Page 46 of Broken
Everyone laughed.
Platters of food from Jericho Road—burgers and ribs—were passed around, along with a large bowl of fries. His mom served the salad, and everyone dug in.
Sally cut up a hamburger for Ethan, but he was too busy devouring fries to notice.
“Addison and Hawk, thank you so much for including me at your wedding,” Sally said. “I sent the RSVP back today, and no worries, I’ll find a sitter for Ethan.”
“Bring him,” Addison replied. “We’re having a fun, family-oriented wedding at the farmhouse.”
“With over a hundred of our closest friends,” Hawk added.
“Are you sure?” Sally asked.
“Absolutely,” Addison replied. “In fact, close friends of ours have a toddler. How old is Dakota and Providence Luck’s son, Graham?”
“Three or four,” Hawk replied.
“I’m free!” Ethan exclaimed.
“Yes, you are,” Sally said. “When will you be four?”
Ethan grinned. “August.”
“Do you know what day?” Sally asked.
“Fourteen,” the tyke replied.
“That’s right, Ethan.” Sally held up her hand and Ethan high-fived her.
“I’m not sure if I’m more excited over the job or that Ethan will be at daycare a few buildings away in the compound,” she said. “Thank you again, Prescott.”
“I just got you in the door,” he replied. “You did all the heavy lifting.”
“When do you start?” Prescott’s dad asked.
“Monday, which is crazy, but doable, right Ethan?”
Ethan was reaching for more fries, paying his mom no attention at all.
“Lemme help you with that.” Prescott spooned a handful of French fries onto his nephew’s plate. “You want some ketchup with that?”
“Ew, yucky,” Ethan replied.
“Ethan, what’s a polite answer?” Sally asked.
“No, fank you.” Ethan tipped his sippy cup into his mouth. “Mommy, it’s empty. More, please.”
“I’ll get it for you, buddy.” Prescott filled the cup with filtered water from his refrigerator, and handed it to the child.
Ethan grinned at him, “Fank you.” After taking a few sips, he grimaced and set down the cup. “I don’t like water. Juice please.”
“You don’t like water?” Hawk asked. “It’s the best drink on the planet.”
“I thought whiskey was the best,” Prescott replied, and the adults laughed.
Sally took Ethan’s spill-proof cup and changed out the water for apple juice, then added a splash of water. She handed him the cup and he drank down the sweet drink.
“He’s a sugar addict,” Sally explained. “I’m to blame, but now I’m having the hardest time weening him off it.”
