you do to Aaron?”
Derrick grimaced at the front console of his car where the radio frequency miraculously turned magnetic waves into his mother’s voice. The wireless phone system in his Chevy Tahoe was supposed to make for a safer ride, but he wondered how safe it was to drive while being lectured by his mother. Keeping his eyes on the road, he said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Aaron said he couldn’t come to the get-together I’m planning if you were going to be there. He said to ask you about it if I wanted details.”
“Not now, Mom. I’m pulling up to my new apartment building as we speak. Jake and the twins are meeting me to help move a few things.”
“Why are you moving into an apartment when you have a beautiful home already.”
He turned into the parking lot. “It’s only temporary. I’m hoping I can make Jill see that Ryan’s life will be better with me in it.”
“Well, of course, it will be better with you in it. When are we going to be able to meet Jill and our grandson?”
“I’m working on it, Mom. Until mediation next month, I’m going to do what I can to try and see if Jill and I can work something out on our own.”
“I don’t understand. You were in the hospital room when your son was born, so why can’t she see that you’re a nice, trustworthy guy? I mean you’re not exactly Tom Hanks or Bob Barker, but you’ve got charisma. Maybe she’s wondering why you’re still single.”
“I would take that as a compliment, Mom, if Bob Barker hadn’t been sued by six women from his daytime show.”
“Ridiculous. Bob Barker was named the most popular game show host by a national poll.”
Derrick chuckled as he pulled into an empty parking slot and slid the gear into Park. “I’ll take your word for it. I’ve gotta go.”
“Tell Jake I found the rollerblades he was looking for, and tell the twins dinner will be ready at seven.”
“Rollerblades?”
“Jake has a date with Candy this weekend, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
Derrick lifted his eyes heavenward. “You still cook for the twins? Didn’t they turn twenty-five recently?”
“Everybody comes here for dinner on Wednesday. Everyone but you.”
Damn . He’d forgotten again. “I’ll come next week, I promise.”
“I’m going to hold you to that. Don’t forget to bring a picture of Ryan.”
“I’ll do what I can. Talk to you later, Mom.” He quickly hit the Off button before she could think of another subject to broach. He climbed out of the car and shut the door.
The layer of marine clouds had disappeared earlier than usual today. The sun warmed the air along with his stiff shoulders. Blue, cloudless skies, not a bit of Los Angeles smog or June gloom in sight. Closing his eyes, he put his face to the sun and inhaled while he stretched his leg - his knee got a little stiff whenever he sat for too long.
A honk sounded as two trucks pulled into the parking lot: an old brown Ford and a newer Toyota model. Three of his brothers had arrived. The twins, Cliff and Brad, owned a construction business and they were in the new truck, while Jake followed behind in the truck he’d borrowed from Dad.
Cliff was the first to find a parking spot and head Derrick’s way. At six foot five, Cliff was the tallest of all the brothers. On the basketball court Cliff made a two-handed dunk look easy. He was also the only fair-haired child in the family, which is why they liked to tease him about how much Mom had always liked the fair-haired mailman.
Cliff gestured with his chin toward the apartment building. “So this is your new place, huh?”
“This is it.”
“A far cry from your house in Malibu.”
“It’s only temporary. I’ve gotta do what I’ve gotta do.”
“And what is it exactly that you have to do?”
Jake and Brad joined them in time to hear his answer.
“I plan to show Jill that I’m a decent guy, you know, make her see that I deserve to be in Ryan’s
Derrick grimaced at the front console of his car where the radio frequency miraculously turned magnetic waves into his mother’s voice. The wireless phone system in his Chevy Tahoe was supposed to make for a safer ride, but he wondered how safe it was to drive while being lectured by his mother. Keeping his eyes on the road, he said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Aaron said he couldn’t come to the get-together I’m planning if you were going to be there. He said to ask you about it if I wanted details.”
“Not now, Mom. I’m pulling up to my new apartment building as we speak. Jake and the twins are meeting me to help move a few things.”
“Why are you moving into an apartment when you have a beautiful home already.”
He turned into the parking lot. “It’s only temporary. I’m hoping I can make Jill see that Ryan’s life will be better with me in it.”
“Well, of course, it will be better with you in it. When are we going to be able to meet Jill and our grandson?”
“I’m working on it, Mom. Until mediation next month, I’m going to do what I can to try and see if Jill and I can work something out on our own.”
“I don’t understand. You were in the hospital room when your son was born, so why can’t she see that you’re a nice, trustworthy guy? I mean you’re not exactly Tom Hanks or Bob Barker, but you’ve got charisma. Maybe she’s wondering why you’re still single.”
“I would take that as a compliment, Mom, if Bob Barker hadn’t been sued by six women from his daytime show.”
“Ridiculous. Bob Barker was named the most popular game show host by a national poll.”
Derrick chuckled as he pulled into an empty parking slot and slid the gear into Park. “I’ll take your word for it. I’ve gotta go.”
“Tell Jake I found the rollerblades he was looking for, and tell the twins dinner will be ready at seven.”
“Rollerblades?”
“Jake has a date with Candy this weekend, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
Derrick lifted his eyes heavenward. “You still cook for the twins? Didn’t they turn twenty-five recently?”
“Everybody comes here for dinner on Wednesday. Everyone but you.”
Damn . He’d forgotten again. “I’ll come next week, I promise.”
“I’m going to hold you to that. Don’t forget to bring a picture of Ryan.”
“I’ll do what I can. Talk to you later, Mom.” He quickly hit the Off button before she could think of another subject to broach. He climbed out of the car and shut the door.
The layer of marine clouds had disappeared earlier than usual today. The sun warmed the air along with his stiff shoulders. Blue, cloudless skies, not a bit of Los Angeles smog or June gloom in sight. Closing his eyes, he put his face to the sun and inhaled while he stretched his leg - his knee got a little stiff whenever he sat for too long.
A honk sounded as two trucks pulled into the parking lot: an old brown Ford and a newer Toyota model. Three of his brothers had arrived. The twins, Cliff and Brad, owned a construction business and they were in the new truck, while Jake followed behind in the truck he’d borrowed from Dad.
Cliff was the first to find a parking spot and head Derrick’s way. At six foot five, Cliff was the tallest of all the brothers. On the basketball court Cliff made a two-handed dunk look easy. He was also the only fair-haired child in the family, which is why they liked to tease him about how much Mom had always liked the fair-haired mailman.
Cliff gestured with his chin toward the apartment building. “So this is your new place, huh?”
“This is it.”
“A far cry from your house in Malibu.”
“It’s only temporary. I’ve gotta do what I’ve gotta do.”
“And what is it exactly that you have to do?”
Jake and Brad joined them in time to hear his answer.
“I plan to show Jill that I’m a decent guy, you know, make her see that I deserve to be in Ryan’s
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