EMMA

“Mom?” Doesn’t look like anyone’s home but I saw her car parked out front. “Mom, you home?”

Dad’s voice booms from the back yard. “Baby Love? Outside! Bring lemonade, will ya?”

Walking to the refrigerator, I glance at the photographs pinned with magnets, most of them askew. Eric with two missing front teeth in the first grade. Ethan and I wrestling when I was ten with me red-faced from laughing so hard. Eric in a pileup on the field during high school after they won the game. That was right before he found out about his scholarship. Ethan holding a ribbon from a contest he won in the math and science fair, age twelve. Me at prom with Tyler O’Reilly, the boy I lost my virginity to, but nobody besides me and Hannah knows that.

I pause, gazing at my favorite one that rests right in the middle of them all. It’s Mom and Dad kissing before a date-night when I made them stop on their way out, to let me take their picture.

And I can’t help but smile at the letter Mom has pinned up from the Botanical Gardens reminding her it’s time to renew the family’s memberships. Ethan, Eric and I are all grown up, but she still buys them for us every year, handing over the cards and insisting, If I stopped getting these, you might not go.

Filling a couple of glasses, I put the pitcher back in the fridge and walk through my old dining and living rooms, so familiar I can’t even see the details anymore.

Outside, Dad is squatting as he hammers a nail into a thick cedar plank, more wood piled high and waiting to his left. “Your uncle Jeremy is coming by to help me and I wanted to get a head start, make him think he’s late.”

I say on a laugh, “That’s hilarious. You want this lemonade now or should I set it down?”

“No, give it,” he grins, rising up and wiping sweat from his forehead. “You look nice.”

“Showing a house today.” Handing him his glass, I explain, “Cora’s giving me bigger clients, Dad.”

“Yeah?” His eyebrows shoot up, and he hands me the glass to take to the table.

“Maybe she wants to retire and she’s testing me? I don’t know, but it’s very exciting. Why did you decide to build an extension onto the porch all of a sudden?”

Dropping to a squat, he eyes his handiwork. “Your mother and I want a hot tub.”

Leaning on the existing banister that will be torn out before the day ends, I tilt my head. “Hey, that’s not fair! Why didn’t you guys have one when we lived here? We wanted one and you know it!”

Dad gives a wolfish grin. “This isn’t for kids.”

On a grimace I step backward, waving the image away. “Gross. Okay, stop right there. I get it. Don’t need to know more.”

He laughs, his desired effect achieved. “Just because we’re older doesn’t mean we’re dead.”

“I’m glad you still have that kind of…drive. I just don’t want to know about it.” Dad chuckles and picks up his hammer as I ask, “Did you make sandwiches for you guys?”

“Let Jeremy fend for himself,” he mutters.

“But what about you?”

Warm brown eyes, same color as mine, glance up from under his sweaty brow. “You wanna make us some?”

“Well I’m not going to let you starve. I know you—it’ll be hours from now and you’ll be hungry, dehydrated, and you won’t stop working until you get grouchy. I’ll be right back. Where’s Mom today?”

“Woman’s Group has a fundraiser coming up and she’s with the planning committee. In other words, she’s drinking mimosas with a bunch of chicks.”

Shaking my head I give him a lopsided smile and disappear into the house. By the time I’ve sliced in half and piled high, five roast beef and cheddar cheese sandwiches, Uncle Jeremy is walking in, taking off his shoes as Dad makes everyone do.

“Lookie here,” he bellows, reaching for food. “Arrived just in time. Didn’t know you were gonna be here, Emm. But boy am I glad to see you now!”

“I bet,” I laugh, watching him shove his mouth full. We walk out together and I explain, “I dropped by since I was in the neighborhood and had some extra time before a showing.”

I can barely understand him as he mumbles through chewing, “Working today? That why you’re dressed up?”

Glancing down to a flattering blue dress I just bought, I hide a rising blush with a shrug and a lie. “This is one of my normal work outfits.”

Not knowing any differently he chomps away, talking with his mouth full. “You look great. I’m sure you’ll impress them.” Upon sight of Dad and how much he’s completed with the extension, Jeremy’s frown is instantaneous. “Hey, what the hell, am I late? I thought we said eleven! I’m sorry, I should have checked to make sure that was right. Dammit, how’d I get that twisted in my head?” He looks at his watch and Dad and I crack up. Flicking confused glances between us, Jeremy relaxes. “Oh you piece of shit, Jake. You really did all this to make me feel like an asshole?”

