Go Away, Darling - Alexis Anne Page 0,55

sister?”

I couldn’t help it. I hugged Linc tight and sighed with relief. “I’ll see what I can do, kid. I’ll see what I can do.”

18

When we’re all together it feels good

Olivia

Being part of a project and being in charge of a project were two very different things. In short, I was exhausted. But I was also happier than ever. I hadn’t realized how stifled I felt or how much I needed this feeling of accomplishment. All these years I genuinely believed I wanted a quiet little photography business when what I really wanted was a quiet little photography business and big, huge, larger than life projects. I loved that I now had two worlds to move between. I could be a quiet little hermit at home when I needed to focus on my business (and being a mom, and being me.)

But now I had this whole other life to jump back into when the right project came along.

I was looking forward to a little quiet for the next few months. Carmen was handing me the reins to a documentary on the microcosms of suburbia in January. Until then I got to focus on my hometown. My island. The history project I started and needed to finish.

As I edited the photographs I took of Grams over a year ago, I was sucked back in time. First to taking the pictures, then to my childhood eating cookies in her kitchen with Berlin and her sisters, and then finally to a time long before me, the years Grams described in her oral history of building their house on this out-of-the-way island that could only be reached by boat.

She described the alligators that blocked the roads at night, how large the shells used to be on the beaches after the high tides, the lighthouse keeper, the mailboat, the wooden one room schoolhouse she sent her kids to. It wasn’t that long ago and yet it felt like it was part of some ancient history.

I was just finishing up for the day when I heard the familiar and welcome sounds of Linc bursting through the door and Summer right behind him. “We’re back!”

I saved and closed my projects and appeared in the living room just in time to see Linc sneak a cookie. A sweet ache hit me as I remembered sneaking cookies in Grams kitchen, of mischievous little Chris smiling and winking for another.

“You’re supposed to ask first!”

Linc froze, smiled. “Can I have a cookie?” he asked, mouth completely full.

I rolled my eyes and found it impossible to punish him. Apparently being devastatingly cute and adorable could get you far in this world. Or at least our house.

“Yes you can have a cookie. Ask next time.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Summer closed the refrigerator. “I grabbed more milk because Linc claimed you were out.”

My eyes swung back to my son. “Why are we out?”

He shrugged. “What? I’m a growing boy!”

“Hey,” Summer laughed, “at least he got more.”

I had to admit that was a smooth move. “You staying for dinner?”

Summer grinned and her eyes glinted. “I...have a date.”

“Ooooooh!” Linc made a high pitched squealing noise that I was pretty sure was supposed to approximate a girl.

“Details?”

She turned to the door. “We’ll see how tonight goes. See you tomorrow!”

“What’s for dinner?” With the cookie gone Linc was apparently ready for real food.

“It’s an exciting meal. A thrilling meal. It’s...spaghetti and salad.”

Linc immediately began pulling out the jar of pasta sauce and noodles. “Let’s get going!”

While I cooked he worked on his homework which was, unfortunately, still somewhat parental supervision heavy. I called out multiplication problems and spelling words as I cooked and we were somehow done in time to eat.

“Mom?”

“Yeah?” I twirled the noodles on my fork and waited to find out what his question was. These days it could be anything from “can I stay up late” to “what is reproduction?”

“I’ve been thinking.”

Oh god, this was going to be a long one. I shoved the food in my mouth and got to chewing while I could.

“I need a brother or sister.”

I practically spit out my spaghetti but somehow managed to swallow it.

“And I think that means you should get married. To Chris.”

I was speechless. Absolutely speechless. In fact, all I could do was stare at my son. He seemed so angelically innocent only moments before, but now all I could see was Beau. His mischief, his complete confidence that his smile could get him anything.

I carefully set down my fork and folded my hands on the table in front