Page 144 of Sinners Reunion

“I’ll go,” I say, “on one condition.”

Bennett throws a line into the water. Aven just keeps sharpening his axe. I can’t be certain why he brought the thing out here when he said he wanted to fish. To intimidate me? If so, it’s working.

“So what do we do if we catch something?” Bennett asks.

Aven scoffs. “You see a doctor and hope it can be treated.”

The boys burst into a fit of raucous laughter that shakes the small rowboat, and I hold the sides to keep us steady. They were nervous about going fishing with Ice Pick missing, but Jim assured them he had it well in hand. We’ve been at it for a bit now, and they’ve settled in.

If only I could do the same.

“Quiet, lads. You’ll scare off all the fish with that giggling.”

“Sorry, Pops,” Bennett says.

“Yeah, Da. Didn’t know we couldn’t have a good time.”

A chill rises up my spine. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they already knew who I am to them. Perhaps that’s why Aven brought the axe after all.

“You boys . . . shouldn’t call me that. I haven’t earned that right.”

Aven raises the axe into the air and squints at the clouds in the distance as he studies the sharp edge. “Boys? I’d say we’ve earned the right to be called men.”

“And you’ve earned the right to be called Pops.” Bennett’s rod wiggles, and he grabs it before it falls into the lake. He snatches back on it, but the fish slips the hook. “Damn. I suck at this shit.”

With a chuckle, Aven lowers the axe to his lap. “Aye, you do much better once it’s been battered and fried. Or do you prefer to fuck it before they cook it?”

“Oh, fuck off, Aven.”

Bennett goes to stand, and Aven does the same. Before they can topple this vessel and send us all into the water, I reach up and grab a shirt in both hands. With very little effort, I snatch them both back to a sitting position.

“Aven, stop badgering your brother about his sexual proclivities lest we bring up your special green suit.” I release Aven’s shirt.

Bennett laughs, but I quickly silence him.

“As for you, if you want people to stop making a mockery of you, then you’d best stop making a mockery of yourself. Quit . . . playing with your food in such a public manner.”

Aven laughs again. “He means stop leaving the food for us to find after you’ve fucked it.”

Before another boat-rocking argument can break out, I push the oars into Aven’s hands and motion for Bennett to pull in his line. Maybe moving further down the lake will give them something else to focus on.

We move into more open water, and the lads see just how expansive my lake truly is. I might have downplayed it just a touch. It cuts a deep groove through western land and stretches for a few thousand acres. Smaller branches shoot off and lead to a tucked-away beach here or a kill site there. All the little things a man could want.

And maybe all the little things a woman could want too.

Thick forests and native wildlife abound here, so I’m protected on all sides. For miles. It’s a special reserve Jim runs, and I decided it seemed a nice place to spend a few weeks a year. Away from everyone and everything.

Funny. Now I’ve brought everyone and everything here. All the important people and things, anyway.

Never would I have imagined I’d be on this lake with two of my boys. Josie’s to thank for this. Now I almost feel bad for making her stay back at the house while everyone else went in search of Ice Pick.

Before I can tear up at the thought of having this perfect final moment with my children before they slaughter me, an ear-shattering sound pierces my skull. Bennett and Aven cover their ears and look around.

I pull the radio from my pocket. “Jim, you’re pressing too many buttons at once.”

“Sorry, but we . . .”

Static cuts off his voice. We’ve rowed a bit too far out of range for these walkies. Not too far out for me to miss the strain in his voice, though. Something has happened.