“Yeah, for all of two seconds, but it was worth it. Now you’ll work extra hard to catch up.”

“Think again,” Jeremy smirks, grabbing Dad’s glass from the table. “This your lemonade, Jake?”

“Hey!”

He downs it. “Ah, that’s good. Nice and cold.”

“Go get me some more you thief!”

Jeremy admires the empty glass. “So delicious, ice all melted just right so the tartness is softened just enough, you know what I mean?”

“Emma!”

Laughing I retrieve Dad’s glass. “I’ll get you some too, Uncle Jeremy. Now get to work!”

“Yes, Sergeant! Jeez, you gonna let her talk to me like that, Jake? What about respect for your elders?”

As I disappear inside I hear their voices carrying over the distance as Dad informs his younger brother, “This is her house more than it is yours. She’s boss. Here’s my toolbox. I’m going to rest now.”

“You fuckin’ liar,” Jeremy laughs. “I can just picture you sitting back eating bon-bons while I build your damn love tub all on my own.”

My hand pauses on the refrigerator door at those words.

Knowing Dad and Uncle Jeremy won’t come up for air unless forced to, I exchange the glass for two larger ones, and put the lemonade in a cooler, filling it with all the ice we have. My eyes are dead though, mind heavy. As I take two trips to carry it all outside, Dad sees my face.

“What’s up kiddo?”

“Nothing,” I smile. “Have to go to work soon.”

He sits back on his heels, hands resting on his thighs. “You can’t lie to me, Baby Love. I know you better than that.”

Jeremy, squatting by Dad, adjusts his weight to see me better.

With both of them scrutinizing me I shrug, “I just hope I have what you and mom have, one day.”

Dad chuckles dismissively, “I like you single, thank you very much.”

Jeremy makes a face like he understands. “The day Zoe brings a guy home to meet me I will probably toss him out the door.”

My dad and his brother find this very funny, but as I escape over to the plate of sandwiches I find my appetite has left me. My fingers float away from the platter, and soon I find myself sitting on one of our weathered patio chairs.

Distracted with my thoughts, I try to help him understand, “Hannah moved out, Dad. I live alone. I’ve been spending more time with my younger cousins, because Ethan has Charlie. Ben doesn’t live in town and it feels like he’s itching to find ‘the one’ or something…doesn’t come around as much except when he drives down from the farm for dates. Eric’s obsessed with the Falcons.”

“As he should be if he wants to win,” Dad mutters.

“I’ve been kinda seeing someone but it doesn’t feel right. He’s just not my guy, you know?”

“Good,” Dad mutters. “There’s no rush.”

“I’m trying to talk to you about this.”

He stands up, shakes out his legs and walks over, taking a sandwich and locking eyes with me. “Emma, you can always come over here more. Join us for our movie nights.”

“It’s not the same, Dad.”

“I know, but we’re here for you.”

Sighing I run a hand through my hair. “My luck I’d show up and you guys would be doing something kinky.”

Dad chuckles, “Entirely possible. Probably should call first.”

Holding his look I tell him with as much raw honesty as I’m capable of, “See, I want that. Passion. Life is too short for less, right?”

He grimaces and turns on his heel, returning to his brother. “We need to change the subject. Talk about this stuff with your mother.”

Jeremy’s eyebrows are cocked as he mutters, “Why didn’t we have just boys?”

“Mom was lucky. Jaxson, too.”

“I know, right?”

“You gonna work or stuff your face?”

Jeremy grins, “What do you think?”

“Yeah right. Here’s a hammer. Not that you know how to use one.”

“I can use it on your head.”

“Try it,” Dad chuckles.

I duck out without saying goodbye. As I slide my shoes on I hear Dad call out, “You leavin’ Emm?”

“Yeah, Dad! I have to work, sorry!”

“Give us a call later!”

“Yep, bye!” I lock up, footsteps hurrying as I smooth down my dress. After Jeremy called attention to it, I’m trying not to become aware of the reason I bought it. Was it for the sale or for the man? But that’s ridiculous. Tanner is a terrible pain in the butt. I have no interest in him. None at all.