“GoGo?” Brooks asked.

They both looked back when they heard Dave’s voice was a titch lower as he said, “Yeah, son, GoGo. The Good Witch of Kentucky.”

“GoGo was a witch?” Brooks asked in shock.

“Yup. Bewitched me, sure as shootin’. And I didn’t mind one bit. Just like your mommy bewitched your daddy. Your daddy took one look at her, he’s big and he’s strong, but not strong enough to fight her spell.”

“Thas good, right?” Brooks asked.

“Best thing that ever happened to him,” Dave assured. “You ask him straight, that’s what he’ll say. Even knowin’ he’s tied tight in her spell. Now your Aunt Izzy, that girl’s got fairy powers. Dazzle and sparkle. She bound your Uncle Johnny up in pixie dust and he didn’t know his rear end from a car fender.”

Brooks laughed.

Toby smiled.

“And he didn’t mind either,” Dave continued.

“I know Mommy and Aunt Izzy got magic,” Brooks told him. “Auntie Dee says they sit out under the stars an’ soak it up.”

“Unh-hunh,” Dave agreed.

Brooks leaned against his grandpa.

Dave wrapped an arm around him.

“Mommy says when I’m bigger, Daddy can teach me how to fly.”

“No stoppin’ your daddy, he was born to soar.”

“But Daddy says when I’m bigger, we’re gonna go scuba divin’.”

“You watch a dolphin, son. You can soar in water. Your daddy knows that. Gonna teach you.”

“If Mommy’s a witch, is Daddy a wizard?”

“Nope, got his feet on the ground. Now, listen to me, Brooks, you’re about to hear the most important thing a man can tell you. That’s what you do. That’s your job. The most important job you’ll ever have. You find a woman and you let her live with her head in the clouds. But even if you’re flyin’ a plane or swimmin’ with the dolphins, you keep your feet firm on the ground so you can keep an eye on her. Don’t ever take your eye off her, boy, don’t ever let her crash to the ground.”

Dave fell silent a moment and his voice was gruff when he finished.

“Let her fly.”

“Let her fly,” Brooks breathed.

“You get that right, won’t matter you’re a billionaire or a brick layer, she’ll be happy. Only thing that matters is, she’s happy. And you know why?”

“Why?” Brooks asked.

“’Cause you make her happy, son, she’ll make you the happiest man on the planet. That’s what your GoGo did for me. What your mommy gives your daddy. What your Aunt Iz gives to your Uncle Johnny. You with me?”

“I’m with you, Paw.”

Dave pulled Brooks closer with his arm.

“Now how many fish we gonna catch tomorrow?” he asked.

“A bazillion!” Brooks answered.

Without saying a word, the Gamble Men silently moved away from the screen door.

It wasn’t until they’d braved walking through the kitchen under the curious stares of their wives and out to the back porch before Johnny cleared his throat.

Toby looked at the trees.

“Good Witch of Kentucky,” Toby muttered. “How pissed do you think Margot is right now?”

“Seriously fuckin’ pissed,” Johnny answered. “Though Daphne will probably chill her out.”

“What are you two talking about?” Izzy asked, pushing through the screen door holding her son, her sister on her heels.

Iz went to Johnny, who took their boy and cuddled him close to his chest at the same time he cuddled his wife close to his side.

Addie came to him and did what she did a lot, wrapping both arms around his middle, her baby bump with their son safe in it shoving against his side and hip.

He slid his arm around her too.

“Just heard Dave givin’ Brooks some wisdom,” Johnny answered.

“And it sent you to the back porch?” Izzy asked.

“They needed their time,” Johnny shared.

“Ah,” Izzy replied.

“You all right?” Addie asked quietly.

He looked down to his wife.

“You got a lot to thank Dave for, baby,” he replied in the same tone.

“What’s he telling our boy?”

“No.” He bent and touched his mouth to hers, but when he was done, he didn’t pull far away. “Always thought it was Margot,” he whispered.

“What was Margot?” she whispered back.

“Who taught me how to treat a woman.”

Her gorgeous face got soft and her body pressed closer to his.

She got him.

“He teaching that to Brooklyn?” she asked.

“Yeah. And he’s soakin’ it in.”

She smiled up at him.

Through her, their son thumped him in the side.

Her smile got bigger then it got brighter when she saw him return it.

Nothing his wife loved more than seeing her husband smile.

His Addie didn’t have her head in the clouds.

But one thing he knew was certain.

He was the happiest man on the planet.

“Gonna put him down, spätzchen,” Toby heard Johnny mutter.

“Okay, häschen,” he heard Izzy reply.

Strike that.

He wasn’t the happiest man on the planet.

It was a tie.

 

By the by, Johnny and Izzy’s son grew up best friends with Addie and Toby’s boy.

Like brothers.

And Addie and Toby’s daughter grew up best friends with Johnny and Izzy’s girl.

Just like sisters.

Brooks happily took the role as big brother to all.

But Brooks?

He grew up and married a beautiful girl named Margot.

 

~ THE END ~