Senior Year Box Set

I’d marinated a tenderloin in an oil, herb, and garlic mixture before I put it on the grill. Our garden had asparagus coming up, so I harvested enough for our meal. Peggy helped me by preparing mushrooms and baked potatoes to round out our feast.

Our spring garden items included rhubarb and strawberries. Mom had baked a couple of rhubarb and strawberry crumbles. She’d taken one with her to my farm to share and left the other for our dessert.

All the girls were inside, getting into my mom’s wine. I was happy that Ashley joined me as I manned the grill.

“Are you getting ready for the move?” she asked.

“I found a stack of boxes in my room today. It feels strange to have to pack up everything I own. Mom wants me to label what needs to go to college, to my room in the new house in Malibu, and to storage.”

“Which bedroom set are you taking to California?” Ashley asked.

I’d ended up with two, the one in my apartment and one my grandmother had the Mennonites make me from the walnut trees we cut down at the farm.

“I hadn’t really thought about it,” I admitted.

“Can I have the one you don’t pick?” Ashley asked.

“Which would you rather have?”

“I like them both, but I would prefer the one in your apartment. It’s more to my taste.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

“Okay?”

“Yes. You can have the bed in my room, and I’ll take the one at the farm.”

“What about the rest of your furniture?”

“I’m starting to see through your cunning plan for coming out here. Don’t you think the rest of the girls should get a shot at the stuff I’m not going to use?” I asked.

“They weren’t smart enough to ask first,” she shot back.

“If you’re willing to take the heat when they find out, then fine. Take what you want,” I conceded.

“Even the refrigerator?”

“That, you might want to talk to my mom about. Melanie is moving into the apartment to be live-in help for Greg. If Mom says it’s okay, then you can have it for the pool house. You might want to talk to her about how she plans to decorate and what she and Cindy have come up with,” I suggested.

“We’re all well aware of the design plan, and we do have fun spending your money,” Ashley said to clue me in.

That I’d thought only my mom and Cindy were involved showed how clueless I was. Of course they would all want to be a part of the decorating, if for no other reason than to design their own personal areas. I’d only been consulted on the general overall design, which was the look and feel of a Tuscan villa.

“Thanks,” she said as she kissed my cheek and started to go back inside.

“Hang on. I need to share with you what I learned about our boys when I saw the psychic in LA.”

That brought her back.

“Did you know my mom’s side of the family had some gifts?” Ashley asked.

“That’s what the psychic said. He told me that Allen has them as well. The guy I saw, his family wasn’t very supportive of him growing up. He wanted to make sure we were open and accepting to Allen if he started to show abilities.”

“I’ll talk to my mom and get some advice,” Ashley assured me.

“He also said …” I began.

“Hold that thought. I’m sure all the girls will want to hear this. I’ll be right back,” Ashley said as she left to get everyone.

When they joined me, I told them about Allen being artistic and Dawson’s athletic ability and how we needed to keep him on the straight and narrow scholastically. Then I talked about Dave being the mediator/problem solver; Carol, the leader; and Coby, the protector.

“Coby clocked another kid who was picking on someone at daycare yesterday,” Peggy shared.

“As long as no one gets hurt, I’m okay with that,” I admitted.

“David!” Scarlet said.

“I know. Everyone says, ‘Hitting never solves anything,’” I said, spouting the party line before deciding to tell them what I really thought. “In my opinion, kids need to learn that if you bully someone, there are consequences.”

I knew it wasn’t politically correct, but I felt that if people got smacked for saying or doing something hurtful, they wouldn’t do it again. If you knew you could be a bully without repercussions, it just got worse. That was why people got brave when they hid on the Internet and said mean stuff on social media.

With that in mind, I decided I would add to the Dawson rules of conduct. If you wouldn’t say something to someone’s face, you shouldn’t say it at all.

◊◊◊

After we ate, the girls left to watch the band. I had something to puzzle out. Miss Cassidy was missing again today, so I drove over to her house to investigate.

“David?” Coach Hope asked, confused when he opened the door to my knock.

“I’m looking for your daughter.”

“I thought she was with you.”

“Cassidy’s gone missing in action the last two weekends,” I shared.

“Come in. I’ll call her and see what’s going on.”

I took a seat in the living room while he left to get his phone. Old people killed me by not having it on them at all times. It seemed to be a generational thing.

While I waited, I saw that Coach was about to watch a movie on streaming video.