Resilience

by Tymber Dalton

  “But it’s work.” She offered him the guilt-free out. “Hey, if you’re actually working, and you do some research to set at least part of a book there, guess what? I can write off your entire trip as a business expense.”

  He was quiet for a moment. “Truly?”

  “Yeah, Ty. Seriously. I mean, yes, I miss you both and want you home, but I gotta tell you the truth.” She gentled her voice. “I love you and I’m worried about you. Take your time. Take all the time you need, so that when you come home to me, you are home, and your head’s not still stuck there. Okay, sweetie?”

  “It…I could have the edits finished in about five days.”

  “See? That’ll give you time to book flights in advance and save us some money that way, too.”

  “Our thrifty pet. What would we two blokes do without you watching over us so carefully?”

  Crisis averted.

  “If your edits are done when you come home, I can lock you in the bedroom for a couple of days straight and only let you out for meals or to spend time with the kids.”

  “That sounds heavenly, my sweet angel.”

  “Good. Then it’s settled.” It made her feel a little heartsick, but she’d get over it.

  Tyler’s well-being was more important. He worked hard, damned hard, and so often didn’t take time for himself.

  He needed this time.

  Plus she wanted him to have this time with Tommy. It wasn’t often the two got alone-alone time anymore. She frequently got alone time with Tyler, when she traveled with him to an event, or with Tommy, when Tyler was gone.

  They needed this.

  “Would you like to speak with Tom?”

  “Sure.”

  “Love you, pet.”

  “Love you, too…Master.” She smiled as he groaned.

  “Bloody hell, that’s simply wicked of you to torment me like that, darling.”

  “I didn’t say I wouldn’t try to find ways to motivate you to finish your work faster.”

  He sighed. “Too much of me has rubbed off on you over the years.”

  She snickered. “Insert joke here.”

  “Right. Here he is, love.”

  She heard the phone change hands. “What’d you do, baby girl?”

  “Nothing…Master.”

  “Fuuuck,” he whispered. Then he laughed. “You are a sneaky thang, sugar.”

  “Yeah, well, maybe I told Ty he could take all the time he needed there, but I wanted to give him a little motivation.”

  “Understood. Kids giving you any trouble?”

  “They’re hormonal and moody teenagers. Of course they are. Nothing I can’t handle.”

  “They still got their doors?”

  “For now. Did you happen to see Facebook today?”

  “Yeah. I showed it to Ty. Sorry we missed it.”

  “Me, too. He wanted to wait for you guys to be there, but he’s got to go out to Yakima.” She wanted to be strong, to be a bigger person, to put on a good front.

  Tommy saw right through her. “It’s all right.” His voice dropped. “Thank you, sugar,” he whispered. “First time he’s really smiled since we got here, him talkin’ to you.”

  She blinked back tears. “Please bring him home soon, huh? I kinda miss that Brit git. And you, too.”

  “I will, baby girl. I promise. Safe and sound, both of us.”

  “Let me get off here and get stuff done before I start crying.”

  “Aw, no phone sex?”

  “Not on one cup of coffee, no.”

  “Yikes, sorry.”

  “Might take both of you holding me down in bed to settle me down when you get home though.”

  He chuckled. “I’m absolutely lookin’ forward to it.”

  * * * *

  Tyler still wasn’t feeling that great, so he laid down for a nap on the sofa, his head in Tom’s lap while Tom browsed on his tablet. Now that Tom knew where they were in the city, he wanted to see what was close by.

  There were several restaurants, and some shops, as close as three blocks away. Not far at all. He wasn’t used to simply sitting around all day and not doing stuff, moving around, even physical labor, although not as much now as he used to. It would do both of them good to get out and explore a little.

  Places we can show Nevvie when we bring her here.

  Because that was what was missing—her. If it wasn’t for Mikey’s game tomorrow night, he’d buy her a ticket and fly her over right now, at least for the weekend. Mom and Dad and Dad could keep an eye on the kids for them. They weren’t toddlers, for crying out loud. And Adam would be home that weekend, anyway.

