“Well, this is depressing.” He stated as his shoulders slumped.
“Don’t let mom hear you say that. She’s too busy pretending everything is normal.” Sam said as she sat up in the lounge chair. She stole a glance at her mother vigorously cleaning the grill with a wire brush. There were seldom times when Deb opted to barbecue over actually tearing up her kitchen.
“If things were normal she would be inside setting the dining room table. Instead, it’s blocked off; I’m surprised she didn’t have Dad put up barricades.” Luke said and looked over his shoulder at their father sitting under an umbrella. He had on his usual dress slacks and shoes only he chose to pair it with a short sleeve polo shirt. He was tweaking the rabbit ears of an old portable television, that he refused to part with, determined to watch the Yankee game.
Sam followed Luke’s gaze and smiled somewhat, a weakness for her father’s shenanigans tugging at the corners of her heart, she looked back at Luke. “Any luck with Cara?”
“No.” Luke said flatly and looked towards the water where Ava was splashing around by herself. “I don’t know what to do with her. Have you spoken to her?” He asked abruptly turning back around to face his sister.
“I called her a few times, but she never answered. She texted me back once, that she was sorry she missed my call. But that was that.” Sam shrugged. “I can’t say I blame her.”
Luke looked at her as if she was absurd. “What?”
“I don’t know Luke, do you think being around all of us is easy for her? Especially mom and dad, we all lost Jake. We’re probably just a reminder to her.”
Luke processed her words. “Maybe….” He paused and then shook his head. “Even so, it’s not like she has a family to help her through this. We’re her family.”
Sam smiled softly. “You sounded just like Jake, for a moment.”
“Don’t say that.” Luke said stiffly. “I’m nothing like Jake, and don’t deserve the comparison.”
Sam’s eyes widened at the sharp tone in Luke’s voice. She watched him put his hands on his knees and stand to his full height. Before Sam could question where that had come from, he softened his voice and ruffled her hair.
“I’m going to try and convince mom to let me man the grill.” Luke said before sauntering over to Deb.
Sam let out a breath before bringing down her sunglasses. The direct sun was way too hot, so she made her way towards her father and reached for the pitcher of iced tea behind him.
“Still can’t get it to work?” She asked her father nodding towards the ancient television.
“No, this is ridiculous. I have a perfectly functioning television inside, but your mother is banning me from being in my own damn house!” ” He growled as he scratched his head trying to figure out why he couldn’t get a picture and only sound.
“Cut her some slack, dad.” Sam said, placing a reassuring hand on her father’s shoulder.
Joe sighed and looked at his daughter. “All I’m saying is that she obviously isn’t ready to do these dinners like she used to. No one is begging her to either, so I don’t understand why the urgency.”
Sam looked over at her mother who had allowed Luke to help her with the grill. She didn’t know what to say, it was obvious her mother wasn’t herself. She looked back towards her dad and offered him a small smile. “At least you got the sound to work.”
Joe rolled his eyes. “This is the last year Jeter is playing; I can’t afford to miss any magical moments.”
Sam laughed and made a mental note to take her father to a game before the season ended. She glanced up and her heart stopped, or at least she thought it did. Nick was striding in through the gate with Cara alongside him. “He got her to come.” She whispered unaware that she had even spoken the words.
Joe lifted his head and looked in the same direction Sam was. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He shook his head in amazement. “That Nick, is a good guy.” He said completely certain that his words were true.
Nick winked at Sam as he and Cara walked over to where Deb was. She hadn’t even noticed they had entered the yard. Her back was towards them and so was Luke’s as they began to load the grill.
“Put the chicken on one side, and lower the flame or it will burn,” Deb instructed her son.
“Ma, I know how to barbeque.” He said patiently and did as he was told.
“Yeah, but to be fair everything you learned about barbeque you learned from the master.” Nick said as he leaned over Deb’s shoulder pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Don’t let him forget that Deb.”