50. Skyler

There wasn’t a plan when we headed up the mountain to visit Uncle Don.

But lunch blends into afternoon drinks and then happy hour and a leisurely dinner on the patio. Cliff lit a couple of skinny, pyramid shaped heaters, and long tongues of flame lick up their sides, radiating cozy warmth.

You can just see the glow from Denver, a turquoise haze over the distant mountains. But we’re surrounded by mountains on all sides. A full moon paints the range with a subtle brush.

I pushed my chair up next to Reese’s, and she’s tolerating me while I alternate between playing with her fingers and running my hand over the small of her back.

Mitch has made his way over to the hot tub and is testing the water.

“You want to get in?”

Uncle Don asks, standing to clear our plates.

Mitch climbs to his feet, drying his hand off on his jeans. “We didn’t pack swim trunks.”

“Skyler and Don are practically clones of each other.”

Cliff says.

“Before and after photos.”

Don corrects as he passes back into the house. “I’m the after. The much, much, much after.”

“He can borrow a pair from Don and I bet you’d fit into one of mine. We don’t have any ladies swimsuits, I’m afraid.”

Reese stands to help clear dinner away. “I’m wearing a sports bra.”

Everyone looks at me for the final approval. I shrug. “I’m down for whatever.”

Cliff deposits Mitch and I in the spare bedroom with a pile of potential swim trunks. We both choose ones from the top of the pile and change into them.

Mitch stands upright, adjusting the Hawaiian print trunks around his hips. “I was kind of hoping I wouldn’t like him.”

I tighten the trunks I’m wearing, tying the strings to keep them from falling down. “Uncle Don?”

“Yeah. He’s funny and likable.”

I nod. “It’s weird how familiar he seems.”

Mitch nods. “He’s like the missing link. Now I understand where our sense of humor comes from. He even has the same laugh as us. It’s uncanny.”

“That’s why I wanted you to meet him. Dad was fucking pissed, but hell, I’m pissed those knuckleheads kept us apart all these years.”

Mitch nods. “Me, too.”

I follow Mitch back out onto the patio, but he stumbles to a stop in front of me. Reese is helping Cliff set up more heaters around the hot tub. Mitch is obviously stunned to see her in a sports bra and a pair of cotton panties.

When you think sports bra, you think of compression bras. What Reese has on is a confection of mesh and straps. The important parts are covered, but it’s definitely a top that warrants a second glance.

For me, not for Mitch. “Keep moving.”

I growl, the warning evident in my voice.

He holds up his hands. “I’m going, I’m going.”

Carefully averting his gaze, Mitch plops into the hot tub with a splash. Reese follows right behind, sighing as she sinks up to her neck. I sit right next to her so that I can weave her legs through mine. Cliff and Uncle Don sit across from us.

Mitch leans back, gazing up at the stars. “I’d say you’ve got it pretty good out here, Uncle Don.”

“Thanks. We like to think so.”

Underneath the swirling waters, Reese’s fingers glide over my thigh.

“Silver Bend can’t hold a candle to this place.”

Mitch says.

Her hand curves around my lap, sliding slowly in.

Uncle Don takes a drink of his beer and balances on the edge of the hot tub. “That’s comparing apples to oranges. Silver Bend has its own charms. You can’t beat those opens skies. Sometimes, I miss hauling down the highway, windows down, going ninety miles an hour.”

He smiles at Cliff. “But at the end of the day, I think they did me a favor, cutting me loose.”

“How so?”

Mitch asks.

“I would never have met Cliff.”

Don smiles at Cliff again, before giving us a sober look. “I wouldn’t have been able to live in dignity out there.” He shrugs. “I lost my inheritance, that’s true. But I gained my freedom. And that’s worth more to me.”

Mitch leans back. “Tell that to Skyler. I’ve been trying to get him to move out here for years.”

I tilt my head, trying to deflect with an easy grin. “Years? You’ve only been out here for a year and a half.”

“Let go of your demons, kid,”

Uncle Don says. “And come join us in colorful Colorado.”

If only it was that easy.