“No, I liked it.” I was surprised to find that was true. I’d been the responsible adult for so long, the word warmed me. “Are you doing anything for your joints? A friend swears by this supplement with UCII.” Daniel had torn his ACL and come back after desk duty singing the praises of his new regimen.
“I take supplements, I take ibuprofen.” Roy lowered his voice. “The docs wanted me to do hip replacement, but I’m trying to put surgery off a year. I want Koda to be settled intorunning the store when I’m not available, so I can focus on my recovery and not worry. Right now, Callum would try to jump in and help, and while I love that boy, customer service isnothis strong point.”
I chuckled, because Roy had a point. “Let me know if you need help. I’m pretty good with people.”
“You’re a good man.” Roy leaned on the counter and eyed me. “So, how are things with you and Callum? You seemed pretty tight last night.”
A snicker wanted to escape my lips, remembering exactly howtight.The thought that this was Callum’s father-figure asking my intentions helped sober me. “I love him and he loves me.” Saying the words made me smile helplessly. “It’s new, but yeah. We’re together.”
“I like how he is when you’re around. Less angry, less closed in. I tried to give him a good childhood after his parents passed, but there was always some hurt in him I couldn’t erase. He’s happier with you.”
“Youdidgive him a good childhood. He adores you,” I insisted. “He wants more than anything to make you proud and make your life easier, like you did for him.”
“It probably didn’t help that I kept letting Wayne into our lives.” Roy sighed and sat down at the kitchen table. “I knew Wayne was making bad choices, but I didn’t know he was so rough on Callum. I always hoped loving and supporting Wayne enough would give him whatever he was searching for, always the wild kid, chasing extreme sports and then the gambling highs. But I guess love is no substitute for adrenaline.”
“You can’t love someone out of an addiction.” I’d sure as hell seen proof of that over my years policing the streets. “It’s to your credit that you tried, but I think it’ll help Callum that you had kicked Wayne out at last,beforehe got arrested again.”
“Should’ve done it long ago. Should’ve paid more attention to the boy.” Roy’s shoulders slumped.
“You did your best. Callum admires you.”And now you can both move on.I didn’t say that, though. I couldn’t imagine how much it would hurt to lose a child to his own criminal behaviour. I tried to imagine if it was Jos. He wasn’t even my son, and it would half-kill me. I scrambled to change the subject. “Anyhow, I have the day off and so does Callum.” The hockey team had a no-practice day, and I was going to take advantage. “I’m trying to think of something fun to do. You want to join us?”
“I need to be at the store. But if you want to make Callum happy, you might think about doing the Grouse Grind with him. No, wait, too early in the season. Do the BCMC trail to the top of Grouse Mountain.”
“A tough vertical hike?” I stared at Roy. “That would make him happy? Isn’t it like work?”
Roy shrugged. “A bit. Sure. But Callum was always most at peace with himself when he was exercising out in nature. We used to do the BCMC trail a few times a year, back when my hips still behaved themselves.” He chuckled. “It was a bit like walking a Golden Retriever. I’d plod upward, and Callum would run ahead, then come back down to find me, then run ahead again, then show me this cool thing he saw. It was worth the sore muscles to see him happy. I bet you could keep up with him better.”
“I think you’re overestimating my level of fitness if you imagine I can match Callum.” When we ran together, I was seriously outclassed. But I did like hiking. “I’ll think about it.”
“Or axe throwing, or an escape room. He needs to be busy, after he’s been stressed.”
“Good thoughts. Although I bet Jos might like the axe throwing, so maybe we’ll save that for a weekend.”
Jos mumbled from the doorway, “I might what?”
“Like to come with Callum and me axe throwing sometime.”
That woke him up a little. “Yeah, maybe. That could be cool. Could Brayden come too?”
“I’d have to get his mom’s permission, with flying axes and all, but sure, we can work that out.”
“Great. Hey, I heard the mixer. Is someone making pancakes?”
I moved to the stove. “Mr. Roy put together the batter and I’ll cook them.”
“Jos should just call me Roy,” the old man put in. “No formality here.”
“Sounds good. Jos, two pancakes or three?”
“Three.” He dropped in his seat and belatedly added, “Please,” with a glance at Roy.
Added bonus for having Roy around— if he brings out the manners in Jos.
Jos asked, “Is Callum here?”
“Upstairs sleeping. We were up really late.”
I expected Jos to ask more about the arrest scene, but he said, “In your room?”
