Chapter 19
WE WENT TO THE Loop and placed our orders. They arrived at the pickup counter quickly, but it took two trips to carry everything out to the deck. Food in place, we sat quietly, waiting for the rest of our party.
“Nervous?” Rion said.
“Of course. Does it show?”
“No.”
“How about you?” I said.
“Yeah, this is kind of weird.”
I was facing in the right direction to see our friends come around the corner of the building. Robbie spotted us and ran ahead.
“Hi, Uncle Mitch,” he said. “Hi, Uncle Rion.”
“Hi, yourself, kiddo,” I said. “Come here and give me a hug.”
Robbie had been extremely shy when Rion and I had first met him but had soon gotten very comfortable around us. As was his habit, he threw himself at me, and I hugged him and set him firmly on one knee. The others caught
