Alcohol You Later (69)

Her giggle fills my heart to bursting. One day she won’t like that little pet name, but for right now, she adores it.

When Ava grabs my hands and starts singing the Pat-a-Cake song, Anika decides to take her leave. “We roll out to Memphis in twenty. I’ll be expecting your call.”

“Talk soon,” I say, sending her off with a nod.

“Was that Anika I just heard?” Raven trudges into the living room looking like a creature from Dawn of the Dead. Her hair is sticking out in every direction, her eyes puffy and bloodshot. She’s wearing one of my ratty tees that reaches almost to her knees. And the sight of her still manages to take my breath away. She’s the most beautiful disaster I’ve ever set eyes on.

“The one and only.” I motion to the spot beside me for her to sit. “Sorry you missed her?”

“Not at all.” Chuckling, she curls into my side, smoothing Ava’s hair down. “Oh, Ave,” she groans. “You are lookin’ a fright this morning, girlfriend.”

I snort. “Have you passed by a mirror yet, love?”

Her fist connects with my ribs. “Watch it, mister.”

“Watch mistew.” Ava balls her little hands, pummeling them into my chest.

“Get him!” Raven eggs the feral toddler on. “Get him, Ave.”

I lift my arms to shield my face. This little girl is really getting after it. “Okay,” I say, laughing almost to the point of tears. “All right. Mercy!”

“Did somebody call for reinforcements?” Lyle walks in with Alex, beaming from ear to ear. “Better go save your daddy.” He sets him to his feet, giving him a little shove in our direction.

“Don’t tell him that.” Raven rushes to intervene. “Think, Lyle!” She swats him behind the head. “Are you seriously encouraging him to attack his sister? She has a concussion, you idiot.”

“Well shit,” he groans, rubbing the spot where she just socked him. “I might have one too now.”

I shake my head to myself, looking around at the chaos that has somehow become my life, and I am hit with a moment of clarity. Amid the shouting and laughing and fighting is a family. And however unconventional, they’re my family. Some blood. Some not. But all valuable parts just the same. Here and now, I vow to myself to do whatever it takes to ensure that my past doesn’t keep showing up, threatening to jeopardize our future.

“Who wants to call Grammy and Gramps?” I have to shout to be heard over the commotion.

“My Gammy?” Alex asks, reaching for my phone.

I sit the twins in the middle of the rug and scroll to the number Anika gave to me weeks ago, that I’ve yet had the decency to use. It’s time I stop wallowing and take responsibility for my children. For my life in general. Time to grow the fuck up and start putting them first, the way my parents never did for me.

“Hello?” There’s a moment of confusion on the little old lady’s face before she recognizes me.

“Hi, Mrs. Ritter.” I give her my most charming smile, hoping to smooth over any tension. “I have two toddlers here who are very excited to talk to their Grammy and Gramps.”

The woman’s eyes water. “David,” she shouts. “David, come talk to the children.” She swivels back toward the phone. “Thank you so much for calling.”

I nod, her emotion catching me in the gut. “I’m sorry I didn’t sooner. Took me a minute to adjust to all this and realize what’s really important here.”

Her lips curve into a smile, her nod fully conveying her understanding. “It would be a lot for anyone.”

“Well, hello there, Nicholas.” An older man with salt and pepper hair and a Gomez-style mustache fills the screen beside her. “I’m David…but you can just call me Gramps.”

“Nice to meet you both.” I clear my throat. “I’m gonna hand you two off to the twins before they stage a riot in this bus.”

Alex snatches the phone away, his eyes lighting up when he sees their familiar faces. “My Gammy!”

“No, mine!” Ava screeches, wrestling my cell from her brother’s hand.

“Okay, guys.” Raven takes the phone away from them and holds it just out of their reach. “Now you can both talk.”

And they do. At the same time. Some of it intelligible. Most of it not. But it’s clear in the way the four of them interact that they share a very special bond, and that my job as their father and only living parent is to foster that relationship in whatever way I can. These people are important to my kids, and that makes them important to me.

We’re well on our way to Memphis before their conversation comes to a close. Ellie’s parents are both in tears, expressing their gratitude for the call. I promise to make it a more regular occurrence and to bring the kids by to visit with them as soon as the tour ends.

“You’re keeping them.” Mrs. Ritter brings a hand to cover her mouth. “Oh, my Ellie would be so proud. She told me you would love them.”

“Yeah.” I smile, biting back emotion. “I’m their dad.” I shrug.

She nods, accepting my simple explanation. “And I think you’ll make a fine one, Nick Potter.”





A backstage dressing room is no place for a pair of almost two-year-olds. I’m losing my ever-loving mind trying to keep them occupied while we wait for Anika to come retrieve us. Ava can’t watch television for a few more days, which means no Cocomelon. It’s not as big of a deal on the bus that now resembles a toy store, but right now, I’m fiending for the show as badly as they are. Probably worse.