Not a chance in hell I would tell her that.
“That’s another thing, too,” she went on, “you’re spending too much of your life working. It’s great that you’re doing so well in your career, but at a certain point you need to start thinking about other things.”
“Oh, lay off the kid.” I could hear Dad’s voice in the background, growing louder and louder. “Here, put us on speakerphone.”
“Hold on just a second, geez,” I heard Mom say.
A beep sounded out as Mom put her and Dad on speakerphone.
“There we go,” Dad said. “What’s up, kid?”
“Not much, old man. How’s the road treating you guys?” I opened my grill, and grabbed the bic lighter nearby, along with some cooking shears.
“Oh, like heaven,” Dad replied. “I’m telling you, I was a little nervous about retirement, thinking I was going to be doing a hell of a lot of sitting around.”
“As if I was going to let that happen,” Mom interjected.
“Right. Val, we’re seeing so much of the country I can hardly believe it. I also can’t believe how beautiful our homeland is, how much there is to enjoy.”
“So I hear. Where you two in from now?”
“Oregon,” Mom said. “We spent some time in Portland—beautifulcity. Then we drove around the eastern part of the state for a bit. The trees and woodlands there are unbelievable.”
I couldn’t help but smile. I loved hearing about Mom and Dad’s adventures across the country.
“Nice. And what’s bringing you back around our neck of the woods?”
“Fires,” Dad said. “Or, at least, the possibility of them. We were planning on spending some time in northern California, but the news has been reporting that it’s unseasonably dry around there. No fires yet, but there’s a definite risk. Last thing we want is to get caught up in that kind of nonsense.”
“That’s the last thing I want, too. You guys need to be safe. What’s Plan B?” With awhoosh, I got the grill fire started. The evening air was nice and cool—the sun was setting in the western distance, and the half-coin of the moon was just starting to cast a faint reflection on the shimmering water of the pool. As far as I was concerned, it was a perfect summer night.
“Haven’t decided yet,” Mom said. “We figured we’d head into town and spend a little time with you guys while we figured that out.”
“We’re thinking the Ozarks,” Dad put in. “But it might be a little too hot for that.”
“No rush. You two have all the time in the world.”
The conversation went on, Mom and Dad going over the highlights of their recent stops. I cooked my steak, occasionally flipping the potato. As mom and dad talked, I stepped inside to grab a beer and cracked it open, sipping and listening to my parents.
“And what about you, Val?” Mom asked. “Tell me there’s something new in your life other than work.”
Now, there was a mouthful. Once more, I had to lie to her.
“Nope. Got some big surgeries coming up this week, though. Big name patients.” I grinned after I spoke, knowing that Mom wasn’t interested in that in the slightest.
“That’s very good, Val. But you know what’s better than surgery on a big name patient? The way a child looks up at you when you’re holding them in your arms. A hell of a lot better, actually.”
I laughed, taking a swig of my beer before setting it down and flipping my steak. Flames jumped up, the irresistible scent of cooking meat rising with them. I poked the foil-wrapped potato, making sure I rotated it a bit more.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Mom.”
“Seriously. I don’t know if you think you’re too old, or what, but there are plenty of lovely young women who’d jump at the chance to marry a wealthy, handsome doctor. And thathouse—what’s the point of having a house that big if you’re not going to raise a family in it? ”
“Well, my parents could stay here when they’re in town, for one.”
“You’ve got the space,” Dad said. “But you’re missing the grandkids.”
As if on cue, Veronica’s kids, my nieces, screamed in the background.
