Page 21 of Beautiful Small Things

Orion: Why?

Iris: I need to ask him some questions.

Orion: Yes. He said he’ll be home for another two hours or so.

Iris: Tell him I’m going to stop by in about thirty minutes.

Orion: Will do.

Orion answers the door before I get a chance to ring the bell. It’s strange to look at him after our conversation the other night. He smiles as he steps to the side, allowing me entry.

“Where is everyone? I ask, making my way to the living room.

“I’m not sure,” he shrugs, running his hand through his disheveled hair. “They were gone when I woke up. It’s just Dad and me at home. He said he’d be right down. Do you want anything?”

“No, I’m good. Thank you,” I reply, taking a seat on the couch.

“Hey, I wanted to thank you for bringing me home the other night. I’m sorry I made you come out in the middle of the night.”

“It’s fine,” I tell him. “I never want you to consider driving in that state.”

“Yeah, I was pretty blitzed. I don’t remember much,” he says, looking embarrassed.

So, there we have it. We can sweep this whole thing under the rug and act like it never happened. Except, I’m not sure I want to.

“Don’t worry about it. You were amusing,” I lie.

Uncle Callan appears before Orion can say anything else and jogs down the stairs.

“Hi, Beautiful,” he says, greeting me with a warm hug.

“Hi, Uncle Callan,” I reply. “Can we talk for a minute?”

“Of course,” he says, sitting next to me.

“I’m going to go for a run and let you guys talk,” Orion announces, leaving the room.

As soon as he leaves, I feel myself relax. I don’t like this awkwardness. I need to get over it so I can be near my best friend again.

“So, you want to talk about your dad?” my uncle asks.

“Yes,” I answer. “If that’s alright with you.”

“I’m always fine with talking about that asshole,” he jokes.

Uncle Callan is like my second father. He makes me feel comfortable being myself, and he loves me unconditionally. Being around him feels like home as much as my actual home.

“What do you think about my dad, in your words?”

His eyes narrow as he gets a serious look on his face. “He’s the best man I’ve ever known, besides my brother, Nolan.”

My eyes can’t help but tear up whenever Nolan’s name is mentioned. He is described as an amazing young man by everyone who knew him. Kind, generous, and courageous, even under the worst of circumstances. He died when he was only 18 years old, changing the lives of everyone around him, including my father.

Nolan was dealt a horrible deal in life, developing Leukemia as a toddler and suffering for most of his childhood. He went into remission for a time, thanks to the stem cell transplant he received from my Jem. She was born in the same hospital where he was being treated and deemed a match for him.

The story goes that that day changed everything and wove two families together forever.

Colby and Callan met that day in the hospital, and James saved Nolan, at least for a time. Their lives were destined to intertwine from that day forward, even when they fell out of touch. Colby and Callan found their way back together, the soulmates that they are. The romantic in me loves the story and cannot hear it enough.