"Why do you say that?" I know he never liked Michael. He always called him the jerk and that was after meeting him once.
"Because there's someone out there who's perfect for you. You just haven't realized it yet."
"You think someday I'll meet the one?" I ask, smiling.
"I think you've already met him." He's talking about Gustov. I know he is.
I don't answer.
Friday, December 22
(Gus)
"Is this the Joe, proprietor of the infamous Joe's Bar?"
"Hey, man, is this Gustov the globe-trotting rock legend Hawthorne?"
"Nah, this is just Gus. I am shopping the hell out of some groceries at the moment though. That's as legendary as it gets in my world these days." I'm in the middle of the grocery store pushing my cart down the cereal aisle and trying to decide between Fruity Peebles and Captain Crunch.
He laughs. "I won't keep you long. I know Rook is big shit now and you've outgrown my bar, but the band that was supposed to play New Year's Eve just backed out on me. I was wondering if you guys would like to slum it and play a set? Should I be talking to your management or something? Like I said, I know you're big time now and you can tell me to go fuck myself, but I miss having you guys in here."
Anxiety initially grips me, but without thinking I'm asking, "So, next week?"
"Yeah, I know it's short notice. Sorry, brother."
And then I'm confirming, "We'll be there." Where the hell did that come from? Playing in my bedroom is one thing. I don't know if I'm ready for the crowds again.
"Really?" He sounds shocked.
"Let me call the guys, but yeah, I think we can make it happen. I'll call you back."
"Right on. Call me."
"Will do. Gimme five."
I send out a text to Franco, Robbie, and Jamie. They all respond immediately, which means that they're hyped. And now, so am I.
I call Joe back. "We're on, dude. What time do you want us there?"
"You can go on at eleven o'clock."
"Sounds like a plan. See you Saturday." And just like that, excitement takes over. I hope it's the real deal.
Saturday, December 23
(Gus)
My phone rings in my pocket. When I see the name on the screen, I smile.
"Well, if it isn't the stud from the frozen north."
Keller laughs on the other end before he says anything. "Nah man, not the stud. How about the dad? And greetings from cold and snowy Grant, Minnesota."
I never think much about the weather here because it's always fairly consistent year round, but I've always been fascinated by the extreme changes most of the rest of the country experiences. Not that I'd ever want to live through it, but it's fascinating. "Cold up there, huh?"
"Yeah, it's a little chilly today. I don't think we're going to break zero for a high. It got down to twenty below last night."
"You may as well just live in the Arctic Circle, dude."
"The only downer about it getting this cold is that Stella can't go outside and play. She's a snowman building machine lately. She pretends she's an ice princess from one of her movies. She'll sing the entire soundtrack before she's done."
"Ah, Miss Stella's a singer. She's a natural performer." She is. She's got more personality and charisma than most adults I've met.
"She says she wants to sing like Katie. That's fine by me, but I swear I need to buy her another movie, because I hear those songs in my dreams. They haunt me. I can't get away from them." He chuckles, and I smile. He'd probably listen to those songs every day for the rest of his life if it made his little girl happy. That's one of the things I like most about Keller; he always puts others ahead of himself.
"What else is Stella up to?"
"Just getting ready for Christmas. Stella's really into construction paper, glitter, and glue at the moment, so every available flat surface in our apartment is adorned with sparkly paper reindeer, bells, mistletoe, trees, ornaments, etcetera, etcetera. Stella swore she didn't, but it's very suspicious that even Miss Higgins is sporting a glittery shell this holiday season. Stella's blaming the new bling on Santa's elves who apparently visit at night while we're sleeping. And I'm choosing to believe her story because she wants so badly for it to be true."
Now I'm laughing. "Stella bedazzled her turtle?"
"She did. There's probably some kind of animal rights violation involved there, so don't tell anyone."
"My lips are sealed. I don't want Stella spending Christmas in the gray rock motel wearing an orange jumpsuit. So, are you going to Chicago for Christmas?"
"No. My father's actually coming here tomorrow and spending a few days with us. We're all going to Shel's parents' house on Christmas day. Dunc's finally going to propose to her. He's had it planned for months now. I can't wait to see the look on her face." He sounds happy.
"That's great, dude. They're good people."
"They are," he says sincerely. That's another thing I really like about Keller. He genuinely wants the best for others. "How about you? What are you doing for Christmas?"
"We'll hang out here at the hacienda with Pax and Scout. Introduce them to early morning cinnamon rolls on the beach."