  It was tempting. Sooo tempting.

  Except Tyler did need to finish his edits. There was that. And with Nevvie there, Tyler would want to focus on her, make up for being gone, want to show her around or at least sightsee with her.

  Then Tom remembered Nevvie’s expired passport and groaned.

  Adulting sucks.

  Two years shy of sixty, it still sucked.

  The only comfort he had was that he had Tyler and Nevvie by his side through it all, to keep him sane and centered. Through ups and downs.

  No way would he abandon Tyler when his guy needed him. Especially when Tyler had never abandoned him.

  Tyler felt a little better after his nap. The drizzle had let up even though the clouds still hung low and grey. They ventured out, Tyler walking slow to match Tom’s stride, and they ate a light dinner at one of the nearby restaurants. A quick stop through a grocer’s for a few items, and then back to the apartment.

  In the waning twilight, the city, despite the damp chill, looked beautiful. As Tyler unlocked the building’s front door, Tom realized how…normal this felt, despite the circumstances.

  They’d be empty-nesters in a couple of years, the three of them able to take off for a week or two, if they wanted. Or longer.

  Maybe this was a good thing after all.

  Tyler held the door for him. “Coming, love?”

  Tom nodded, leaning on his cane. “I’ll always follow you, buddy.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Late Friday, Andrew heard the front door open. “Dad?”

  “In here, Nev.” He pulled himself out of his armchair and reached for the remote to switch off the TV. Karen and Bill had taken Chloe with them to Bill’s parents’ house for dinner and an overnight stay that evening. Bill’s sister and brother-in-law had come to town for a visit. They wouldn’t return until tomorrow evening. Otherwise, they’d be attending the game, too. Andrew wasn’t much into the game itself, but he wanted to spend the time with his family and see Mikey play.

  Lately, he didn’t feel comfortable driving at night, and it’d be well after dark by the time Mikey’s game ended and they finished dinner. People might frequently tell him he didn’t look or act eighty, but there were plenty of ways he was bloody well starting to feel it.

  Nevvie walked in. “Ready to go?”

  “Yes. Are we still going out to eat after the game?”

  “Yeah, but Mikey won’t be with us. He’ll be riding back on the team bus since this is an away game. Adam’s going to join us, though. He’s driving over. He’ll meet us at the stadium.”

  “Aces. Been a few weeks since we’ve seen his face.”

  She smiled. “He’s spending the whole weekend home, for once.”

  Andrew smiled. “Good thing I’ve stocked up to make Peggy’s fried chicken for him.”

  “Oooh, he’s not going to want to go back to school, you sneaky devil.”

  “Perhaps that was my plan, love.” He set the house alarm, then locked the front door behind them and followed Nevvie down the front steps to her car. “Do you worry about Mikey getting hurt playing football?” It still felt weird calling it that and not adding the “American” descriptor to the front.

  To him, soccer would always be “football.”

  “It’s safe enough. They’ve changed the rules a lot from back in the days when Tommy played. It’s no
t like Mikey’s going to play in college or anything. He’s just having fun with it.”

  “I suppose. If you feel it’s safe.”

  “Oh, believe me, Dad. It’s safe.” They headed down the driveway.

  “Where are the girls? Aren’t they coming?”

  “They’ll meet us there and ride home with us. I told them they could hang out with their friends this afternoon after school. One of the moms is driving them to the game.”

  “I’m sure Tyler and Tom are wishing they were here tonight instead of in Brussels. They’re missing a game and time with Adam.”

  He didn’t understand the sudden, tight set to her jaw. “Yeah.”

  “Nev?”

  She blew out a long breath. “It’s okay. It’s a long story best told with no children present and with copious amounts of alcohol on hand. I’m not upset. I’m just a little worried about Tyler’s peace of mind more than anything.”

  “About his friend’s death?”

  “Yeah. Sure. That.”

