rolled my eyes. “They’re all important, Carls. What he needs to learn is that his family is more important.”

She smirked. “Like you can talk. How long’s it been since you’ve been back?”

“Now, now,” Mom said, as she stepped in to help Dad with the risotto. “You know your brother can’t help where his work takes him, or for how long.”

Liam squirmed in my arms, trying to get back to his mom, so I dutifully passed him over. Carly sighed and lowered him to the floor. “Where’s Lenny, Liam? Go find Lenny.” Liam’s little face lit up, and he was rushing into the living room as fast as his little legs would take him.

Carly stretched her back. “So, I hear you’re engaged now. How’s that working out for you?”

I gave her a dirty look. “Fucking tabloids. Why do you even read them?”

Walking to the fridge, she grabbed the juice bottle. “How else am I supposed to know what you’re up to? It’s not like you call or anything.”

I assessed her mood in a more serious light. This wasn’t unusual for her. We bantered quite a lot when I was home, but there was something about her tone that made me feel as though she wasn’t joking around anymore.

As she poured herself a glass of juice and returned the bottle to the fridge, I jerked my head toward the living room. “Grab your drink. I’ve got something for the little man.”

Walking out, I motioned for her to follow me to where I’d left my bag. Liam was already in there, cuddling up to Lenny.

“Hey, buddy. I’ve got a surprise for you. Do you want to come see?” Unzipping my bag, I pulled out a toy truck and held it up for him to see.

Liam’s mouth popped open, and he scrambled over Lenny to get to me. “Fruck!” he said, excitement oozing from his every pore.

My eyes rounded at Liam’s pronunciation. “Whoa,” I said, looking over at Carly. “You might want to work on that pronunciation before he gets himself into some trouble.”

She rolled her eyes, but she giggled too. “Leave him alone.”

I handed Liam the truck and watched him toddle away making brmm noises. As he disappeared into the kitchen, where I assumed he was going to show Gran and Pop, I turned my attention on his mom.

“So, what’s going on, Carls?”

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