Page 230 of Five Brothers
“You know,” Santos tells me, “my wife’s sister does interiorpainting. When it’s time to drywall and decorate, I could have her stop by to meet you.”
I rotate the wrench, tightening the bolt.
“She’s pretty. And a good girl.”
I stare at the beam.
“It wouldn’t be a date,” he assures me. “Just one night y’all happen to work late and then you take it from there. I’m sure you remember how.”
I shift my gaze up, seeing him grin. I think everyone in the Bay is under some impression that I’m fun now because I’m speaking more and getting air once in a while. I even fucking smiled at a kid yesterday. He looked like I was about to eat him.
Santos laughs when I don’t play along, and we move on to the next beam.
But just then, I see Jasmine walk Dex past the house.
I climb down.
“Hey, is Army home yet?” she asks.
“Soon.” I sweep the kid up into my arms. “Leave him with me.” She hands me his bag.
“You’ve been paid?” I ask.
“He took care of it this morning.” She rubs Dex’s cheeks, giving him a big smile. “Have a good weekend,” she singsongs.
He giggles, and I take him inside, hearing the grandfather clock chime four o’clock. I stop in front of it to let him listen. He stares at the face, knowing that’s what’s making the sound, and I watch him, because it’s cute. He loves it so much. I already decided to try to find him a cuckoo clock for Christmas. One with beer-guzzling dancers. He’ll go apeshit for that.
Dropping his bag, I take us into the kitchen, set him down on the counter, and turn on the water, checking the temperature. Pumping soap into his hands, I give myself some and show him, like we do every time, how to lather and wash his fingers.
He tries to stick his hand in his mouth, and I take it back, helping him rinse.
“Da-da, da-da.”
“Soon, man,” I tell him.
It’s funny how he has his dad’s hair and mom’s eyes. I have my mom’s, too. Dallas, Trace, and Iron better reproduce with brown-eyed women. I’m tired of being a minority in this house.
We dry off, and I sit him in his high chair, taking out the steamed broccoli, chopped avocado, and bites of grilled chicken mixed with mayo and ranch dressing that Army left this morning. I spread it out on his tray, and he starts eating, while I make him a cup of water.
Walking over, I raise every window in the kitchen and move to the living room, doing the same in there. I close my eyes and inhale, my shoulders relaxing a little.
But my eyes stay closed. It’s good she stayed away. She ghosted Mariette and hasn’t come back for her toothbrush, her paycheck, or her dress.
Gone. Nice and clean. That’s the best way.
I shake my head, opening my eyes. Starting some music on my phone, I head back into the kitchen, seeing Dex kick his feet and eat as I start to slice the loaf of bread.
The front door opens and closes, and Trace enters the kitchen. “You’re done early,” I say.
“What’s this?” He lifts the lid on the pot on the stove, sniffing the chili. “Mmm.”
“Tech Advantage called.” I place the bread on the table as Army and Dallas stroll in, everyone making themselves a bowl. “They wanted a cleanup tomorrow for an event next week.”
“I have a …” Trace starts to make an excuse but then stops. “Nothing.”
I study him for a second, and then pull Dex’s high chair up tothe corner of the table between me and Army. We all sit, Dallas digging his spoon into the chili.
“There’s shit going on at the beach,” he explains to me. “Trace wants to be there.”