  He sensed Nevvie’s discomfort with the topic and decided to let it drop. “Did I hear the girls talking on Wednesday night about a party this weekend? They seemed rather excited about it.”

  “Yeah, tomorrow night. Mikey’s driving them because he’s going, too. He invited the girls to go with him. One of the kids on his team, he’s having it.” She smiled. “Don’t worry, parents will be there. It’ll be perfectly safe, despite what Ty and Tommy might think.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “The guys are still trying to adjust to the fact that the girls are growing up. They’d rather lock them in a proverbial convent for a few more decades.”

  “Ah. Understood.”

  “Personally, I think it’s good to let them go to a party where there will be lots of kids, versus them wanting to go on a date, or even double date. Safety in numbers.”

  “That is true, I suppose. Hadn’t thought about it like that.”

  Her expression turned solemn again. “Considering what I went through as a kid, if I can loosen the reins a little, the guys need to learn how. We can’t keep the twins locked up. They have to have freedom to be kids, and know it’s safe to talk to us about anything. Otherwise, they’ll just rebel and hate us and not want to talk to us about anything.” Nevvie had confided in Andrew her tribulations as a teenager, between being abandoned by her adoptive mother and then raped at eighteen by a former classmate.

  “You’re very wise, dear.”

  “Yeah? Remind me of that next time I’m threatening to take away their bathroom door and burn it.”

  “Again?”

  “I didn’t burn it the last time. I just threatened to make the curtain over the door permanent.”

  He smiled, amused. “They groused about that for weeks.”

  “Yeah, but it was the last time they screwed around with each other getting ready in the morning. They finally agreed upon a timer system and started working together.”

  “True.” He sighed. “Peggy was amazing. We really should write a book about all her motherly advice.”

  Nevvie smiled. “Tyler’s thinking about doing that. He’s got a whole file full of notes and stories he’s accumulated over the years from Tommy and his sisters.”

  * * * *

  It was a muggy, late summer Georgia evening. Andrew had quickly grown used to the climate after a lifetime spent in damp, chilly England. It’d been over five years since he’d last visited his home country. Now, it was easier for Tyler to pay to fly Henry, Wanda, and their children over to the States for holiday visits. And Wanda’s adopted son, Rhys, lived down in St. Petersburg. He drove up several times a year for visits with his friend, Corbin, and their wife, Manny. They had a triad similar to Tyler’s.

  A relationship with his children, and with his grandchildren. A family’s worth of children and grandchildren he’d never expected to have when he married Peggy, a large family who’d adopted him and loved him.

  Perhaps the first part of his life wasn’t what he’d wished it could have been, but now his days were full of love and family. He missed Peggy terribly, yet he treasured the dozen beautiful years they’d had together.

  At the opposing school’s stadium, they found themselves seats in the bleachers after Nevvie corralled Willow and Zoey and Adam had caught up with them.

  Andrew still didn’t understand the game, even after this many years in the States and having become a citizen. Tommy, Adam, Mikey, and others in the Kinsey clan had tried to explain the rules to him many times. Finally, Andrew gave up and pretended he understood. He watched when his family cheered—and when they groaned—and reacted appropriately.

  It was easier for all that way. He tried to look like he was paying attention to the action on the field when he was often more interested in people-watching instead.

  Perhaps that was why he noticed the man. Seated by himself a few rows down from them, at the very end of the bleachers, not quite as old as himself from his appearance. He was obviously rooting for Mikey’s team, because of his subdued reactions. Almost as if he didn’t want to draw any attention to himself.

  Several times, Andrew noticed him watching a family seated lower in the bleachers, a man and a woman and three children, two girls and a boy. One time, Andrew spotted the woman looking up at the man, shooting him a glare, a dark and threatening expression, holding it for a moment before her attention returned to the field.

  When she’d done that, the man had looked down, almost shrank in upon himself.

  Andrew didn’t know what was going on, but for some reason he felt desperately sorry for the chap.

