Page 78 of The Only Thing That's Real
I miss your face.
Opening her email with her flight info, I take a screenshot of the details, then call my brother.
“Hey,” Cal answers. “Hang on, Knox. Let me put you on speaker.” There’s a rustling noise in the background. “Damnit Bernie, get out of the trailer. Jesus, how is this damn cow everywhere all at once?”
I chuckle, imagining Cal dealing with everyone’s favorite cow, Bernadette. At this point, she’s the unofficial McKinnon family mascot. And he’s right. No matter where you go on the ranch, there she is.
“Sorry, but your timing is actually perfect. Your horses arrived. I was getting the ramp down to unload them when Bernie wentupthe ramp and made herself at home. She isn’t budging.”
“Play her something off our fourth album and she’ll go running,” I say, laughing at his situation, and the reality that not all of our albums have been hits. We’ve had some stinkers here and there.
“Shit, I’d try anything right about now.”
“So, they made it there okay?”
“Yep, all three of them. We’ve got a full house now. Every stall will be occupied once this heifer gets her ass out of the trailer.”
“Thanks again for getting them settled. I appreciate you, brother.”
“Not a problem. They’re pretty, man. I think you’ll be real happy. I still think we should take some time to get to know them and wait to put Sawyer on his horse. He can use Mabel at first. She’s a good girl. Not sure threeweeks is enough time to know these new babies well enough to trust your boy with them.”
My boy.
That hits me in the heart. Hard.
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“So, what’s up? You calling to make sure the horses made it here safe and sound?”
“Well, no. I actually need another favor.”
“Sure thing. What’s up?”
“Ryan Jameson is coming to town. It seems her grandfather isn’t doing well, and they aren’t sure he’ll make it through the night. She’s left the tour to head home and needs a place to stay. Can you get the cabin ready for her?”
“Of course. When does she get in?”
“Not until late. Her flight gets in a little before eight, but I’m sure she’ll go straight to the care facility to be with her family.”
“I’m on it.”
“Thanks for everything. I feel like I’ve hijacked your day with the horses and now this.”
“Nah, happy to help. Besides, the closer we get to Charlotte’s due date, the busier I need to make myself. I’m losing my mind.”
“How’s she doing?”
“Great. Handling everything in stride. She’s done all of her nesting, and we couldn’t be more ready. She’s completely chill and I’m a frantic idiot.”
“I can only imagine, brother. Charlie always has been chill when the world around her is chaos. She’s got this. You’ve got this. It’s all gonna be fine.”
“I’m scared shitless.”
“Of course you are. It’s natural. But you’re gonna be a great dad.”
A heavy sigh comes through the line. “You’re gonna be a fucking stupendous dad too, you know that, right? I’m sorry you missed all this.”
I’m shaking from the inside out. His words, bringing up emotions I wasn’t expecting.
