Page 103 of Good Directions

“Not like this.”

“Well, Son, the way I look at it, you have two options. You can do something about it, or you can just live the rest of your life fucking miserable.”

Thanks, Dad…

“And I’m pretty sure door number two isn’t what you want, now that you know how good the other side is…”

“Pretty sure there’s no making up for what I did.”

Auggie shrugs, looking at Cary, then back at me. “I dunno. If Nash can do it, I feel like anyone has a shot.”

I guffaw, thankful I wasn’t taking a drink. Cary wasn’t so lucky, hand covering his mouth trying to catch the beer he nearly spit out.

“Man’s got a point. Nash is kinda the bitch whisperer,” Cary says once he composes himself.

Auggie lifts a single shoulder casually, not commenting on Cary’s choice of name calling when it comes to his only daughter.

“While Sawyer might not have your sister’s…attitude problems…” I smile, holding in a laugh. Nice save there, Auggie. “I bet that you are your own whisperer in some way. And that you’ll find the magic words to say to make everything right.”

“Fuck, I hope so.” I crash back down into the Adirondack chair, feeling like I’ve been trampled by wild horses.

“As for your mama…”

Fuck me running, that’s two women who want me strung up by my nuts. This is not going to end well.

My phone beeps, and I reach into my pocket, pulling it out, thankful for the distraction. The little alert flashing onto the screen makes a lightbulb go off in my head, like I’m Bugs Bunny in an old cartoon getting a brilliant idea. Unlike Bugs, this one won’t save the world, but it might be a start. A little something that has the potential to go a very long way.

I hope.

“Everything okay?” Cary asks.

“Yeah…” I nod, still staring at my phone. “I think I figured out how to start whispering.”