  Not merely because the man piqued his interest physically, although he’d be lying if he denied it. He couldn’t tell the man’s height from where he sat. He was built slim, not frail but definitely not like he’d been hefty in his younger years, either. Dark hair, brown or black he wasn’t sure, peppered liberally with grey. Glasses, khakis, and a short-sleeved, button-up shirt.

  Andrew touched Nevvie’s shoulder and leaned in. “Excuse me for a little while, dear. I’ll be back. There’s someone I wish to talk to.”

  “Sure.” Nevvie’s attention was immediately drawn back to the field as she groaned over an official’s call that went against Mikey’s team.

  Andrew rose and made his way across the bleachers to the man, who almost seemed startled when he looked up as Andrew stopped next to him. Andrew motioned to the bench.

  “Is this seat taken?”

  Which was laughable, of course, because there wasn’t anyone seated around him.

  The man shook his head, looking borderline terrified, but Andrew sat anyway.

  Then he offered the man a kind smile and held out his hand. “Andrew Paulson.”

  The poor bloke almost seemed unable to believe Andrew was talking to him, but not in an aggressive, xenophobic way. More like he felt…well, terrified.

  “Colin Dawson,” he said, barely audible over the crowd noise. Still, Andrew heard the Savannah drawl only the natives could truly replicate. He shook with Andrew, the man’s grip soft and gentle.

  He also had beautiful green eyes. A different shade than Nevvie’s, darker, with more than a hint of blue in them. And he could see now that the dark in his hair was more brown than black.

  “I hate to admit this,” Andrew said, “but I do not understand this game. I’m here to watch my grandson play.”

  Colin still looked like he couldn’t believe Andrew was talking to him, but he finally responded. “Which team?”

  “Coastal,” he said. “Mikey Kinsey-Paulson. And you?”

  He nodded. “My grandson’s his teammate. Steven Jardine.” Andrew loved his drawl, similar to Peggy’s, soft, sweet.

  “Ah. I believe I’ve met the lad before. Do you understand this game?” He wanted to keep him talking, even if that’s all this would—could ever be.

  This was the first time in nearly five years he’d remotely felt like this after feeling certain he would go to his grave never again
being inspired to hope.

  Now the corner of Colin’s mouth quirked up in a smile. “You really don’t understand it?”

  “Not at all, I’m afraid. If you couldn’t tell from my accent, I wasn’t exactly born a local.” He smiled. “Oh, I know when they kick the ball for a goal it’s three points, and a touchdown is six, plus the extra point. Beyond that, I just wave my hands and cheer when everyone else does.”

  The smile widened a little. “My wife never understood it, either.”

  Hmm. Andrew had noticed the wedding band, but then again, he still wore his, too. “Widowed?”

  He nodded. “Ten years.”

  “Nearly five myself.” Andrew leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees, hands clasped together. “May I ask what might seem a rather rude question?”

  “I guess.”

  “Why are you sitting alone?”

  Colin’s gaze shifted back to the field, his smile instantly fading. “You’re right. That is rude.”

  “My apologies.” But Andrew made no move to…well, move. “I couldn’t help but notice the evil glares that woman keeps sending your way. She seems rather rude, if you ask my opinion. Not that you did, sorry.”

  “My daughter,” he quietly said. “Steven’s mom.”

  Andrew knew he should butt out, but something about the sad air the man wore like a protective cloak tenaciously tugged at him.

  It reminded him far too much of himself in his younger years.

  “Your other grandchildren sitting with her?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, I suppose you aren’t a registered sex offender, or you wouldn’t be here in the first place.”

  It got the hoped for reaction. Colin glared at him as he sat a little straighter. “You tryin’ to piss me off, mister?”

  “No, I’m trying to decipher a mystery of why a man who seems so lonely is sitting alone and not with his family to watch his grandson’s football game.”

  It took Colin a few moments to deflate again. “Susan and her brothers disowned me after my wife passed.” Andrew didn’t interrupt, waiting him out, suspecting—correctly—that the man needed a friendly ear because he had no other such person in his life to provide one.