wife, walks up behind me. I was on the roof of one of the cabins, adding some shingles that were blown off during the last storm, and I just came down. In part, I came down because my duck was raising such a fuss while I was up on the roof. He’s been running circles for the past half hour around and around the house, looking for me. He knows I went up, he just doesn’t know how to join me and it’s driving him crazy, if the squawking is any indication.
“That’s adorable,” Katie says as she walks up and holds out a fresh bottle of water for me.
“He’s pretty damn cute,” I admit. I thought he was going to go nuts down on the ground all by himself. Now he’s nestled against my shin, resting on my ankle.
Katie’s daughter Trixie has a great big dog, and since Trixie is at school right now, the dog is hanging out with Katie. The thing is massive, with a wide head and a big ass, and a tongue that looks like it’s as wide as a skateboard. “Trixie let you keep her dog for the day?” I ask. I’ve met the kids around the campground, and Jake talks about them every time he comes to give me a new task.
“Oh, she’d take him to school, if she was able.” She laughs, and she reaches over to lay her hand on the dog’s head. “They’re inseparable,” she goes on to say. “This dog got Trixie through some really tough times, back when we first came back here.”
I remember Katie from when we were all kids, but she and Jake are a few years older than me and Abigail, so we didn’t exactly run in the same circles.
Suddenly, Katie sucks in a breath like she’s fortifying herself. “I wanted to talk to you about your housing situation.” She stops and stares at me.
“So talk,” I say. My duck nuzzles my leg, and the dog notices that he’s moving down there. He walks over, sniffs the duck, and stares at him. “Um…” I stand as still as I possibly can. I’m not afraid of big dogs, but I’m also not stupid enough to trust every dog I meet. “Is he friendly?”
“Oh, he’s just curious about your duck,” she says.
“He’s not going to eat him, is he?”
She laughs, and it’s a deep, throaty sound. “No, he’s about as gentle as they come. He wouldn’t hurt anything, unless of course you have a gun or you’re trying to hurt one of my children.”
But the duck is already toddling around to go see the dog, who is so close I can feel his hot breath on my leg. He smells a little like Cheetos. He sniffs so hard that the short hair on my bare legs lifts up, but he doesn’t make any moves like he wants to have my duck for breakfast.
“So your living situation,” Katie says again. She glares at me. “It’s getting cold out.”
I shake my head. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine. You need a home. Four walls and a floor. Running water. Heat.” She’s serious about this.
“I’m fine,” I say again.
“I talked to your mom,” she suddenly says. She looks guilty as she says it, and she holds up a hand to slow me down when my mouth opens to protest. “We were talking at baseball practice, that’s all,” she rushes to explain.
“Your boy is on Mitchell’s team?” I take a sip of water, and then I pour some into a shallow bowl to offer to the duck. He eagerly begins to drink, and the dog finally gives up and drops down to the ground. I think he has decided my duck is not a threat.
“Yes, Alex and Mitchell are on the same team. I saw your mom at practice, and we got to talking.”
“About?” I stare at her.
“Before you can take custody of Mitchell, you’re going to need a real home. A tent is fine for weekends, but you can’t bring a kid to live in a tent.” Every time she says the word “tent” her face puckers.
“We’re not talking about custody yet, so I have time.”
Katie looks surprised. “You don’t want him?” She immediately looks like she wishes she could take that back.
“It’s not about what I want. It’s about what’s best for him.” I don’t want what’s best for me. I want what will be best, long term, for my son. Right now, that’s him staying with my mom, where he has