The phone rings as I’m packing my belongings. “Hello?”

“Josh? It’s Dad,” the man on the other end of the line says.

A wave of shock rolls over me. “Dad?” I fall to the edge of my bed that’s covered in piles of trash and clothes from my quick attempt at packing.

“How’a doin’ Son?”

I wipe the unshed tears from my eyes. “Not so well. Mom’s funeral was today.”

I hear his ragged breathing over the phone. “I’m so sorry, Son. I wish I could’ve helped you. I didn’t even know you existed when you showed up. What can I do?”

I shake my head like he can actually see me. “Nothing. There’s nothing to do.”

“Look, Josh. I want to get to know you. I want a relationship with you.”

I laugh, but it doesn’t sound right. “Oh, now you want a relationship? What about your family?”

“My daughter, Katie, your sister, wants to meet you.”

“And your wife?” I question. I knew she was the whole problem all along.

“She’s not happy about it, but she won’t be a problem. However, she won’t be coming along either.”

“Coming along? You mean, you’re coming here?” I’m surprised. I never expected to see him again.

“If that’s okay with you.”

“Yea—” I have to clear my throat because my emotions are thick right now. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

“Alright. I’ll arrange everything now.” I can hear the smile on his face. It brings out a smile of my own.

“Okay, great.” I move the phone away to hang up, but hear him call out.

“And Josh?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for giving me a chance.”

“You’re welcome,” I say before hanging up the phone.

The following week, nerves are eating me alive while I walk to the hotel restaurant George asked me to meet him at. I walk through the elegant building and stop before they see me.

I move next to the wall, just so I can study them for a brief moment. George looks like a good dad to her. They are talking, completely carefree and laughing. Seeing him this way, makes me a little jealous that I never got that with him.

I push down the anger that bubbles up with that thought and force my feet to move.

I walk up to their table and George’s smile grows. He stands and pulls me in for a hug, gently slapping my back. “I’m glad you made it, Son.”

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

He turns to face my sister. “Kate, this is your brother, Josh.”

Her eyes look me up and down, squinting with bitterness and anger as she holds out her hand.

It seems awkward to shake the hand of a sister you just met, but I shake it anyway. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“We’ll see,” she answers.

“Please have a seat, Josh. I’m going to use the restroom and track down our waiter.” He walks off with confidence rolling off his suit covered body.

I sit across from Kate. “How are you?”

She lifts a shoulder, letting it fall quickly as her blue eyes that match mine narrow in on me. “Not great, as you can probably imagine.”

“Why not?”

“Since you showed your face at my house, my parents have done nothing but argue. My family might be splitting up because of you.” Her tone is harsh and shrill.

I let my eyes fall to the table between us. “I’m sorry. It was never my intention to cause problems with your family.”

“Why now? Why show up now?” Anger is etched on her round face. She looks so young and innocent. So much unlike me.

“My mom was sick. She was dying and we couldn’t afford the experimental drug she needed. I knew I was grasping at straws, but I had to try. I wanted to save her.” I hope she can hear the pain in my voice. She’s my family now. The only family I have since my mom passed. I need her more than her young mind can realize.

“Your mom died?” Her voice has now softened as realization washes over her.

I nod.

“Do you have any other family?”

“Nope. It’s just me,” I say, tearing a paper napkin to shreds.

Her hand covers mine. “We’re family.”

And like that, she accepts me.

For the next three days, they stay in New York, and we spend every waking minute together. When they leave, we exchange numbers, promising to talk at least once a week.

When I first met her, I thought she was going to be the tough one to crack, but she opened up to me like nobody ever has. We talked about her school, her best friend that has the weirdest name I’ve ever heard, and what she plans for the future. I’m in awe of her. She’s young and still thinks everything is within her reach, and with her daddy’s money, it might be. But I make sure to keep my current living situation under wraps. They don’t need to know that I’m homeless and living out of a tent.

I don’t want them to think I want anything other than love and understanding from them. I don’t want to be another person holding out their hand.

