After the Climb (River Rain #1) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,98

teaching him the importance of family.”

Tom hoped he was right.

He took another sip.

“Your girls are amazing, your son is a good man,” Duncan began. “Any other instance, I’d wanna know you, Tom. What’s between us is big, but I figure I’m not wrong that we’re both the type of men who can get beyond it.”

“Because Genny wants that,” Tom stated.

“Because Genny needs that,” Duncan corrected.

Yes.

She did.

And Tom needed it too. For Genny. And for his kids.

“I went to one of your stores the other day,” Tom told the fire, then looked to Duncan. “They’re impressive. Interactive. The climbing wall. The mini-ski slope where you can test the skis. The dirt track you build around the perimeter where your customers can try out a mountain bike. It’s like a store and a nature amusement park rolled into one.”

“Gotta have something to draw the crowds,” he said into his glass.

“Your Kids and Trails program is essential.”

Duncan turned and looked him in the eye. “I agree. And it’d be a boost to fundraising if me and Tom Pierce took a pack of kids out and did a video.”

A surprise.

Also good idea.

And an olive branch that would work for them, their families and the public.

He did not underestimate this man, considering his accomplishments.

But he was impressed.

“I’m in,” Tom replied.

“We can do this.”

He didn’t mean the Kids and Trails fundraising promo.

“We can.”

“He chose to stay with you for Thanksgiving, but as you know, Hale’s coming to the house for Christmas. I need to talk to him about his father. And I think it’d go easier on him if you were there.”

“I’m already coming, Duncan.”

“My friends call me Bowie.”

They stared at each other again.

“Right then, Bowie,” Tom said, “Chloe’s force feeding us a rich-food French brunch tomorrow at Genny’s. We all head up. I check into The Queen. Dinner at your house. And I’ll be back Christmas morning. Warning to you, Sasha still wakes up at four and turns on the Christmas music loud to get everyone up, like she’s still six years old. Gen loves her daughter, but she’ll hold out until she’s had at least some of her morning and can come down showered, her hair looking nice, and has applied a coat of powder and mascara. That’s not about stardom, it’s about vanity. She hates looking at pictures where she doesn’t look put together. Even family ones. I’ll aim to show around eight.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

He continued his warnings. “Matt will avoid me.”

“My mom will be there. Hale. The girls. My boys. Genny. We’ll make sure it’s not awkward and you’re both looked after. But I cannot guarantee Genny won’t have a word with him. She’s losing patience with this.”

“Matt knows his own mind. We got that when he pretty much potty trained himself starting at two years old.”

Duncan chuckled.

Because it was funny.

And because this was what they were.

Sharing stories.

Sharing life.

Family.

“We can do this,” Tom said.

Duncan took a sip of his whiskey.

Then he looked at Tom.

“We can. And we will.”

Tom took a breath.

Let it out.

And sat by the fire on a Phoenix night next to a good man and drank some more whiskey.

*****

Imogen

“Oh my God, kill me,” Matt groaned, head on the back of the sofa.

“Why? This is radical!” Gage shouted.

Matt looked to Gage and asked, “Did you hear the part about the sex scenes?”

“Yeah, but Genny said she wouldn’t even show side boob,” Gage returned.

Matt looked like he was going to throw up.

Needless to say, I’d just made the announcement that The Next Life, my soon-to-be starring vehicle, was a go.

And provided pertinent details therein.

“Sorry, Genny, I’m out. I’m happy for you that you got this gig, but no way am I watching you have sex…with anyone, even fake sex,” Sully added.

“It’s not all going to be sex scenes, Sully. You can close your eyes and chant lalalalalala and ask someone you’re watching it with to tell you when it’s done. That’s what I do when I watch Mom do sex scenes,” Sasha advised.

“I think this is all very exciting!” Duncan’s mom Ruthy exclaimed. “Can I come on set?”

“Whenever you like,” I offered.

“Oh my goodness. I’ve never been on a television set. This is unbelievable!” Ruthy cried.

“I know, Gram,” Gage said to his grandmother, and then to me, “Can I come on set too?”

“Of course,” I told him.

“Well, all I can say is that I’m proud to have a mother who has the courage to be out and proud as a mature female sexual being in a world where, for centuries, mayhap