“Oh. I’d love that,” Ellen responded with enthusiasm. “We’ll talk tonight over dinner, and you can tell me what you think will work. How many bedrooms? How many baths? In town? In the suburbs? Or perhaps something more rural…” She tapped her lip.
Vince laughed. He could see his mother’s mind going a million miles an hour, and she’d probably keep him all morning if he didn’t nip that in the bud.
“Yes, Mom. We’ll talk tonight. But right now, I’ve got to get going.”
He was already leaving half an hour later than he’d planned.
He kissed Ellen on top of her graying head, then snagging his coffee on the way out, made his escape.
Vincent chuckled as he walked to his truck.
His sort-of news would be all over the family within the hour; that he was thinking of becoming a foster father. He had no doubt that everyone would support him wholeheartedly, but they were sure to give him shit, as well. It’s how his brothers rolled.
Vince has halfway to the hospital, not paying too much attention to anything around him, when he heard a siren on his tail.
Crap.
His heart beat a little harder.
Vincehatedauthority of any kind these days, and reprimands in particular. Censure tended to bring him back to a dark chapter in his life.
But this wasn’t the Navy. It was Maine. He could deal with whatever was coming.
Vince looked down at his speedometer, and noted that he’d been going seven miles over the posted limit.
Seriously?They were going to pull him over for that?
Vincent put on his blinker and turned onto the shoulder. Once he dropped his truck into park, he grabbed his license from his wallet before leaning over the clown horn in the seat next to him, scrabbling in his glove compartment for his registration.
He took a deep breath once they were both in hand, and lowered his window.
A voice barked out.
“Do you know you were doing seven miles an hour over the speed limit?”
What?Vince knew that tone.
“Asshole,” he snapped at the cop.
His brother Kyle lowered the citation tablet from in front of his face and grinned. “Hey, dickhead.”
“Geezus Kyle. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“Just a little joke,” Kyle snickered. “I learned from the best, after all.”
“You learned shit,” Vincent dished it right back. “Youdo practical jokes.Ido actual humor.”
“I can see that. Nice make-up, bro,” he quipped.
“Eat me,” Vincent sighed. “Listen. You’re holding me up. I gotta go.”
“Why? You got a date with a circus performer?”
“Cut the crap, Kyle. I’m headed to the hospital.”
“So I understand,” Kyle replied, smirking. “Word on the street is that there’s a lady at the medical center who’s caught your eye.”
“Word on the streetis going to get a talking to,” Vince snarked. “Buck needs to learn to keep his mouth shut.”