Over the years, Katie and George make the trip every year. Every year, I’m surprised by how much my little sister has grown.

We always try to do something fun and special. We go to baseball games, concerts, and plays. She’s one of these typical teenage girls that is obsessed with selfies, so she’s constantly trying to take my picture. I’m not big on pictures, so in every one, I find a way to hide my face. A giant foam finger covers my face in the picture from the baseball game, my hand covers my face at the play, and I hold a cup of beer over my face at the concert. After years of doing this, she’s finally figured out not to take my picture.

But each and every time they come to see me, Katie begs me to move out to California. I always promise her I will think about it, but never seriously do. I’m lucky if I have a buck in my pocket on most days, and that won’t get me across the country.

I don’t think about it seriously until years later, after my friend Dalton dies, leaving me all his money. I have more money than I’ve ever seen in my life. And with him gone, the advertising business doesn’t have the same appeal. I decide this part of my life is done. It’s time to move on.

I move to California and Katie is beyond excited. When I get all my belongings settled into my apartment, I call her up and set up a time to meet. We have a lot to catch up on. We’ve talked a lot over the years, but I still feel like I don’t really know her. I’m looking forward to spending many years becoming as close as a brother and sister can.

I’m sitting at an outside coffee shop when she runs up. “I’m so excited you’re finally here!” she screeches.

I stand and she pulls me in for a hug. “I am too. Where’s this best friend you wanted me to meet?”

She rolls her eyes. “She had to work. She’s responsible and won’t call in.”

I laugh as we take our seats across from one another. “So completely unlike you in every way possible.”

She points her finger at me. “Exactly.”

The waitress comes over and takes her order. When she walks away, I ask, “so what’s new?”

A wide smile covers her face. “I’m going to spend the summer in Miami,” she cheers.

“Are you serious? You finally got me here and now you’re leaving?” I’m just teasing with her. I love how free she is. Nothing holds her back.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been begging you to come for years. I didn’t know you’d actually go for it once I planned a trip.”

“Don’t worry about it, Kate. I’m just messing with you.” I take a sip of my coffee. “So is that best friend of yours going with you?”

She shakes her head. “No, but I’ve been trying to talk her into it. I’ve been coming up with ways I can trick her into going.” She offers up an evil grin.

I laugh and shake my head. “How can you trick someone into going to Miami?”

“I have my ways,” she says in a teasing voice.

I laugh and shake my head at her. I can see she has grown up a lot in the few years I’ve known her, but she’s also spoiled and gets everything she asks for, so I’m not surprised she thinks she can talk her friend into a trip she doesn’t want.

“So, what are your plans?” Katie asks as she sips her coffee she was just handed.

I shrug. “I don’t even know where to start. I’m finally settled in my apartment. I’m torn between finding a job or just spending some time to find myself, you know? I’ve only ever been in advertising. I never went to college. I don’t really know where to start.”

Her blue eyes grow wide while a smile slowly spreads across her face. “I have an idea.”

I’m feeling a little nervous now. “What kind of idea?” I ask, fear drenching my words.

“An idea for you to find yourself, to get out there and see where you end up.” She reaches into her purse and pulls out a tiny, red, spiraled notebook and a pen.

She opens the notebook and starts writing.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Without looking up at me, she says, “I’m making you a bucket list.”

I laugh. “A bucket list? Really? How is that supposed to help me discover myself?”

She looks up at me with some kind of knowing smile. “It’s worth a shot, right?”

I wave her on. “Why not?”

We sit and have an easy conversation while she writes things down on my list. When she stands to leave, she slides over the notebook.

“The next time I see you, you better have this with you so I can see what you’ve managed to check off.”

I grab it and slide it into my pocket. “Yes, Ma’am.”

She pulls me in for a hug. “See you in three months, bro.” She lightly punches me on the shoulder as she pulls away.

“When does your plane leave?”

“Five A.M. Saturday. I’m spending the day with Jovi tomorrow.” She grabs her purse and runs away as quickly as she appeared.

Once she is no longer in my line of sight, I turn and walk in the opposite direction.